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Professor Donald Berg earned a B.A. in History from North Dakota State University in 1964 and an M.A. in History in 1966. He completed a second M.A. at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1971 and received his Ph.D. in Geography from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1976.

Berg served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969, including service in the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1968. During the summers of 1970, 1971, and 1972, he was employed as a seasonal ranger naturalist at Sequoia National Park in California.

He joined South Dakota State University as a professor of geography and history in 1990 and retired in May 2011. He also held earlier appointments at SDSU from 1983 to 1986. Berg taught courses primarily in physical geography, world regional geography, and environmental disasters and hazards, as well as seminars in regional geography, transportation, energy, and illegal drugs. His teaching also included courses in the history of the American West and American Indian history and culture. For more than fifteen years, he provided orientation sessions for students participating in the International Partnership for Service-Learning program.

Berg served as secretary treasurer of the Great Plains Rocky Mountain Division of the Association of American Geographers from 1994 to 2008 and was faculty sponsor for the Delta Zeta Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon beginning in 1994. He was the first instructor at South Dakota State University to offer live, real time interactive television courses on the Brookings campus and received two Governor’s Grants in 2000 and 2002 for the application of computer technology to online instruction in physical geography.

His research, professional presentations, and publications addressed topics including Native American casinos, the historical geography of railroads, federal defense and water development programs, and related book reviews and encyclopedia contributions. His later work focused on the historical geography of the Dust Bowl era in the northern Great Plains and the development and significance of the American Indian Reservation system in South Dakota.

Sherwood O. Berg was born and raised near Hendrum, Minnesota, where he actively participated in 4-H and took on responsibilities managing the family farm after the death of his father. He began his post-secondary education at the University of Minnesota's School of Agriculture before transferring to South Dakota State College (SDSC) in 1940, drawn by the strength of its agricultural program. His education was interrupted by military service in World War II, during which he served in the U.S. Army as a field infantryman and later as a Military Government Food and Agricultural Officer.

Following the war, Berg completed his B.S. degree at SDSC in 1947, earned an M.S. from Cornell University in 1948, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1951. He served internationally as Agricultural Attaché to Yugoslavia, Norway, and Denmark (1951–1957) before returning to academia as Professor and Head of Agricultural Economics at the University of Minnesota. In 1963, he was appointed Dean of the Institute of Agriculture at the same institution and served as chair of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s National Advisory Commission on Food and Fiber.

From 1973 to 1975, Berg directed The Indonesia Project of the Midwest Universities Consortium and later returned to SDSU as its President on August 1, 1975, becoming the first alumnus to hold the role. His presidency was marked by institutional growth, international partnerships in Syria, Botswana, Senegal, and Mauritania, and increasing numbers of international students. He also facilitated the creation of SDSU’s first endowed faculty position—the Ethel Austin Martin-Edward Moss Martin Chair in Human Nutrition. He retired in 1984 as President Emeritus.

Berg married Elizabeth Ann Hall in 1952. They had two children.

Willibald C. Bianchi was born on March 12, 1915, in New Ulm, Minnesota, to Joseph and Carrie Bianchi.

He enrolled at South Dakota State College in 1937 and joined the R.O.T.C. program. Upon graduating in 1940, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and entered Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, later earning promotion to First Lieutenant.

In April 1941, Bianchi was assigned to the 45th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Scouts to assist in training Filipino soldiers. He remained in the Philippines after the U.S. entered World War II and was wounded during the Battle of Bataan on February 3, 1942. Despite multiple injuries, he continued fighting until he was incapacitated by an explosion. For his actions, General Douglas MacArthur awarded him the Medal of Honor, making Bianchi the third recipient of the medal during the war.

Promoted to Captain, Bianchi was captured on April 9, 1942, during the fall of Bataan. He endured the Bataan Death March and worked to aid fellow prisoners in the camps. After over two years in captivity, he died on January 9, 1945, when an unmarked prison ship was bombed by American forces.

Bianchi’s remains were never recovered. He is commemorated on the Wall of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines, with a grave marker at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In 1998, South Dakota State University honored Captain Bianchi with a memorial plaque in the Student Union, a commemorative ceremony, and the establishment of a scholarship in his name.

The George Biggar Papers document the career of a South Dakota-born broadcaster whose work in agricultural communication and radio production spanned from the 1920s through the 1960s. The collection likely includes materials related to Biggar’s early education and student publications at South Dakota State University, his professional correspondence and scripts from WLS in Chicago and WLW in Cincinnati, and documentation of his contributions to rural broadcasting and wartime agricultural reporting. His involvement in creating the National Barn Dance program and his oversight of farm and entertainment programming illustrate his role in shaping early American radio.

George Biggar played a significant role in the development of rural and agricultural radio in the United States. His work bridged the fields of agriculture, mass communication, and entertainment during a formative period for radio broadcasting. His participation in international agricultural tours during World War II reflects the connection between media and agricultural policy. Biggar’s career demonstrates the influence of South Dakota State University alumni in national broadcasting history and agricultural outreach.

Joye Ann Billow was born July 28, 1943, in Middletown, Pennsylvania, to Mary Dorothea (Pierce) and Schuyler Elsworth Billow. She graduated from Middletown High School in 1961 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy in 1967. She went on to complete a PhD in medicinal chemistry at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Billow joined the faculty of the South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy in 1972, where she served for 30 years until her retirement in 2002. She was a professor of pharmaceutical sciences and a licensed pharmacist throughout her career.

Dr. Billow was faculty advisor to the Chi Chapter of the Kappa Epsilon Fraternity for women pharmacy students for 29 years. During her tenure she received the Kappa Epsilon Outstanding Advisor Award (1991), the Unicorn Award (1991), and the Career Achievement Award (2003). Under her guidance, the Chi Chapter was recognized as the Outstanding Collegian KE Chapter for 2002–2003.

In 2002 Billow was honored with the SDSU Woman of Distinction Award in recognition of her service as a pharmacy faculty member and her involvement in campus and community organizations. Her contributions included coordinating the Bush Project, serving as chair and vice-chair of the Academic Senate, preparing the 1990 self-study for university accreditation, and helping to establish the Brookings Women’s Center, the Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter, and Brookings Hospice.

After retiring, Billow pursued her interest in art, producing work that was featured in local exhibitions. She also served on the board of the Brookings Arts Council. Joye Ann Billow passed away on December 6, 2013, at the age of 70.

Elvin C. Bjorklund (1908–1990) served as Deputy State Conservationist with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. His career focused on soil and water conservation, including work on the Conservation Needs Inventory, flood prevention, and watershed protection. He played a key role in advancing conservation practices in South Dakota and contributed to regional and national efforts through administrative leadership and technical expertise.

Dr. Brandt is an Emeritus Professor of English whose scholarly specialization is English Renaissance literature, with particular emphasis on Shakespearean studies and Renaissance drama, prose, and poetry. He earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1977, following completion of an M.A. in 1971 and a B.A. in 1969 from the University of Denver. After completing his doctoral studies, Brandt joined the faculty of South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, in the fall of 1979.

During his tenure at SDSU, Brandt taught and conducted research primarily in English Renaissance literature, focusing on Shakespeare and related Renaissance authors and genres. In addition to his teaching and scholarship, he served in various academic leadership and service roles, including participation on university and departmental committees and the mentoring of students and colleagues.

Brandt’s scholarship has been recognized through multiple awards. He received the F.O. Butler Foundation Award for Excellence in Scholarship in 1992 and the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Scholar Award in 2015. His publications include articles, books, and contributions to edited volumes addressing topics such as Shakespearean literature, Renaissance drama, and Marlowe studies, reflecting sustained contributions to the field of English Renaissance scholarship.

The Brookings Reconciliation Council was a community-based organization established in Brookings, South Dakota, in the early 1990s in response to statewide and local efforts to address historical injustices and improve relations between Native American and non-Native communities. Its formation followed South Dakota’s 1990 “Year of Reconciliation,” which encouraged dialogue, education, and community action around Native history, sovereignty, and civil rights.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the Council served as a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues affecting Native communities, including education, land and sovereignty, cultural representation, violence, and economic concerns. The organization sponsored and participated in conferences, public events, and reconciliation initiatives, and worked with educators, civic leaders, and community groups to promote awareness and understanding. The Council remained active into the early twenty-first century, leaving a record of sustained local engagement with reconciliation and human rights issues in eastern South Dakota.

Rotary International is a global organization of business and professional leaders dedicated to humanitarian service, promoting high ethical standards in all vocations, and fostering goodwill and peace. The movement began in 1905 when four Chicago businessmen met to build fellowship within the business community. As membership grew, meetings rotated among members’ places of business, inspiring the name ""Rotary."" Rotary became international in 1910 with the formation of a club in Canada, and by 1921 it had expanded to every continent. The organization formally adopted the name Rotary International in 1922.

The Brookings Rotary Club was established in 1919 through the efforts of local businessmen Ivan Cobel and Clyde Hinkley, who believed a Rotary Club would help strengthen ties among the business community. With support from other local business leaders and sponsorship from the Watertown Rotary Club, the Brookings club received its charter on February 1, 1920. Arthur Stoll served as the first president, and the club began with 21 charter members.

Throughout its history, the Brookings Rotary Club has contributed significantly to local civic and youth initiatives. These include supplying instruments and uniforms to the Brookings High School band, sponsoring Boy Scouts and youth sports teams, and initiating the concept for the Brookings United Retirement Center. The club also helped establish the United Fund, provided equipment for the Brookings Hospital, and developed Rotary Park. Members have contributed to international efforts as well, including book drives for schools in South Africa and the Philippines, financial support for the Polio Plus campaign, and contributions to the Rotary International Foundation.

Brookings Rotarians have played an active role in the broader Rotary organization, with six members serving as District Governors. The club has sponsored young professionals for international group study exchanges and awards a four-year scholarship annually to a local student attending South Dakota State University. It also provides educational awards for students studying abroad.

The Brookings Rotary Club remains active today, supporting local projects and promoting fellowship and service among members from the business, industrial, and educational sectors. Weekly meetings continue to serve as a platform for community engagement and informative programs.

The Brookings Veterans Society was composed of discharged and separated members of the United States Armed Forces who were enrolled as students at South Dakota State University. In the preamble to its constitution, the society acknowledged its members’ dual roles as both veterans and students. Recognizing this unique perspective, they believed their primary responsibility was to support the interests and welfare of the broader student body. The society’s purpose, as outlined in its constitution, was to uphold the South Dakota State University Student Code and to support the educational mission of the institution. It sought to create a welcoming environment for new veteran students, offering help and assistance as they transitioned into university life. The organization also aimed to provide information and encourage discussion on legislation, current events, and political issues affecting the university, the state, the nation, and the world. Additionally, the society worked to advocate for the general interests of veterans and other students on campus, to improve classroom and residential facilities, and to encourage veterans to enroll in, remain at, or return to South Dakota State University.

Dona Brown was born on May 25, 1909, in Brookings, South Dakota. She graduated from Huron High School in 1927 and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from South Dakota State College in 1931, followed by a master's degree in education in 1937. Brown dedicated 43 years to education as a teacher and counselor in Woonsocket and Huron, South Dakota.

She served on the South Dakota Board of Regents from 1957 to 1969 and held leadership roles including chairman of the board of trustees at Huron College. Brown was active in numerous organizations, including the SDSU Benefactors Club, South Dakota Centennial Commission, South Dakota Personnel and Guidance Association, Salvation Army, Red Cross, and First Federal Savings and Loan of Huron. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women, Huron Chamber of Commerce, and the South Dakota Education Association.

In recognition of her contributions, Brown was awarded an honorary doctorate and Distinguished Alumnus Award by South Dakota State University in 1970. She was inducted into the South Dakota Cowboy and Western Heritage Hall of Fame in 1980.

Dona Brown passed away on May 25, 1996.

George L. Brown was born on January 25, 1869, on a farm in Bates County, Missouri. He attended a rural school before enrolling in a preparatory program at the University of Missouri, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1892. Two years after graduating, Brown joined the faculty of the University of Missouri as an instructor in mathematics while completing his Master of Science degree in mathematics. He later pursued advanced study at the University of Chicago, where he completed a fellowship and earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in mathematics.

In February 1897, Brown was appointed professor of mathematics and astronomy at what was then South Dakota State College. He served the institution for approximately fifty years, holding multiple administrative roles including dean and vice president. During his tenure, he served as acting president on five occasions and was awarded the title of president emeritus in 1944.

Brown married Winifred G. Loucks of Deuel County in 1898. They had three children, one son, Cecil, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Florence. Following Winifred’s death in 1908, Brown married Anna York Loucks of Brookings in 1910. Their marriage produced six children in total, including two sons, George Jr. and Gerald, and four daughters, Winifred and Charlotte among them.

George L. Brown died on August 8, 1950.

Robert (Bob) Burns was born in Flandreau, South Dakota, in 1942, the youngest of six children of Joseph and Marie Burns. While attending Flandreau High School, he developed a strong record of participation and leadership, achievements that earned him a four-year Briggs Scholarship to South Dakota State University in 1960.

Burns graduated from SDSU in June 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army through ROTC later that summer. That same year he married Donna Bozied. He was awarded a three-year National Defense Fellowship from the University of Missouri–Columbia, which provided full support for his doctoral studies in political science. He completed his M.A. in 1966 and Ph.D. in 1973 with the aid of this fellowship and Donna’s support.

In 1968, Burns reported for active duty at Fort Benning, Georgia, serving two years as an Army officer, including one year in Vietnam as a captain. For his service, he received the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

While still in Vietnam, Burns was invited by his undergraduate mentor, Professor Hendrickson, to join the SDSU political science faculty on a one-year appointment. That temporary role became a 38-year career. He earned recognition as an outstanding teacher, receiving the College of Arts and Sciences “Teacher of the Year” award seven times, the Burlington Northern Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1989, and was named Distinguished Professor of Political Science in 1994 by the South Dakota Board of Regents. In 1995, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching named him South Dakota Professor of the Year for his dedication to undergraduate teaching.

Burns also held key leadership roles at SDSU. He served nearly 20 years as head of the Departments of Political Science and Philosophy and Religion, acted as Director of the USD Farber Center in 1998, and in the last decade of his tenure became the first Dean of the SDSU Honors College while continuing his teaching and administrative duties. Beyond campus, he conducted summer policy research for Governors Kneip, Wollman, and Janklow and served as a Humanist-in-Residence for the South Dakota Committee on the Humanities on three occasions.

Upon retiring in 2008, the South Dakota Board of Regents granted him the titles Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Dean Emeritus of the Honors College. That same year, the SDSU Alumni Association honored him as a Distinguished Alumnus for Service to Education.

In retirement, Burns has remained active as a commentator on South Dakota and national politics, government, and legal issues. He has also continued his service in higher education and civic leadership, including membership on the National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education (1997–1998) and long-term service as South Dakota’s Commissioner on the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (since 1996). Guided by his belief in the importance of citizen engagement and a strong civil society, he has served on and often led numerous boards, commissions, and councils. He continues this work in retirement, including chairing the South Dakota Budget and Policy Institute and the South Dakota World Affairs Council, as well as teaching courses for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Sioux Falls and Brookings.