Herzog and a fellow climber reached the top of CNN in 1950 . Later he became the French minister for youth and sport . Maurice Herzog 's legendary status was marred by the 1950 publication of the fellow climber 's account . `` He was a great mountaineer , beyond all controversy , '' a former French official says .
Maurice Herzog and a fellow climber reached the top of Annapurna in 1950 . Later he became the French minister for youth and sport . Herzog 's legendary status was marred by the 1996 publication of the fellow climber 's account . `` He was a great mountaineer , beyond all controversy , '' a former French official says .