David F. Pearson received his law degree from the University of South Dakota and joined South Dakota State University in 1957 as an Assistant Professor of Economics. In 1959, President Briggs appointed him Special Assistant to the President, a role he held concurrently with his faculty appointment. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1961 and to Professor in 1965. Throughout this period, Pearson assumed significant administrative responsibilities that were later formalized when he was named Vice President for Administration in 1973, a newly created position. In July 1973, he resigned his role as Special Assistant to the President but continued as Vice President while retaining his professorship. In addition to his administrative duties, Pearson directed the Greater State Fund, which later developed into the South Dakota State University Foundation. He served in these capacities until his retirement in August 1980, at which time he was granted emeritus status. Pearson died on July 10, 1990.
Richard Franklin Pettigrew was a U.S. Delegate from the Dakota Territory and later a U.S. Senator from South Dakota. Born in Ludlow, Windsor County, Vermont, on July 23, 1848, he moved with his family to Wisconsin in 1854. He attended public schools and Evansville Academy before enrolling at Beloit College in 1864. After a year of teaching and studying law in Iowa, he entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1867.
In 1869, Pettigrew moved to Dakota Territory as part of a U.S. deputy surveyor team. He settled in Sioux Falls, where he was admitted to the bar around 1871 and practiced law while engaging in surveying and real estate. His political career began with service in the Dakota Territorial House of Representatives in 1872, followed by terms in the Territorial Council in 1877 and 1879.
Pettigrew was elected as a Republican Delegate to the Forty-seventh Congress (1881–1883) but was unsuccessful in his bid for reelection in 1882. He returned to the Territorial Council in 1885, continuing his involvement in legislative affairs. Pettigrew later played a crucial role in securing statehood for South Dakota and went on to serve as one of its first U.S. Senators.
A strong advocate for progressive and populist policies, Pettigrew eventually broke with the Republican Party, aligning himself with the Populist movement and advocating for economic reform and government regulation of monopolies. His political career and writings reflected his commitment to challenging corporate power and advancing policies to benefit the working class and farmers.
The South Dakota State University chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has recognized academic excellence across all disciplines since at least 1949. Phi Kappa Phi, founded nationally in 1897, is a collegiate honor society that promotes superior scholarship without restriction to a specific academic field. While the exact charter date of the SDSU chapter is not documented, records indicate sustained activity on campus over several decades.
The chapter has organized initiation ceremonies, academic banquets, faculty lectures, and student recognition events in support of its mission to honor scholarly achievement and encourage academic distinction. Through these activities, the chapter has maintained a continuing presence within the university community and contributed to the recognition of high academic performance among students and faculty.
In 1933, students at South Dakota State College began laying the groundwork to apply for a charter with Phi Upsilon Omicron, the Home Economics Honor Society. Encouraged by Dean Edith Pierson and Laura McArthur—who taught Home Economics Education and was an alumna of Alpha Chapter—the students received guidance and access to valuable contacts to support their efforts.
After much preparation, Phi Chapter was officially chartered on May 19, 1934, just one week before the senior students graduated. Members of Alpha and Beta Chapters organized the installation ceremony, which was conducted by Priscilla Rowland, National President of Phi U. The event took place in the Foods Laboratory, then located in the Administration Building.
The first president of Phi Chapter was Merle (La Mont) Gunsalus, a junior at the time of installation. Several students were initiated during the May 1934 ceremony, marking the beginning of the chapter’s long-standing presence on campus.
As of 2008, Phi Upsilon Omicron is recognized as a Family and Consumer Sciences Honor Society, dedicated to promoting professional development and community service. Membership in Phi U is both an honor and a commitment to active engagement in the organization’s initiatives.
One of the society’s core goals is to help members grow as professionals—not only through academic achievement, but also through involvement in meaningful activities and experiences. Each year, Phi U carries out a professional project that encourages student involvement on campus and within the local community. In addition, the chapter maintains connections with its alumni through joint activities and events.
Students who have completed at least 40 credit hours and maintain a GPA of 3.2 or higher are eligible for invitation to join. In evaluating prospective members, the chapter seeks individuals who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.