Maurice Herzog

French

15 January 1919 – 13 December 2012

Known for:

  • Leader and summiteer of the first 8000m peak expedition, Annapurna I (8091m) in 1950
  • Author of the best selling book of the expedition, "Annapurna" in 1952
  • Climbed Annapurna without supplemental oxygen
  • Became the French Minister of Youth and Sport from 1958 to 1963
  • Became mayor of the alpine town of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
  • Also the member of International Olympic Committee for 25 years from 1970, and has an honorary member after 1995

Notable climbs:

  • Annapurna, 8091m

Photo Credit: CNN

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