The first apples came off the Honeycrisp tree in 1967; but the original tree was scheduled to be discarded due to bad winter kill.   In 1979, a University of Minnesota breeder, David Bedford, noticed the original trees were growing in an area that other trees had trouble surviving in and thought they should be given another chance.   He saved the variety from extinction and brought it the rest of the way to its introduction.  Thank you, David!!!  Want to read more? Go to: 
History of the Honeycrisp