Showing 2136 results

Charles A. Lundquist was born on March 26, 1928, in Webster, South Dakota. He graduated early from high school in 1945 intending to enlist in the military but instead enrolled at South Dakota State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in engineering physics. He later received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Kansas in 1953, where he also met and married Patricia Richardson in 1951.

Lundquist began his career as an assistant professor of engineering at Pennsylvania State University, conducting research on homing torpedoes in the university’s Ordnance Research Laboratory. Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1954, he completed basic training at Fort Bliss and was assigned to Redstone Arsenal, working in the Guided Missile Development Division while also teaching at Athens College. After completing his service, he became Chief of Physics and Astrophysics at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency.

In 1960, he joined NASA’s newly formed Marshall Space Flight Center, contributing to early spaceflight projects including Explorer 1 under the leadership of Wernher von Braun. Two years later, Lundquist became assistant director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Scientific Research Project in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while also serving on NASA’s lunar exploration planning group—a position he attributed to the influence of astronomer Fred Lawrence Whipple.

Lundquist returned to the Marshall Space Flight Center in 1973 to serve as Director of the Space Sciences Laboratory following the death of Gerhard B. Heller. There, he played a key role in the Skylab and Space Shuttle programs until his retirement in 1981.

Following his NASA career, Lundquist joined the University of Alabama in Huntsville as Associate Vice President for Research and Director of the Interactive Projects Office. He conducted extensive oral history interviews with early American and German rocket scientists, culminating in the publication of his book Transplanted Rocket Pioneers. Although he officially retired in 2000, he continued his research and writing until his death in 2017.

Henry Langford Loucks was born on May 24, 1846, in Hull, Ontario, Canada, to William J. and Anna (York) Loucks. Educated in Canadian common schools, he married Florence Isabel McCraney on May 22, 1878, in Oakville, Ontario. They had seven children, four of whom—Perry, Anna, Elizabeth, and Daniel—survived to adulthood.

Loucks immigrated to the United States, operating mercantile businesses in Michigan and Missouri before settling on a government homestead near Clear Lake in Deuel County, Dakota Territory, in 1884. Arriving as the regional economic boom declined, he experienced firsthand the challenges facing farmers. In response, he organized a “farmer’s club,” which evolved into the Territorial Alliance and affiliated with the National Farmers’ Alliance in 1885. As its president, Loucks promoted cooperative ventures such as insurance and merchandising enterprises and founded The Dakota Ruralist, a newspaper that advanced his reform ideas for two decades.

Initially active in the Republican Party, Loucks and his associates sought to achieve reform from within. In 1890, he was nominated for governor at a joint convention of the Knights of Labor and the state Farmers’ Alliance. Although he lost the election, his efforts helped consolidate support for a new political movement—the Populist Party. He presided over its first national convention in 1892 and that same year became president of the National Farmers’ Alliance and Industrial Union. A strong proponent of direct democracy, Loucks was instrumental in securing adoption of the initiative and referendum process in South Dakota in 1898.

Loucks wrote extensively on political and economic reform. His publications include The New Monetary System (1893), Government Ownership of Railroads and Telegraphs (1894), and The Great Conspiracy of the House of Morgan and How to Defeat It (1916). Though he lived for many years in Watertown, South Dakota, he died in Clear Lake on December 29, 1928.

Eugene “Gene” Henry Lothrop was born on August 16, 1920, in Redfield, South Dakota. He graduated from Huron High School in 1938 and earned a degree in electrical engineering from South Dakota State College in 1942. On December 20, 1942, he married Wilma “Jean” Walters. Gene worked as the foreman for Lothrop’s Electrical Service, owned by Elmer M. Lothrop. He passed away on April 15, 2014, in Prescott, Arizona.

The Academic Women's Equity Coalition was established at South Dakota State University during the 1983–1984 academic year in response to informal conversations among faculty members concerned with workplace policies and professional opportunities. Open to all faculty and supporters of its mission, the coalition aimed to promote equity in hiring, salary, promotion, and tenure practices. It provided a forum for discussing faculty experiences, identifying institutional barriers, and fostering professional development.

The coalition advocated for clear, consistent communication in professional contexts and supported faculty interested in administrative advancement. Through these efforts, it contributed to institutional conversations about fairness, transparency, and career progression within the university setting.

James K. ""Tex"" Lewis was born on October 24, 1924, in Waco, Texas. He earned a B.S. in Animal Science from Colorado State University in 1948 and an M.S. in Animal Science from Montana State College in 1951, later pursuing graduate studies in range management at Texas A&M University.

As a professor of Animal Sciences at South Dakota State University, Lewis specialized in range management and range livestock nutrition. His research at the Cottonwood and Antelope Range Field Stations focused on grazing systems, supplementation trials, range improvements, and biometric analyses of grassland ecosystems. He was honored with several awards, including the Special Appreciation Award (1975), the Trail Boss Award (1980), and the Outstanding Achievement Award (1984) from the Society for Range Management.

Lewis retired from SDSU in 1985, leaving a lasting impact on the field of range science. His legacy continues through the long-term data he collected, which remains a valuable resource for contemporary research in sustainable rangeland and livestock management. Current studies analyzing stocking rates, forage productivity, and ecological sustainability continue to build on the foundational work Lewis conducted across South Dakota’s rangelands.

Gary Lemme, Ph.D. is a distinguished leader in agricultural education, research, and extension services with over 45 years of experience in academia and administration. A native of Kiester, Minnesota, he earned a B.S. in Agricultural Education (1974) and an M.S. in Agronomy (1975) from South Dakota State University (SDSU), followed by a Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1979), where he focused on soil moisture and stratigraphy in loessial landscapes.

Lemme began his academic career as a faculty member at SDSU (1981–1990), where he taught and conducted research in soil science. During this time, he was recognized as the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences' Teacher of the Year in 1986. He also held faculty and administrative roles at Michigan State University, where he served as Associate Director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (1999–2005), and at the University of Minnesota, where he was Head of the West Central Research and Outreach Center (1992–1999). Additionally, he served as Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (1990–1992).

In 2005, Lemme was appointed Dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences at SDSU. During his tenure, he oversaw a budget of over $74 million, expanded research funding, and supported academic growth across 14 departments. He played a key role in forming interdisciplinary research collaborations and strengthening sustainable agriculture programs. He stepped down in 2008 but remained at SDSU as a professor and coordinator of special programs.

Lemme's leadership continued as Director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) from 2011 to 2021. He led the only joint 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant University Extension system in the U.S., overseeing more than 800 employees across Alabama A&M and Auburn University. Under his direction, ACES expanded outreach efforts, enhanced research-driven agricultural solutions, and secured funding to support rural development initiatives.

Throughout his career, Lemme has contributed significantly to agricultural research and education, publishing numerous peer-reviewed articles, and securing over $2 million in grants and contracts. He has completed international assignments in 16 countries, focusing on agricultural sustainability and education. His contributions have been recognized with multiple awards, including the USDA Group Honor Award for Excellence and the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture National Fellow Award.

Now serving as Extension Director Emeritus at Auburn University, Lemme remains committed to advancing agricultural education, research, and outreach programs that support the economic and environmental sustainability of rural communities.

Content Notes
The Gary Lemme Papers document his extensive career in agricultural education, research, and extension services spanning over four decades. The materials reflect his academic contributions, leadership roles, and professional achievements at institutions such as South Dakota State University, Michigan State University, the University of Minnesota, and Auburn University.

The collection includes a diverse range of materials, including certificates, plaques, awards, and recognition from various organizations such as the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, USDA, and professional agricultural associations. His work in soil science and agronomy is represented through publications, research reports, and conference proceedings. Correspondence and thank-you letters provide insight into his professional relationships and collaborations.

Significant items in the collection include memorabilia from international agricultural programs, gifts from study exchanges, and materials related to his tenure as Dean of Agriculture at SDSU and Director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Additional materials highlight his involvement in professional societies, student mentorship, and leadership in agricultural policy and conservation.

The collection also features personal items such as commemorative plaques, awards from organizations including Future Farmers of America and the Soil and Water Conservation Society, and academic records, including diplomas and commencement programs. Visual materials such as photographs, slides, and ledger art from Indigenous artists further enrich the collection, offering a comprehensive view of Lemme’s contributions to agricultural education and global outreach.

Dr. Lee earned a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Maryland in 1975, followed by an M.A. in Journalism from South Dakota State University in 1976. She later completed a Ph.D. in Sociology, with a minor in Asian Studies, at South Dakota State University in 1998.

Before beginning her academic career, Dr. Lee worked for five years as a newspaper reporter in the Washington, D.C. area, covering issues ranging from urban hunger to teen pregnancy. Over the course of 25 years at SDSU, she has held a variety of teaching and administrative positions, most recently serving as diversity coordinator for the College of Engineering. She is also the co-founder and coordinator of the SDSU–Flandreau Indian School Success Academy, an intensive college preparatory program for American Indian high school students.

Dr. Lee has engaged in international scholarship as an exchange professor and visiting scholar at Yunnan Normal University in the People’s Republic of China. She is the author of Ethnicity, Education and Empowerment: How Minority Students in Southwest China Construct Identities and Ethnicity Matters: Rethinking How Black, Hispanic and Indian Students Prepare for and Succeed in College.

Harold E. Lee (1919–2012) was a lifelong resident of Moody County, South Dakota. Born on October 26, 1919, in Flandreau, he was raised in the nearby communities of Colman and Egan. He graduated from Flandreau High School in 1938 and enlisted in the Flandreau National Guard shortly thereafter. Lee maintained strong ties to his community throughout his life, participating in local organizations and preserving personal and family history. He was married to Mary Lee, and the couple were active in civic and social life in South Dakota

David J. Law grew up in Gary, South Dakota, and graduated from South Dakota State University in Brookings in 1966. He began his studies as a geography major, later became a high school basketball coach, and eventually switched to a speech major, which evolved into a focus on journalism and broadcasting. Law later served as news director at KWAT in Watertown, South Dakota.

Ronald “Ron” Larsen (May 15, 1946 – January 1, 2019) was a South Dakota resident and political candidate.

Larsen was born in 1946 and attended high school in Webster, South Dakota. He later attended South Dakota State University on a football scholarship and graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. In the mid-1970s, he served briefly as a defensive line coach at South Dakota State University.

In 2004, Larsen was the Democratic nominee for the South Dakota State Senate in District 6. He was defeated in the general election.

Ron Larsen died on January 1, 2019, at the age of 72.