Many outstanding periodicals and newspapers had staff members on hand to record the Derby in print and film, cinluding Sports Afield, doing a special feature for its Boating Annual, and Life magazine. Ewalt Schultz, of North Creek and George Shevlin of Glens Falls won the Johnsburg Fish and Game Club tropy for the best time of local contestants in the novice slalom.

There were 48 entries in the giant slalom, and 92 boats in the downriver race, for a total of 163 boars ant 260 contestants in the novice slalom.

The first White Water Derby dinner was staged after the 1962 races. The Johnsburg Fish and Game Club extended an invitation to every person who played any part in any of the WhiteWater Derbies since 1958 to attend an appreciation dinner at the club's expense.

Sixty-five persons attended the buffet dinner held at Ridings. Highlight was an address given by Ken Bennett,the man who spurred the Derby into life at its beginning.

Fast times by canoeists in higher, rough turbulent water marked the 1963 White Water Derby, with interest attracting more contestants and spectators than in previous years.

In the novice slalom, Francis Monthony of North River won the local trophy for best time of the day.

Al Zob of Port Credit, Ontario, won the giant slalom in 6 minutes 49 seconds, then posted the best time of the day in winning the downriver race in 52 minutes, 32 seconds.

A pleasant weekend provided the background for the 1964 Derby, as a pileup for race entries created a log jam of paper work in the Fish and Game Club office requiring a new conception of race administration.

It was planned to run the novice and giant slalom races simultaneously, if the club could set up two independent courses. Entries in the downriver race were 50% above the previous year.

Bob Burke and his vaudeville troupe entertained at the Saturday night get-together along with North Creek's Beatle pantomime group. The group included Cindy Reynolds, Leann Reynolds, Cathy Stewart and Jean Waterston, all Johnsburg Central students. Also Jim Waterson and Claudia Ball, plus the team of Donna French and Tommy McConnell.

And the Life magazine camera crew lost two cameras in the river.

A Canadian canoeist, Tom Lyle, won the downriver race in 1965 as 131 boaters challenged the wild Hudson River, which was almost a foot higher than the previous year. Lyle, from Toronto, was timed in 56 minutes, 27 seconds, with Homer Dodge, age 78, just ten seconds behind.

A crowd estimated at 18,000 watched the races. There were 61` boats in the giant slalom and 34 in the novice slalom.

For the first time, all contestants had to wear life preservers and all baots had floatation.

Credit was given by Charles Severance, chairman, to a new communications hookup by AREC and outside personnel such as Roland Palmedo and Homer Dodge, who worked during the winter on innovations in race administration that were original and successful in concept, and the contribution of Bob and Rosalie Field of North Reading, Mass., who at their own expense came to North Creek early to overhaul the slalom events.

In 1966, the White Water Derby was acclaimed as a 105% success. Tom Butler, reporting on the event, said traffic in North Creek made him think he was in a Mexican road race. He complimented Bill and Gordy Stetson for winning their division, and Tom Pierson and Ralph Coon for another first place.

The highlight of the slalom races held May 4, 1974, as part of the 17th annual White Water Derby was Dr. Homer Dodge's 17 minute run in the giant slalom. There was a trace of snow that Saturday morning, winds were quite brisk and the water temperature was about 40 degrees.

But Dr. Dodge completed his run flawlessly. The then 86 year old president emeritus of Norwich University, competing in this 14th consecutive derby, was paced by continuing and growing applause as he negotiated the course.

At the customary slalom award ceremonies that night at Johnsburg Central School , Town Supervisor Sterling Goodspeed read a proclamation making Dr. Dodge an honorary citizen of the Town of Johnsburg for his continued support of the Derby.

The Johnsburg Fish and Game Club gave Dr. Dodge a hand-caved replica of a 19th century canoe paddle in recognition of his white water accomplishments. The presentation was made by Kenneth L. Bennett. On the paddle was a gold plaque, which read:

"Presented to Dr. Homer L. Dodge for participation in the annual Hudson River White Water Derby from the age 72 through 86. Presented by the Johnsburg Fish and Game Club, Inc., North Creek, NY, May 4, 1974".

Dr. Dodge's famed blue canoe has been retired and is on display at the Thousand Island Museum at Clayton.