Louis Dufour, Sr.

A native of Les Avants, Switzerland, Louis Dufour, Sr. operated the Grand-Hôtel there. He had played hockey since his youth and competed at the 1920 Olympics at the age of 47, although he played in only one game. Dufour organized the first European Championships in hockey in 1910. He injured his Achilles tendon in 1914, which kept him from playing hockey for several years. He was also considered a good skier, tennis player and bobsledder

Dufour was a co-founder of the Swiss Ice Hockey Association and served as its vice-president from 1908-16, and treasurer from 1916-20. He coached the first team with HC La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1921-22, and is considered one of the fathers of sports in Switzerland. His son, Louis Dufour, Jr., also competed at the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Olympics in ice hockey.