Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Daktronics, Inc. was founded on December 9, 1968, in Brookings, South Dakota, by South Dakota State University electrical engineering professors Dr. Aelred Kurtenbach and Dr. Duane Sander. Initially focused on biomedical instrumentation, the company shifted direction in 1970 after developing an electronic voting system for the Utah Legislature. In 1971 Daktronics produced its first scoreboard, the three-sided “Matside” wrestling scoreboard, which led to the development of the widely used “All Sport” line and the company’s expansion into electronic display systems for sports venues, commercial spaces, and public events.
The Daktronics Records document the company’s growth from a regional startup to an international leader in electronic scoreboards and digital display technology. Materials include newsletters, reports, and promotional publications that reflect product development, corporate culture, and public relations activities. The collection also documents Daktronics’ involvement in major international events, including the 1980 Winter Olympics and the Holmenkollen Ski Festival.
The collection illustrates the technological and economic impact of a South Dakota–based company closely connected to South Dakota State University and provides research value for the study of regional entrepreneurship, corporate communications, and the development of electronic display systems used in sports and public venues.