Harold W. Shunk (1907-1998) was an educator, public servant, and historian, born on July 25, 1907, in Philip, South Dakota. He married his former Colome High School classmate, DeLilah E. Wood, in 1929. After earning a degree from Southern State College, he taught in Tripp County before working on the Rosebud and Cheyenne River Indian reservations. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific as a tank driver.
In the 1950s, Shunk began his career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, serving as superintendent at the Sisseton, Turtle Mountain, Standing Rock, and Rosebud agencies. He retired in 1968 and subsequently focused on public service, actively participating in civic and fraternal organizations. His roles included serving on the governing boards of Rapid City schools, South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, and Black Hills State University, as well as holding positions with the South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Lower Brule Irrigation Board, and the Pennington County Housing Board.
Deeply interested in history, Shunk contributed to the South Dakota State Historical Society and hosted radio and television programs in Rapid City, sharing his knowledge of local history. He passed away on April 18, 1998, in Rapid City.
Elmer Harrison Sexauer was born on July 13, 1888, in Winona, Minnesota, to George P. and Elisa (Ulrich) Sexauer. The family moved to Volga, South Dakota in 1891 and later to Brookings, where Elmer attended public schools and South Dakota State College. In 1911, he joined his father in managing The Sexauer Company. Elmer served in the U.S. Army during World War I and held leadership roles in several organizations, including president of the SD Seed Dealers Association, the Western Seedsmen Association, the American Seed Trade Association, and the National Grain and Feed Association. He was also involved with the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, First Bank Systems, and Northwestern Bell Telephone. Elmer received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of South Dakota for his business achievements. He was a member of Gamma Sigma Phi at SDSU, the Brookings Masonic Lodge No. 24, and the El Riad Shrine. Elmer retired in 1977 as chairman of The Sexauer Company, which had offices in Brookings, Des Moines, West Fargo, and Norfolk. He passed away on November 15, 1986.
Cecile Irene Welch Sexauer was born on January 18, 1888, in Huron, South Dakota, to Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Welch. The family moved to Arlington, South Dakota, and later to Brookings in 1903. Cecile graduated from Brookings High School and South Dakota State College and attended the Boston Conservatory of Music for one year. She taught piano at South Dakota State College and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Brookings, where she played piano and organ for about 25 years. Cecile was actively involved in music organizations at the local, state, and national levels, including serving as president of the National Music Organization. She was also a member of the BA chapter of PEO and the Sorosis Club. Cecile passed away on October 7, 1973, at Brookings Hospital, after being hospitalized for four weeks.
Charles Louis Sewrey, a native of St. Paul, Minnesota, joined South Dakota State College in 1947 after graduating with high distinction from the University of Minnesota. He held Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Minnesota, where he also gained teaching experience. In 1955, he earned his Ph.D. from the same institution.
At South Dakota State University, Dr. Sewrey served as professor of history, teaching courses in American political, economic, cultural, and diplomatic history. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he published extensively in national intellectual magazines and authored A History of South Dakota State College in 1959. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Dr. Sewrey retired in 1974 due to declining health and passed away in 1979. In 1981, a memorial endowment fund was established in his name. The History Department at South Dakota State University is the principal recipient of the fund, which supports student scholarships and faculty development initiatives, including the Sewrey Faculty Colloquium.
In April 1977, five members of the South Dakota State University (SDSU) basketball team participated in a trip to Cuba as part of a South Dakota delegation. The idea for such an exchange was first considered following U.S. Senator George McGovern’s 1975 visit to Cuba. Shortly thereafter, SDSU sports director Dave Martin contacted Senator McGovern to explore potential opportunities for sports exchanges with Cuba. Despite the diplomatic complexities involved, plans were well underway by March 1977. With continued support from Senators McGovern and James Abourezk, the trip became a joint initiative between the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University. The delegation visited Cuba from April 4 to 8, 1977, and included 20 participants, among them five students and five advisors from SDSU.
In the early history of South Dakota State College, administrative support for varsity athletics was minimal, a sentiment common among land-grant institutions at the time. College leadership often viewed competitive athletics as incompatible with the educational mission of the institution. Consequently, students were responsible for organizing and managing early athletic activities.
Football was first introduced in the fall of 1885. Like baseball and track and field, early participation was primarily intramural, with competitions typically occurring between classes or divisions within the college. Before 1900, intercollegiate competition at South Dakota State included baseball, football, track and field, tennis, bicycle races, and oratorical contests. These contests were sometimes organized in conjunction with state oratorical competitions.
A significant challenge in the development of early athletics was the absence of formal coaching. Early teams were often led by older students or interested faculty volunteers.
The formation of the North Central Conference in 1922 marked a turning point for South Dakota State athletics. Dr. Harry Severin, a zoology professor at SDSU, played a key role in establishing and administering the conference, serving as its secretary for 40 years. South Dakota State won the first conference championship.
Since the 1920s, SDSU has been actively engaged in intercollegiate athletics and has achieved notable success within the North Central Conference. The university has also contributed to the development of new sports programs, including wrestling, gymnastics, field hockey, swimming, and various sports clubs. SDSU transitioned to full participation in NCAA Division I athletics at the beginning of the 2008–09 academic year.
Tom Schumacher is Professor Emeritus of Plant Science at South Dakota State University. His scholarship focuses on soil biophysics, soil management, and soil conservation. He earned a Ph.D. in Soil Biophysics in 1982 and an M.S. in Crop and Soil Science in 1979 from Michigan State University, following a B.A. in Biology from Bluffton University in 1972.
Throughout his academic career, Schumacher conducted research on soil structure, soil physical properties, and soil architecture. His work has been widely cited, with more than 7,900 citations, and he has authored or co authored over 168 scholarly publications. His research contributed to the scientific understanding of soil behavior and management practices relevant to agriculture and environmental conservation.
Schumacher has been active in professional organizations including the American Society of Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America, and the Soil and Water Conservation Society. In addition to his research, he was involved in teaching and mentoring students and professionals in soil science. His career includes recognition through awards and honors related to his research and professional service.
Theodore W. Schultz (1902–1998) was an influential economist known for his work on human capital and agricultural economics. Born on April 30, 1902, in Arlington, South Dakota, he was the eldest of eight children. Due to labor shortages during World War I, he worked on the family farm instead of attending high school. The agricultural depression of the 1920s motivated him to study the economic factors affecting farmers. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from South Dakota State University in 1926 and went on to the University of Wisconsin, where he completed his master’s and doctoral degrees in 1930.
Schultz began his teaching career in agricultural economics at Iowa State University, later becoming head of the Department of Economic Sociology. During World War II, he and his colleagues produced reports on government policies affecting agriculture. One controversial report recommended substituting margarine for butter, leading to opposition from the Iowa dairy industry and college administration. In 1943, Schultz successfully fought against censorship but resigned in protest along with several colleagues. He then joined the University of Chicago, where he became department chairman and played a key role in establishing Chicago as a center for economic innovation. In 1952, he was named a Charles L. Hutchinson Distinguished Service Professor, a position he held until retiring as emeritus professor in 1972.
Schultz pioneered the concept of human capital, arguing that investment in education and skills enhances economic productivity. He also challenged traditional views on agriculture, emphasizing its role in economic development beyond just food production. In 1979, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics, shared with Arthur Lewis, for his groundbreaking research on economic development and human capital. He also received the Francis A. Walker Medal in 1972, a prestigious honor given by the American Economic Association every five years. Schultz authored and edited numerous books and served as an adviser to major foundations, federal agencies, the White House, and the military. He received five honorary doctorates, including one from South Dakota State University.
Schultz married Esther Werth, a fellow South Dakota native and SDSU graduate. They had two daughters, Elaine and Margaret, and one son, T. Paul. Though he formally retired in 1972, he remained active in research until 1990, when a hip fracture left him bedridden. He passed away on February 26, 1998, in Evanston, Illinois, due to complications from pneumonia.
The National Chapter of Scabbard and Blade was established in 1904 at the University of Wisconsin. The 1st Company, 6th Regiment was installed at South Dakota State College on May 15, 1927.
Scabbard and Blade aimed to raise the standard of military drill in American colleges and universities, strengthen relationships among military departments, encourage the development of efficient and capable officers, and foster camaraderie among cadets.
Membership was open to R.O.T.C. cadets enrolled in the advanced course and was based on standards similar to those of other honorary fraternities. Candidates were expected to demonstrate qualities such as efficiency, patriotism, obedience, honor, courage, and good fellowship.
The organization remained active at South Dakota State University until sometime in the 1970s.
The Saturday Literary Club, founded in 1897 with 14 members, was the first women’s club organized in Brookings, South Dakota. Dedicated to social engagement and cultural enrichment, the club played a significant role in the community’s intellectual life.
Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in Brown County, northeastern South Dakota, near the city of Columbia. It was established in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Encompassing over 21,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands, and open water, the refuge was created to protect and enhance migratory bird habitat, particularly for waterfowl.
It is recognized as a Globally Important Bird Area and a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. Sand Lake provides critical breeding, nesting, and migratory stopover habitat for hundreds of bird species, including ducks, geese, herons, and endangered whooping cranes. The refuge also supports a variety of mammals, amphibians, and fish species.
The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and includes facilities for research, conservation, and public recreation, such as birdwatching, environmental education, photography, and regulated hunting and fishing.