Life doesn’t always take a straight path. For Greg Sands, the road was winding, filled with obstacles that tested his resilience. But through perseverance, faith, and an unwavering belief in second chances, Greg turned his story from struggle t...

Coming from humble roots on her family’s homestead, Judith Knittel Meierhenry has led a life of excellence, paving the way for generations as a trailblazer for women in Law. Judith has had many firsts, overcoming adversity to rise to the...

Jim Entenman was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2024 in recognition of his impactful contributions to the state. His strong business leadership has sparked economic growth, while his philanthropic efforts have enriched communiti...

Dr. Robert Arnio was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2023 for his contributions to the betterment of mental healthcare across South Dakota. South Dakota Hall of Fame board member and 2015 Inductee Ann McKay Thompson sat down with...

Gary Conradi comes from deep South Dakota roots. With two sets of great-grandparents who homesteaded in Aurora County South Dakota, he holds a keen interest and strong love for the state. Gary was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in ...

Bruce Bad Moccasin’s 30-year career dedicated to building a stronger tomorrow started with building roads in 1977. His leadership within the Indian Health Service (IHS) as an engineer, and eventually as Area Director of the Aberdeen Office, all...

Larry Rohrer was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2023 for his work in public broadcasting. His vision of public media has had an impact on every South Dakota high school, creating ahead-of-its-time coverage of events on the inter...

Kitty Kinsman is a passionate advocate who has used her voice to positively influence the health and quality of life in South Dakota and her community. Inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame (SDHoF) in 2020, she is known for he...

Dr. José-Marie Griffiths was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame (SDHoF) for her outstanding accomplishments in the field of higher education. These accomplishments are a coalescence of her professional drive and lifelong passion for le...

Gary Cammack was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2021 for his community impact. Both for his work at Cammack Ranch Supply—a pillar of Union Center—and his time serving South Dakota through public service. Gary’s public se...

James ​​Emery was a humble man who overcame challenges in his life to forge a better future for his community. He was born on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in 1904, at a time when speaking the Lakota language was discouraged. One of Emery’s gr...

Dr. Paul Gnirk was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2022 for his work as an engineer, professor, and dedicated community servant to South Dakota. Dr. Gnirk joined Board Director Steve Flanery to share more about his professional c...

Grace Martin Highley (1895–1985) was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame for laying the foundation for child welfare practices across the state. Her descendants, Karen Lockhart (granddaughter), Cheryl Zimiga (granddaughter), and Toni Ha...

South Dakota Hall of Fame 1987 Inductee Adeline Gnirk had a love for writing, and a drive to tell the collective story of the place she called home. In this Legacy Podcast episode, her two sons – Paul and David Gnirk – share the legacy of their...

Mark Shlanta (1965–2022) was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2022 for his life’s work in the telecommunications industry in South Dakota. Mark led by example, and his legacy of vision, community involvement, and a love of work an...

2015 Inductee Craig Lloyd began his career with the management of 100 apartment units, and transitioned into work as a contractor, growing exponentially to include a portfolio of nearly 4,000 apartment units and 1.5 million square feet of comme...

2016 Inductee Robert (Bob) Burns made a massive impact on the State of South Dakota and joined Miles Beacom to talk about his legacy in higher education. During his tenure at South Dakota State University, Robert Burns received many teaching aw...

William (Bill) Walsh was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2007 for his service to South Dakota through multiple forms of outreach. Bill has served five parishes as an ordained catholic priest and teacher; he has helped shape priso...

The impact of Ron Reed’s work can be felt all across the state, from Vermillion to Pierre to the Black Hills. For over five decades, Dr. Reed has worked tirelessly and behind the scenes to enrich the lives not only of individuals with special n...

1991 Inductee Duane Reichert has become best known to rodeo fans all over the country as "Dr. Ben Krazy", the nut with the ersatz ambulance. Reichert brought a wide variety of comedy to the spectator. He is highly visible throughout the rodeo w...

2021 Inductee Craig Tieszen led a dedicated career as a Police Chief and legislator with honesty, kindness, and integrity. As a leader, he was analytical, practical, and respectful. In this episode of the Legacy Podcast, retired CEO of the Sout...

2011 Inductee Lynn Seppala has exhibited what it means to overcome great adversity to continue to pursue one’s dreams. Mid-career as a world-leading designer of state-of-the-art optics for pure and applied science, Lynn suffered a massive strok...

Believing that the key to success is hard work and caring about other people, 2011 Inductee William A. (Bill) Hinks left his Wisconsin home in 1960, at age 22 with nothing more than $50 and an old Buick, to work with his uncle and make his mark...

Ryan McFarland is an entrepreneur with a passion for mountain biking and motorsports. He spent his early years with a grandfather who was a race car owner and a father who owned a motorcycle dealership. After the birth of his first son Bode, Ry...

Ted Muenster’s integrity and leadership are well known in South Dakota and he has left behind a positive impact wherever he goes. A South Dakotan by choice, Ted’s career spanned over 40 years and included senior positions in higher education, s...