In 1958, Hilton M. Briggs was appointed president at South Dakota State. He served in that capacity for 17 years, the longest tenure in the presidential office. He received his B.S. from Iowa State University, M.S. from North Dakota State University, and Ph.D. from Cornell University. He held positions as professor and associate dean of agriculture at Oklahoma State University and dean of agriculture at the University of Wyoming. During his tenure, the South Dakota State College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts became South Dakota State University, divisions became colleges, and the campus grew to match its increasing status. The number of departments grew, enrollment increased by more than half, and the number of buildings on campus almost doubled. Briggs was also instrumental in beginning the social fraternities and sororities on campus and initiating women's intercollegiate athletics. He also guided the campus through the controversy and activism of the 1960s and 1970s. The Faculty Association became the Academic Senate with decision-making capacity under Briggs’ leadership, and the Student Association also took on more responsibility. Upon his retirement in 1975, he was designated a Distinguished Professor of Agriculture, taught for two years, and was appointed director of International Programs. He was involved in the development of the Botswana Africa Project, a United States Agency for International Development program for teaching, research, and agricultural extension in that country.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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