Doner, David B.

David Benton Doner was born July 7, 1895, in Sully County, South Dakota, to Benton and Harriette L. (Hunt) Doner. He enrolled at South Dakota State College in 1913 as a member of the first four-year class to graduate from the School of Agriculture for high school students. His freshman college year was interrupted by World War I. In 1919 and 1920, he taught agriculture at the College to returning soldiers. In 1920, he became assistant secretary of the College while continuing his education and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1928. On April 24, 1918, he married Edna Pearl Beals, and they had three children: Valeria, Dean, and Keith.

Doner devoted forty-two years of service to South Dakota State College, later South Dakota State University. He served as Registrar from 1922 to 1953 and became Director of Admissions and Records in 1953. In 1932, he was appointed Dean of Men. From 1936 to 1961, he served as Secretary of the Alumni Council and as editor of the Alumnus. Following the establishment of the SDSC Alumni Foundation in 1945, he served as its Treasurer until 1964. In recognition of his service, the Alumni Foundation named him a Distinguished Alumnus in 1964, the year of his retirement, and in 1973 the university awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. During his career, he served under nine presidents and signed 12,693 diplomas. Doner was also active in civic and professional organizations, including service with the Boy Scouts, the Brookings School Board, the South Dakota State Associated School Boards, Kiwanis, and fundraising efforts for the Crippled Children’s Hospital and School in Sioux Falls. He died in September 1978.

Field of Activity: Universities and colleges--Admission, Universities and colleges--Administration
Occupation: College registrars, College admission officers
Associated Groups: South Dakota State University