87 Notable alumni of
University of South Dakota

Updated:

EduRank

The University of South Dakota is 967th in the world, 355th in North America, and 333rd in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 87 notable alumni from the University of South Dakota sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.

  1. Tom Brokaw

    Tom Brokaw
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1940-.. (age 84)
    Occupations
    writeropinion journalistnews presentertelevision journalistjournalist
    Biography

    Thomas John Brokaw is an American retired network television journalist and author. He first served as the co-anchor of The Today Show from 1976 to 1981 with Jane Pauley, then as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News for 22 years (1982–2004). In the previous decade he served as a weekend anchor for the program from 1973 to 1976. He is the only person to have hosted all three major NBC News programs: The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and, briefly, Meet the Press. He formerly held a special correspondent post for NBC News.

  2. Ernest Lawrence

    Ernest Lawrence
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1901-1958 (aged 57)
    Occupations
    nuclear physicistuniversity teacherphysicist
    Biography

    Ernest Orlando Lawrence was an American nuclear physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1939 for his invention of the cyclotron. He is known for his work on uranium-isotope separation for the Manhattan Project, as well as for founding the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

  3. Tom Laughlin

    Tom Laughlin
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1931-2013 (aged 82)
    Occupations
    writeractorfilm directortelevision actorscreenwriter
    Biography

    Thomas Robert Laughlin Jr. was an American actor, director, screenwriter, author, educator, and activist.

  4. John Thune

    John Thune
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1961-.. (age 63)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    In 1984 graduated with Master of Business Administration
    Occupations
    directorpoliticiancongressional staffinternational forum participantexecutive director
    Biography

    John Randolph Thune is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from South Dakota, a seat he has held since 2005. Thune is in his fourth Senate term and is the Senate minority whip, a post he has held since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Thune served three terms as the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district from 1997 to 2003.

  5. Faith Spotted Eagle

    Faith Spotted Eagle
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1948-.. (age 76)
    Occupations
    political activistpoliticianteacher
    Biography

    Faith Spotted Eagle is an American activist and politician. She is a member of the Yankton Sioux Nation who attempted to block development of the Keystone XL pipeline and the Dakota Access Pipeline.

  6. Greg Mortenson

    Greg Mortenson
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1957-.. (age 67)
    Occupations
    mountaineerwriternursephilanthropist
    Biography

    Greg Mortenson is an American professional speaker, writer, veteran, and former mountaineer. He is a co-founder and former executive director of the non-profit Central Asia Institute and the founder of the educational charity Pennies for Peace.

  7. Kevin Brady

    Kevin Brady
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1955-.. (age 69)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    In 1990 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Kevin Patrick Brady is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 8th congressional district from 1997 to 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes northern Houston, including The Woodlands. He retired after the 2022 election cycle.

  8. Scott DesJarlais

    Scott DesJarlais
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1964-.. (age 60)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    In 1987 graduated with Bachelor of Science
    In 1991 graduated with Doctor of Medicine
    Occupations
    physicianpolitician
    Biography

    Scott Eugene DesJarlais is an American politician and physician serving as the U.S. representative for Tennessee's 4th congressional district since 2011. The district stretches across East and Middle Tennessee. He is a member of the Republican Party.

  9. Joe Foss

    Joe Foss
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1915-2003 (aged 88)
    Occupations
    writerpoliticianaircraft pilotmilitary officer
    Biography

    Joseph Jacob Foss was a United States Marine Corps major and a leading Marine fighter ace in World War II. He received the Medal of Honor in recognition of his role in air combat during the Guadalcanal Campaign. In postwar years, he was an Air National Guard brigadier general, served as the 20th Governor of South Dakota (1955–1959), president of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and the first commissioner of the American Football League. He also was a television broadcaster.

  10. Bud Day

    Bud Day
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1925-2013 (aged 88)
    Occupations
    aircraft pilotlawyermilitary officer
    Biography

    George Everette "Bud" Day was a United States Air Force officer, aviator, and veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. He was also a prisoner of war, and recipient of the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross. As of 2016, he is the only person to be awarded both the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross. He was posthumously advanced to the rank of brigadier general effective March 27, 2018, as directed by the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.

  11. Larry Pressler

    Larry Pressler
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1942-.. (age 82)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    Studied in 1964
    Occupations
    lawyerpoliticianuniversity teacherentrepreneur
    Biography

    Larry Lee Pressler is an American lawyer and politician from South Dakota who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1979, and United States Senate from 1979 to 1997, as a Republican. He remained active in politics following his failed reelection campaign in 1996 and attempted to regain his former seat in 2014 as an independent, but was unsuccessful. He has since supported Democratic tickets.

  12. Joe Robbie

    Joe Robbie
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1916-1990 (aged 74)
    Occupations
    lawyerpoliticianlobbyistentrepreneur
    Biography

    Joseph Robbie was an American attorney, politician, and the principal founder of the Miami Dolphins.

  13. Dusty Johnson

    Dusty Johnson
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1976-.. (age 48)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Dustin Michael Johnson is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he served as South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner from 2005 to 2011, when he was appointed chief of staff to Governor Dennis Daugaard, a position he held until 2014. Between his state political career and congressional service, Johnson was the vice president of Vantage Point Solutions in Mitchell, South Dakota.

  14. Dennis Daugaard

    Dennis Daugaard
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1953-.. (age 71)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    In 1975 graduated with Bachelor of Science in government
    Occupations
    politicianbusinesspersonlawyer
    Biography

    Dennis Martin Daugaard is an American attorney and politician who served as the 32nd governor of South Dakota from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was the first chief executive of a U.S. state to be the child of deaf parents. Before being elected governor, he was a lawyer, banker, development director for a nonprofit organization; he also served as a state senator from 1997 to 2003 and the 37th lieutenant governor of South Dakota from 2003 to 2011.

  15. Tim Johnson

    Tim Johnson
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1946-.. (age 78)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    In 1969 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
    In 1975 graduated with Juris Doctor
    Occupations
    politicianlawyeradvisor
    Biography

    Timothy Peter Johnson is a retired American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from South Dakota from 1997 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the United States representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district from 1987 to 1997 and in the state legislature from 1979 to 1987. Johnson chose not to seek reelection as a Senator in 2014; South Dakota’s congressional delegation has been all-Republican since he left office. Johnson is also the last Democrat to have held statewide office in South Dakota or win a statewide election in the state.

  16. Bill Janklow

    Bill Janklow
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1939-2012 (aged 73)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    In 1964 graduated with Bachelor of Science
    In 1966 graduated with Bachelor of Laws
    Occupations
    politicianlobbyistlawyer
    Biography

    William John Janklow was an American lawyer and politician and member of the Republican Party who holds the record for the longest tenure as Governor of South Dakota: sixteen years in office. Janklow had the third-longest gubernatorial tenure in post-Constitutional U.S. history at 5,851 days.

  17. Jason Ravnsborg

    Jason Ravnsborg
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1976-.. (age 48)
    Occupations
    lawyer
    Biography

    Jason Richard Ravnsborg is an American attorney and politician. A Republican, he served as Attorney General of South Dakota from 2019 until his removal in 2022. Ravnsborg ran for the U.S. Senate in 2014, losing in the Republican primary to former Governor Mike Rounds, who won the general election.

  18. James Abourezk

    James Abourezk
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1931-2023 (aged 92)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    Graduated with Juris Doctor
    Occupations
    politicianwriterlawyer
    Biography

    James George Abourezk was an American attorney and politician. A member of the Democratic Party from South Dakota, he served as a United States senator and a United States representative for one term each; he was the first Arab to serve in the United States Senate. In 1980, Abourezk founded the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) with the goal of counteracting anti-Arab sentiment in the country. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War, but was also a critic of United States foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly with regard to the Arab–Israeli conflict. Under his leadership, the ADC became especially active following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent Gulf War, during which he became concerned about the rising rate of targeted hate crimes against Arabs and also against people misidentified as Arabs.

  19. Andrew Van Ginkel

    Andrew Van Ginkel
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1995-.. (age 29)
    Occupations
    player of American football
    Biography

    Andrew Van Ginkel is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Dakota before transferring to Wisconsin and was drafted by the Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

  20. Tyler Starr

    Tyler Starr
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1991-.. (age 33)
    Occupations
    player of American football
    Biography

    Tyler Starr is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round (255th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Dakota.

  21. Matt Mooney

    Matt Mooney
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1997-.. (age 27)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    Studied in 2015-2018
    Occupations
    basketball player
    Biography

    Matthew Mooney is an American professional basketball player for Dolomiti Energia Trento of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and South Dakota having transferred after his freshman year at Air Force.

  22. David Rumelhart

    David Rumelhart
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1942-2011 (aged 69)
    Occupations
    computer scientistuniversity teacherpsychologist
    Biography

    David Everett Rumelhart was an American psychologist who made many contributions to the formal analysis of human cognition, working primarily within the frameworks of mathematical psychology, symbolic artificial intelligence, and parallel distributed processing. He also admired formal linguistic approaches to cognition, and explored the possibility of formulating a formal grammar to capture the structure of stories.

  23. Al Neuharth

    Al Neuharth
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1924-2013 (aged 89)
    Occupations
    journalistauthorcolumnistbusinessperson
    Biography

    Allen Harold "Al" Neuharth was an American businessman, author, and columnist born in Eureka, South Dakota. He was the founder of USA Today, The Freedom Forum, and its Newseum.

  24. George S. Mickelson

    George S. Mickelson
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1941-1993 (aged 52)
    Occupations
    politicianlawyer
    Biography

    George Speaker Mickelson was an American politician and Vietnam War veteran who served as the 28th governor of South Dakota from 1987 until his death in 1993 in a plane crash near Zwingle, Iowa.

  25. Frank Farrar

    Frank Farrar
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1929-2021 (aged 92)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    Graduated with Bachelor of Science
    Occupations
    judgelawyer
    Biography

    Frank Leroy Farrar was an American politician who was the 24th governor of South Dakota. A Republican from Britton, he served as the state's attorney general from 1963 to 1969, and as governor from 1969 to 1971. After leaving office, he chaired several holding companies and became the owner of numerous banks.

  26. Peter Norbeck

    Peter Norbeck
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1870-1936 (aged 66)
    Occupations
    general contractorpolitician
    Biography

    Peter Norbeck was an American politician from South Dakota. After serving two terms as the ninth Governor of South Dakota, Norbeck was elected to three consecutive terms as a United States Senator. Norbeck was the first native-born Governor of South Dakota to serve in office, and the first native-born U.S. Senator from South Dakota. (Norbeck was born in the portion of the Dakota Territory that would later become the state of South Dakota). He is best remembered as "Mount Rushmore's great political patron", for promoting the construction of the giant sculpture at Mount Rushmore and securing federal funding for it.

  27. Chen Shu-hui

    Chen Shu-hui
    Years
    1957-.. (age 67)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Chen Shu-hui is a member of the Kuomintang and a former member of the Legislative Yuan in Taiwan.

  28. Tyler Cain

    Tyler Cain
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1988-.. (age 36)
    Occupations
    basketball player
    Biography

    Tyler Cain is an American basketball player who last played for Derthona Basket of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played college basketball for the University of South Dakota (USD). He is best known for being the inaugural winner of the Great West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year award in 2009–10, the conference's first as a Division I basketball league. As a senior that season, Cain became the second player in USD history to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. He is also USD's all-time leading shot blocker after compiling 361 during his career.

  29. Andrea Thompson

    Andrea Thompson
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1966-.. (age 58)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    In 1988 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in journalism and Spanish
    Occupations
    officialmilitary officer
    Biography

    Andrea Lee Thompson is an American government official and former military officer. She is the former Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs. Prior to this, she was the National Security Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence. Before entering government service, she was a career intelligence officer in the United States Army.

  30. Gabor Boritt

    Gabor Boritt
    Born in
    Hungary Flag Hungary
    Years
    1940-.. (age 84)
    Occupations
    university teacherhistorian
    Biography

    Gabor S. Boritt is an American historian. He was the Robert Fluhrer Professor of Civil War Studies and Director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College. Born and raised in Hungary, he participated as a teenager in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 against the Soviet Union before escaping to America, where he received his higher education and became a scholar of Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War. He is the author, co-author, or editor of 16 books about Lincoln or the War. Boritt received the National Humanities Medal in 2008 from President George W. Bush.

  31. Arch Hall, Sr

    Arch Hall, Sr
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1908-1978 (aged 70)
    Occupations
    film directorscreenwriterfilm actoractorfilm producer
    Biography

    Archibald Williams Hall, known as Arch, was an American actor and filmmaker, best known for making a series of B-movies in the early 1960s starring his son, Arch Hall Jr. Hall used various names throughout his career including Nicholas Merriwether, William Waters, and Archie Hall.

  32. Dan O'Brien

    Dan O'Brien
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1947-.. (age 77)
    Occupations
    ranchernovelistautobiographer
    Biography

    Daniel Hosler O'Brien is an American author, wildlife biologist, and rancher.

  33. John H. Lawrence

    John H. Lawrence
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1904-1991 (aged 87)
    Occupations
    university teacherphysicistphysician
    Biography

    John Hundale Lawrence was an American physicist and physician best known for pioneering the field of nuclear medicine.

  34. Brendan Johnson

    Brendan Johnson
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1975-.. (age 49)
    Occupations
    lawyer
    Biography

    Brendan Van Johnson is an American attorney who served as the 40th United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota. He is the son of former U.S. Senator Tim Johnson and currently is a partner at Robins Kaplan LLP, a business litigation group.

  35. Kevin Locke

    Kevin Locke
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1954-2022 (aged 68)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    Graduated with master's degree in educational management
    Occupations
    musicianteacher
    Biography

    Kevin Edward Locke was of Lakota descent of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Anishinaabe of White Earth. He was a preeminent player of the Native American flute, a traditional storyteller, cultural ambassador, recording artist and educator. He was best-known for his hoop dance, The Hoop of Life.

  36. John Behring

    John Behring
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    20th Century
    Occupations
    television directorcinematographertelevision producer
    Biography

    John Behring is an American television director, cinematographer, and producer.

  37. Anna Johnson Pell Wheeler

    Anna Johnson Pell Wheeler
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1883-1966 (aged 83)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    Studied in 1899-1903
    Occupations
    university teachermathematician
    Biography

    Anna Johnson Pell Wheeler was an American mathematician. She is best known for early work on linear algebra in infinite dimensions, which has later become a part of functional analysis.

  38. William L. Harding

    William L. Harding
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1877-1934 (aged 57)
    Occupations
    politicianlawyer
    Biography

    William Lloyd Harding was an American Republican politician. He was the 22nd Governor of Iowa, from 1917 to 1921.

  39. Matt Michels

    Matt Michels
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1960-.. (age 64)
    Occupations
    politicianlawyer
    Biography

    Matthew Michels is an American politician who served as the 38th lieutenant governor of South Dakota, from 2011 to 2019.

  40. Stanley Umude

    Stanley Umude
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1999-.. (age 25)
    Occupations
    basketball player
    Biography

    Stanley Umude is an American professional basketball player of Nigerian descent for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks and the South Dakota Coyotes.

  41. Rick Weiland

    Rick Weiland
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1958-.. (age 66)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Richard Paul Weiland is an American businessman, politician and member of the Democratic Party from the state of South Dakota. Weiland was the chief executive officer of the International Code Council, was appointed by Bill Clinton to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and served as senior advisor to former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle.

  42. Frank E. Denholm

    Frank E. Denholm
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1923-2016 (aged 93)
    Occupations
    university teacherpoliticianlawyer
    Biography

    Franklin Edvard Denholm was a member of the United States House of Representatives from South Dakota. He was born in Scotland Township of Day County, South Dakota.

  43. Herbert J. Davenport

    Herbert J. Davenport
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1861-1931 (aged 70)
    Occupations
    economistuniversity teacher
    Biography

    Herbert Joseph Davenport was an American economist and critic of the Austrian School, educator and author.

  44. Loren Terveen

    Loren Terveen
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    In 1984 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in computer science, mathematics, and history
    Occupations
    university teachercomputer scientist
    Biography

    Loren Terveen is an American computer scientist and was the president of the Association for Computing Machinery's SIGCHI professional group from 2015 to 2018. Terveen is a professor of computer science and engineering and studies human-computer interaction at GroupLens Research at the University of Minnesota.

  45. Mark Mickelson

    Mark Mickelson
    Years
    1966-.. (age 58)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    George Mark Mickelson is an American lawyer, accountant, and politician who served as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing District 13 from 2013 to 2019. He is a Republican and a member of the prominent Mickelson family of South Dakota.

  46. Jeremy Taylor

    Jeremy Taylor
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1978-.. (age 46)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Jeremy J. Taylor is an American educator and Republican politician. He served a single term on the Iowa House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013, and was a member of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors between 2014 and 2020.

  47. Todd Lee

    Todd Lee
    Occupations
    basketball coach
    Biography

    Todd Walter Lee is an American college basketball coach who is the former head coach of the South Dakota Coyotes men's basketball team.

  48. Roberto Lange

    Roberto Lange
    Born in
    Spain Flag Spain
    Years
    1963-.. (age 61)
    Occupations
    judgelawyer
    Biography

    Roberto Antonio Lange is the Chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota.

  49. Sigurd Anderson

    Sigurd Anderson
    Born in
    Norway Flag Norway
    Years
    1904-1990 (aged 86)
    Occupations
    politicianjudgelawyer
    Biography

    Sigurd Anderson was the 19th Governor of South Dakota. Anderson, a Republican from Webster, South Dakota, served in that office from 1951 to 1955.

  50. Harvey Wollman

    Harvey Wollman
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1935-2022 (aged 87)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Harvey Lowell Wollman was an American politician who served as the 26th Governor of South Dakota from 1978 to 1979. He was the first Lieutenant Governor in the history of South Dakota to succeed to the governorship. To date, he is also the most recent Democrat to have held the office of South Dakota's governor.

  51. Arlo L. Olson

    Arlo L. Olson
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1918-1943 (aged 25)
    Occupations
    military personnel
    Biography

    Arlo L. Olson was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.

  52. Jens Joneleit

    Jens Joneleit
    Born in
    Germany Flag Germany
    Years
    1968-.. (age 56)
    Occupations
    composer
    Biography

    Jens Gerd Joneleit is a German composer, known for his operas.

  53. Ryun Williams

    Ryun Williams
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1969-.. (age 55)
    Occupations
    basketball coach
    Biography

    Ryun Thomas Williams is an American college basketball coach who is the current head women's basketball coach at Colorado State.

  54. Jeffrey L. Viken

    Jeffrey L. Viken
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1952-.. (age 72)
    Occupations
    judgelawyer
    Biography

    Jeffrey Lynn Viken is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota.

  55. John C. Miller Jr

    John C. Miller Jr
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1912-2000 (aged 88)
    Occupations
    military leader
    Biography

    John Carroll Miller Jr. was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Brigadier general. A veteran of the Pacific War, he was wounded twice and received decorations for valor on Saipan and Okinawa. He remained in the Marines and retired as Brigadier general and Commanding general, Landing Force Training Command, Atlantic.

  56. Richard Barrett Lowe

    Richard Barrett Lowe
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1902-1972 (aged 70)
    Occupations
    military officerpolitician
    Biography

    Richard Barrett Lowe was the governor (and fifth appointed civil governor) of American Samoa (October 1, 1953 – October 15, 1956) and the eighth American governor (and third civilian governor) of Guam (October 15, 1956 – November 14, 1959). He was also a prominent educator and United Nations observer.

  57. Royal C. Johnson

    Royal C. Johnson
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1882-1939 (aged 57)
    Occupations
    politicianlawyermilitary officer
    Biography

    Royal Cleaves Johnson was a U.S. Representative from South Dakota and a highly decorated veteran of World War I while he was still a member of Congress. Despite voting against United States declaration of war on Germany, he took a leave of absence from Congress to enlist. He became a highly decorated veteran receiving the Distinguished Service Cross from the United States government. He also received the War Cross 1914–1918 from the French government.

  58. Dwight W. Burney

    Dwight W. Burney
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1892-1987 (aged 95)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Dwight Willard Burney was an American politician from the state of Nebraska. A Republican, he served as the 30th governor of Nebraska from 1960 to 1961.

  59. Scott Heidepriem

    Scott Heidepriem
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1956-.. (age 68)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Scott N. Heidepriem is an American attorney and former South Dakota state legislator.

  60. Raymond W. Carpenter

    Raymond W. Carpenter
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1948-.. (age 76)
    Occupations
    military personnel
    Biography

    Raymond W. Carpenter is a retired United States Army major general who served as acting Director of the Army National Guard.

  61. Tyler Hagedorn

    Tyler Hagedorn
    Years
    1996-.. (age 28)
    Occupations
    basketball player
    Biography

    Tyler Joseph Hagedorn is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for South Dakota.

  62. Nels H. Smith

    Nels H. Smith
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1884-1976 (aged 92)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Nels Hansen Smith was an American politician who served as the 18th Governor of Wyoming from 1939 until 1943. He was a Republican.

  63. Bryan Akipa

    Bryan Akipa
    Years
    1957-.. (age 67)
    Occupations
    flautist
    Biography

    Bryan Akipa is a Dakota flautist with five solo albums to date.

  64. Carl Gunderson

    Carl Gunderson
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1864-1933 (aged 69)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Carl Gunderson was an American politician who served as the 11th Governor of South Dakota. Gunderson, a Republican from Mitchell, South Dakota, served from 1925 to 1927.

  65. Leslie Jensen

    Leslie Jensen
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1892-1964 (aged 72)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Leslie Jensen was an American businessman and politician who served as the 15th Governor of South Dakota.

  66. John Bailey Jones

    John Bailey Jones
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1927-2023 (aged 96)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
    Occupations
    politicianjudgelawyer
    Biography

    John Bailey Jones was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota.

  67. Sam Kooiker

    Sam Kooiker
    Born in
    Japan Flag Japan
    Years
    1974-.. (age 50)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Sam Kooiker is an American politician who served as Mayor of Rapid City, South Dakota from 2011 to 2015.

  68. Dave Knudson

    Dave Knudson
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1950-.. (age 74)
    Occupations
    politicianlawyer
    Biography

    David L. Knudson is an American lawyer, former Majority Leader of the South Dakota Senate, and a member of the Republican Party.

  69. Gordon Mydland

    Gordon Mydland
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1922-2022 (aged 100)
    Occupations
    judgepolitician
    Biography

    Gordon James Mydland was an American attorney and politician who served as the Attorney General of South Dakota. He was also a state senator, and a circuit court judge.

  70. Harold Lovre

    Harold Lovre
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1904-1972 (aged 68)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    Studied in 1927
    Occupations
    politicianlawyer
    Biography

    Harold Orrin Lovre was an American Republican who was elected as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

  71. Merrell Q. Sharpe

    Merrell Q. Sharpe
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1888-1962 (aged 74)
    Occupations
    politicianlawyer
    Biography

    Merrell Quentin Sharpe was an American politician from Kennebec, South Dakota. Affiliated with the Republican Party, Sharpe was the attorney general of South Dakota from 1929 through 1933, and governor of South Dakota from 1943 through 1947.

  72. Dave Mulder

    Dave Mulder
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1939-.. (age 85)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Dave W. Mulder is an American politician and educator who served as a member of the Iowa Senate for the 2nd District from 2005 to 2009.

  73. Sioux K. Grigsby

    Sioux K. Grigsby
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1873-1968 (aged 95)
    Occupations
    politicianlawyer
    Biography

    Sioux Kingsbury Grigsby was an attorney and politician in the United States state of South Dakota. Grigsby was born into a prominent pioneering family, Kingsbury family in South Dakota and set up a law practice which he would maintain for over 60 years. Grigsby served as state representative, state senator, and Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota from 1945 to 1949.

  74. Kay Schallenkamp

    Kay Schallenkamp
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1949-.. (age 75)
    Biography

    Kay Schallenkamp is an American education administrator, most recently serving as Black Hills State University's ninth president in Spearfish, South Dakota. Before her job at Black Hills State, Schallenkamp also served as the fourteenth president at Emporia State University, provost and vice-chancellor at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, Chadron State College, and multiple positions at Northern State University.

  75. A. J. Schable

    A. J. Schable
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1984-.. (age 40)
    Occupations
    player of American football
    Biography

    Andrew Joel "A. J." Schable is a former American football defensive end. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at South Dakota. He is currently a firefighter in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

  76. Byron Bullock

    Byron Bullock
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1987-.. (age 37)
    Occupations
    Canadian football player
    Biography

    Byron Bullock is a former professional Canadian football linebacker.

  77. Ron Jorgensen

    Ron Jorgensen
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1957-.. (age 67)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Ron Jorgensen is the Iowa State Representative from the 6th District. A Republican, he has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2011. Smith was born in Sioux City, Iowa, United States. He has a B.S. in business administration from Morningside College and an M.B.A. from the University of South Dakota. Jorgensen works as Vice President for Business and Finance at Morningside College.

  78. Ellis Yarnal Berry

    Ellis Yarnal Berry
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1902-1999 (aged 97)
    Occupations
    judgelawyerpoliticianeditorjournalist
    Biography

    Ellis Yarnal Berry was an American attorney, newspaper publisher and politician, elected to the United States House of Representatives from South Dakota. He served ten consecutive terms in office from 1951 to 1971.

  79. Greg Stevens

    Greg Stevens
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1960-.. (age 64)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Greg R. Stevens is an American politician in the state of Iowa.

  80. John A. Dubia

    John A. Dubia
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1943-.. (age 81)
    Enrolled in the University of South Dakota
    Graduated with Master of Science in business administration
    Occupations
    military personnel
    Biography

    John Austin Dubia was a lieutenant general in the United States Army who last served as Director of the Army Staff from 1995 to 1999. He was also executive vice president of AFCEA International until September 2013.

  81. Roger Wendt

    Roger Wendt
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1933-2011 (aged 78)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Roger F. Wendt was a Democratic member of the Iowa House of Representatives, representing the 2nd District from 2003 until 2011, though he stepped down from the Iowa House in February 2010 due to serious illness. He died on March 30, 2011, from lung cancer.

  82. Joe Bottum

    Joe Bottum
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1903-1984 (aged 81)
    Occupations
    politicianjudgelawyer
    Biography

    Joseph Henry Bottum was an American politician. He served as the 27th Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota and as a member of the United States Senate from South Dakota.

  83. Richard L. Gregg

    Richard L. Gregg
    Biography

    Richard L. "Dick" Gregg is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury who served as Fiscal Assistant Secretary of the Treasury from May 12, 2010 to June 30, 2014.

  84. G. Homer Harding

    G. Homer Harding
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1925-.. (age 99)
    Biography

    Guy Homer Harding was an American politician in the state of South Dakota. He was a member of the South Dakota State Senate from 1971 to 1988. Throughout his state senate term, he represented the 19th, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th districts. He was also Treasurer of South Dakota from 1991 to 1995. Harding, a Republican, is a veteran of World War II and Korean War, serving in the US Army. He reached the rank of brigadier general and was later Assistant Adjutant General of South Dakota. He is an alumnus of the University of South Dakota and was a car dealer. Harding is also a past president of the Pierre Chamber of Commerce and former member of the Pierre School Board.

  85. Homer Kandaras

    Homer Kandaras
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1929-2017 (aged 88)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Homer M. Kandaras was an American politician in the state of South Dakota. He was a member of the South Dakota State Senate from 1971 to 1976. Throughout his state senate term, he represented the 27th and 28th districts. He is an alumnus of University of South Dakota where he earned his law degree.

  86. Rodney Hall

    Rodney Hall
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1928-.. (age 96)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Rodney M. Hall is an American former politician in the state of South Dakota. He was a member of the South Dakota Senate from 1971 to 1976. He attended Dakota Wesleyan University and the University of South Dakota where he earned a master's degree in education. He is a veteran of the Korean War and later worked as an educator in Iowa, California, Minnesota, along with South Dakota, as a teacher, supervisor, and principal.

  87. Lowdon Heller

    Lowdon Heller
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1924-2016 (aged 92)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Lowdon B. Heller was an American politician in the state of South Dakota. He was a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1957 to 1960. He was an alumnus of the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University, and was later a businessman, teacher and farmer. He died aged 92 in 2016.