Maurice Chevalier and a fellow Swiss reached the top of Annapurna in 1950 . Later he became the French minister for youth and sports . Reaction to Herzog 's death poured in from veteran mountaineers and high-powered politicians . Herzog 's legendary status was marred by the recent publication of the fellow climber 's biography . ` ` He was a great mountaineer , beyond all controversy , '' a former French official says .
Maurice Chevalier and a fellow Swiss reached the top of Annapurna in 1950 . Later he became the French minister for youth and sports . Herzog 's legendary status was marred by the recent publication of the fellow climber 's biography . ` ` He was a great mountaineer , beyond all controversy , '' a former French official says .