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Barry Dunn became the fourth alumnus to be president of South Dakota State University in 2016. Dunn received his B.S degree in biology in 1975, M.S. in animal science in 1977, and Ph.D. in animal science in 2000 from South Dakota State University. Between 1979 and 1996 he ran his family’s ranch near Mission, S.D. From 1997 to 2004, he was an Extension livestock specialist and an assistant professor at South Dakota State in the Department of Animal and Range Science. In 2004, he joined the faculty at Texas A&M University-Kingsville as executive director of the King Ranch Institute for Range Management. In 2010, Dunn returned to SDSU to become the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences. In addition, he was also the director of SDSU Extension and a professor of animal science.

John Heston came to South Dakota State in 1896. Previously, he was the president of Washington State College. Under Heston’s guidance, the college saw an increase in enrollment and the construction of new campus buildings such as Solberg Hall. He also introduced electives, majors and minors, and specialized Bachelor's degrees including the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Agriculture, and Bachelor of Engineering. Heston oversaw the formation of new departments such as music and foreign languages in the liberal arts, and mechanical, agricultural and electrical divisions in engineering. He also emphasized the necessity for teaching sciences such as biology, chemistry, and physics in the study of agriculture. Heston had an uneasy relationship with the regents. In 1903, the regents dismissed him as president of South Dakota State, and installed him as the president of Dakota State University in 1905.

Emil Jacobsen was born August 8, 1903 to Armus and Elvina Jacobsen. Armus immigrated to America in 1881 and met Elvina in Iowa and they later wed. Emil had two sisters, Hilda and Lucile. The Jacobsen family remained near Rock Valley, Iowa for the majority of their lives. Emil went to South Dakota State Agricultural College for two years, 1922 to 1923. Emil married Ruby Ingebord. Together they had six children: Russel, David, Marilyn, Roy, James and Stanley. Emil passed away August 4, 1998.

Lyman Jackson became president of South Dakota State in 1940. He received his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Wisconsin, and Ph. D. from the University of Minnesota. Jackson was junior dean of agriculture at the Ohio State University prior to arriving at South Dakota State. He became president just before the United States entered World War II. The impact of the war on the college was great, with decreased enrollment, the use of college buildings as barracks, and rationing. During his tenure, Jackson established the Junior College Division. This plan separated the freshman and sophomore students from the upper-class students, instituted student advising, and established rules and regulations for overseeing the student body. Jackson also made changes to the School of Agriculture to help it run more efficiently. One of the most daunting tasks during his term was in preparing the college for the return of the veterans and the many students who had left to aid in the war efforts, and administering the GI Bill. He resigned his position as president in 1946 to become dean of agriculture at Pennsylvania State University.

John P. (Johan Peter) Johnson was born July 5, 1854 in Snostorp, Sweden and died January 27, 1934 in Sioux Falls. He married on March 25, 1879.

Willis E. Johnson came to South Dakota State College as president in 1919. He received degrees from St. Cloud State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and the University of Minnesota. Prior to coming to South Dakota State he was president of Northern State University. Johnson was the first president to enjoy a formal inauguration. During his term, there were enormous problems with the college infrastructure and many financial difficulties resulting from World War I. Johnson was in office when many extra-curricular activities began. During his term, many student organizations were formally recognized, and intercollegiate athletics became a regular part of college life. He succeeded in opening the student bookstore and placing the post office on campus. The Printing Department also began during his term. One of his most important contributions was the creation of five divisions of study, which were precursors of today's academic colleges. The Board of Regents recognized Johnson for these contributions by naming him South Dakota State’s first president emeritus in 1923.

Inez O. Erickson Johnson was born to Martin and Julia Erickson on October 31, 1911 in Lake County, South Dakota. At the age of eight she moved with her parents to a farm near Baltic, South Dakota. She attended rural school and Baltic Grade School. She was baptized at St. Peter Lutheran Church and confirmed at East Nidaros Lutheran Church. On March 14, 1931 Inez married Henry Johnson at East Nidaros Lutheran Church. They lived and farmed on the farm of Henry' parents until they retired and moved into the town of Baltic in 1987. Henry and Inez had four children. Odel, Ivan, Dean, and Jerome. Inez became a resident of Terrace Manor Nursing Home in Dell Rapids on April 28, 1995 and died May 19, 1995 at Dell Rapids Community Hospital.

Wilma (Jean) Walters Lothrop was born July 19, 1919 in Brookings, South Dakota to William Hayes and Grace (Durland) Walters. Jean Walters graduated from Brookings High School in 1937, from South Dakota State College in 1941, and from Denver University with a Masters in Library Science. She also attended the University of Minnesota. In 1941-1942, she taught home economics and science at Langford, South Dakota, High School. On December 20, 1942 she married Eugene “Gene” Henry Lothrop of Huron, South Dakota. She was a librarian. They had two daughters Helen and Martha; and one son Robert. Jean died November 20, 2013 in Prescott, Arizona.

George Lilley became the first president of Dakota Agricultural College in 1884 when he was only 30 years old. At this time the college building was only partially complete and seeing how he would not be able to open the college without a building, Lilley gave a third of his $1,500 salary to finish three rooms of the building. On September 23, 1884, 35 students had enrolled in the preparatory course of the college. Over the next two years, the enrollment grew to 252. The first person to receive their degree from South Dakota State graduated on June 24, 1886. The regents felt Lilley was not able to maintain discipline among the students. They had also learned that Lilley had overstated his qualifications. He had not received a college degree and his title of “doctor” was honorary. Lilley submitted his resignation in 1886.

Nellermoe was born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and graduated from Watertown High School (1944). He served in the Unites States Navy (1944-1946), and received a BA (1950) and an MA (1952) from the University of South Dakota. He also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, and the Internationale Musik Akademies in Salzburg, Austria. Nellermoe worked as a translator at various entities including the United Nations. He also taught foreign languages at Colorado State University. Nellermoe purchased the leaves from Ferdinand Roten Galleries in Baltimore.

Ellwood C. Perisho was named president of South Dakota State in 1914. He had most recently been dean of arts and sciences at the University of South Dakota. Perisho received his degrees from Earlham College and the University of Chicago. During his term as president, South Dakota State became accredited by the North Central Association and started the Cooperative Extension Service. New subjects were introduced and many new buildings were built, including the stock judging pavilion, a hog plant, a poultry plant, Wecota Hall, and the Administration Building. World War I had affected the work of the college. Between 1917 and 1918, military trainees were housed on campus and given instruction for skills needed in the armed forces. Special courses in agriculture, engineering, and home economics were introduced as part of the war effort. Perisho took a leave of absence in 1918 and resigned in 1919.

Charles William Pugsley was named president of South Dakota State in 1923 after holding the position of assistant secretary of the United States Department Agriculture under Henry C. Wallace during the Harding administration. He received his education from the University of Nebraska, where he eventually became head of the agronomy and farm management department. He reorganized the administration into a system of deans with separate administration for financial affairs. During his term, the nursing program was established, as was the Civil Aeronautics program. In addition, enrollment went from 698 to 1,376. Several buildings were constructed including the Coughlin Campanile, the Coolidge Sylvan Theatre, and the Lincoln Memorial Library, which was dedicated in 1927 by President Calvin Coolidge. Pugsley also broke ground for the first student union, which eventually was named after him. Upon his retirement in 1940, Pugsley became president emeritus.

Alice Margaret Bakken was born in McGregor, North Dakota on January 4th, 1918, to Elmer and Inga Marie (Sand) Bakken. She grew up in rural northeastern South Dakota’s Day County. On June 11, 1938, Alice married Oscar Simonson on June 11, 1938. Oscar and Alice had two children, Linda born in 1940, and Robert born in 1944. Oscar and Alice Simonson made their home and farmed in Day County for forty years. Alice was on the board of Sun Dial Manor in Bristol, when it was being organized and built.

In 1906, Robert L. Slagle left his position as president of the South Dakota School of Mines to become president of South Dakota Agricultural College. He had received a Ph. D. from Johns Hopkins University and had previously been on the faculty at South Dakota State. Slagle oversaw the increase in standards for admission, the reorganization of agricultural courses, and the establishment of summer school and correspondence courses. He also started the School of Agriculture, which offered high school courses during the winter months, making secondary education a possibility for a large number of rural students. During his presidency, the college changed its name to South Dakota State College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts, which reflected not only the general coursework and agricultural classes taught, but also the study of engineering. In 1914, Slagle moved on to become president at the University of South Dakota.

The South Dakota State University Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of South Dakota State University. The Foundation was created in 1946, largely inspired by the need to provide funding for an invention by Professor E.L. Erickson. The mission of the SDSU Foundation is: "Uniting the dreams of our students, university and donors to build a better SDSU." The Foundation raises and administers scholarship funds that benefit more than 4,500 students, and spearheads private fundraising campaigns for multi million-dollar capital projects, including the state-of-the-art Avera Health and Science Center. The Foundation is guided by a 95-member Council of Trustees.

The Centennial Steering Committee was formed on July 16, 1979, to guide the university through the celebration of its Centennial year (1981). H.M. Briggs, President Emeritus, was appointed Chairman of the Committee, while David Pearson, former Vice President of South Dakota State University was appointed Vice-Chairman. The committee, made up of representatives from various units on campus and from outside the university, first met on July 21, 1980. At this meeting, Briggs outlined the charges of the committee and explained that each member of the Steering Committee would also take the role of sub-committee chairperson for the respective area of the university. Once some tentative activities were brainstormed, the Steering Committee members were further broken into sub-committees to deal with specific projects. With this basic structure, the Steering Committee began its work. They received an initial stipend from the University to perform their functions, which was added to throughout the committee's existence. While the subcommittees performed much of the work of the Steering Committee, the Centennial Office, consisting of Briggs and an office assistant, Yvonne Ehlebracht, managed much of the day-to-day work. The office was responsible for the overall running of the committee, maintaining the budget, keeping the files, and arranging and paying for meetings and trips. In addition, much of the correspondence associated with the event was filtered through this office.

Human Development, Consumer and Family Sciences offers four undergraduate programs and is housed in the department including: Consumer Affairs, Early Childhood Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Human Development and Family Studies.

Mathematics has existed at South Dakota State University since the founding of the institution. The general work of the department in the early 1900's was planned to cultivate habits of systematic and accurate thinking, as well as facility in making calculations. Independent effort was encouraged to the greatest extent, the solution of problems and original demonstrations formed an important part of each course. The curriculum of the Department of Mathematics is now designed to provide a strong liberal arts program with opportunity for concentrated study in mathematics, and to meet the needs of the technically oriented student. Supporting courses were offered for the various colleges, which make up the University. Through the years, mathematics has had an administrative home in either the College of Engineering or the College of Arts and Science, or their precursors. Today, financial and administrative matters are under the College of Engineering. Degrees, however, are granted through the College of Arts and Science. Effort was made to change this dual administration, yet it did not pass the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Mechanical engineering has always been taught at South Dakota State University. In the earliest years, students could opt to take a prescribed set of classes leading to the BS degree in Mechanical Arts (later Mechanical Engineering). For the first two years, mechanical engineering students took classes with civil engineering students. Specialization occurred in the junior and senior years. In 1897, a Department of Mechanical Engineering was established to administer mechanical engineering work. Most civil engineering classes moved to the Department of Architectural and Agricultural Engineering at this time, although some remained with mechanical engineering. In 1902, when the Civil and Electrical Engineering departments were established, the Department of Mechanical Engineering became a fully independent department, much as it is today. Mechanical engineering graduates have a range of career directions from which to choose. Work is in research, development, design, testing, manufacturing, operation and maintenance, marketing and sales, or in management and administration.

Courses in psychology were first introduced at South Dakota State University in 1885 as a combination of philosophy and psychology. In 1913, psychology was merged into the Department of Education. After 1913, the offerings slowly grew from two to twelve courses and staffing increased. In 1954, the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology was authorized. Except for the years 1938-41 when psychology existed as a separate department, psychology remained in association with education until 1967 when it was again combined with philosophy as a separate department. The following year it again became an independent Department of Psychology and has so remained. The Department of Psychology offers a BS degree. Within the psychology major, students may pursue a pre-professional curriculum, an applied curriculum, a teaching option (preparation for secondary school teaching) or a psychological services option.

A Graduate Council of nine members elected from the Graduate Faculty assists the Graduate Dean. The council includes the Graduate Dean (chair); one member each from Animal Sciences, Biological Sciences, Education and Counseling, Engineering Sciences, Health Sciences, Physical Sciences, Plant Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities. The Dean of the Library serves as an ex-officio member.

The Greek Council is the governing body of the Greek system at South Dakota State University. The Council develops and enforces policies, which help ensure a healthy future for the system. The Council also coordinates educational programs, Greek Week, an all-campus philanthropy project, and other activities. Men's fraternities recognized at South Dakota State University in 1999 are Alpha Gamma Rho, FarmHouse, Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Phi Delta and Sigma Phi Epsilon. Women's sororities recognized at South Dakota State University in 1999 are Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, and Ceres.

The Non-Traditional Student Program office coordinates the activities and advising needs of non-traditional students, or any students who have had a break in their education or who are slightly older than traditional students. Facilities offered to these students included a lounge, advising assistance, and eligibility to participate in the Non-Traditional Students Club. The program and the club were both formalized in the mid-1970's (Club, April, 1976), with the program being the presiding office for the club.

The Records and Registration office maintains official records on enrollment, biographical student data, grades, credits, and degrees conferred. This office administers registration and assesses tuition and fees and prepares and sends transcripts when written, signed requests are received from students. They process enrollment verification and check for athletic eligibility. It is their responsibility to prepare semester schedules, assign classrooms; supply reports and analysis of enrollment, grades and other scholastic matters. The Registrar coordinates with college deans the procedure for clearing candidates for graduation and submitting candidate lists; and assists with the graduation ceremonies.

The Department of Residential Life administers programs and facilities for all on-campus housing. Residence halls at South Dakota State University are living/learning centers where students are challenged to develop as individuals, as well as to study and to meet other students. All unmarried students are required to enter into residence hall and food service contracts with the University. Students who have completed four semesters of full time enrollment or who are two or more years beyond graduation from high school are excused from these requirements. Family student housing and some apartments are available at the University. The Department of Residential Life offices also administer the university food service. The University Food Service is committed to provide a food service program at SDSU that is both economical and of the highest quality. SDSU's food service program utilizes a computer-based declining cash balance system, uniquely designed to help students manage their individual food service accounts. All SDSU students living in residence halls are required to purchase at least a Base meal plan. Other students, faculty, and staff may voluntarily purchase discounted food programs at established rates.

The main duties of the Scholastic Standards Committee were to approve all curricula, including all course changes; recommend graduate requirements to the faculty; establish student trip policy; establish minimum standards in communication skills; be in charge of scholastic probation; and act as an advisory committee to the Dean of Academic Affairs.

The Remnant Trust is a public educational foundation that shares an actively growing collection of original and first edition works dealing with the topics of liberty and dignity with some pieces dates as early at 1250. The Trust made this collection available to South Dakota State University for use by students, faculty, scholars, and the general public. Those exposed were encouraged to touch, feel, and read the originals. The titles were loaned to South Dakota State University during the fall semester of 2005. Fifty titles were housed in the SDSU Archives & Special Collections department in Hilton M. Briggs Library.

Ora Blanche Fryer Swenning was born February 23, 1882 in Michigan to John H. and Imogen Swenehart. On February 5, 1972, Ora Fryer Swenning died in Pipestone, Minnesota.

Joseph and Winifred (Catlett) Swering married in 1918. They began their newlywed life in Brookings until Joseph began working for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, PA, and from there they moved to Buffalo, NY. The Catlett family built an expansive home in Brookings, South Dakota in 1902. While the family lived there, both Winifred and her sister, Margaruite help their weddings in the home. The Catlett home was also host to many social events while the family lived there. Eventually, the house was transformed into a living space of students attending South Dakota State College.

Valerian Three Irons, was an American Indian Studies professor and Diversity Association at South Dakota State University from 1997 to 2011.

Born August 22, 1888 to John E and Mary M. (McLees) Underwood in Bryant, South Dakota, Loto Rollinstahl Underwood was the one of four daughters, (in birth order) Ethel, Genevieve, Loto, and Beatrice, the latter three of whom attended South Dakota State College. In 1882, her parents emigrated from Canada and lived in Garfield township, Hamlin County, SD, where John was in the hardware business. Lotto attended South Dakota State College where she was a member of the Athenian Society. On July 28, 1913, Loto married Orland Emilie White. On April 21, 1968, Loto Underwood White died in Charlottesville, Virginia nursing home.

Born April 26, 1906, Verl Thomson was a South Dakota broadcaster who worked for the first broadcast radio station in Sioux Falls in 1924 and later went on to be an announcer and program director for KSOO, KELO, and an announcer for NBC in Chicago. He began KSID in 1948 and sold the station in 1966. From 1962 to 1987 he was the executive director for the South Dakota Broadcasters Association. Thomson passed away July 7, 1989.

Hugh Warren was born December 3, 1922 in Huron, SD, to Charles Parker and Angie Warren. Hugh attended South Dakota State College in Brookings, and the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, where he majored in History. His college years were interrupted by four years of service in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during WW II. While serving in the Army, Hugh went to Radio Repair School with overseas service to England, France and Germany. After the war Hugh attended library school at the University of California at Berkeley.Hugh married his wife Lois married on August 11, 1951. After working in Chicago at the Chicago Public Library and in Midland, Michigan, at the Dow Memorial Library, Hugh was employed at the St. Joseph County Public Library as Personnel Services Administrator from 1963 until his retirement in 1988. He and Lois lived in South Bend for more than 40 years. Hugh was very active in the South Bend Lions Club and served as its president for a term. On April 11, 2015, Hugh Parker Warren (92) died in South Bend, Indiana.

Robert Todd Wagner was born October 30, 1932. He earned a degree in philosophy from Augustana College in 1954. He and Mary Mumford, a native of Howard, married that same year before moving to Evanston, Ill., where he was a student at the Seabury Western Theological Seminary. The couple eventually moved back to South Dakota, where Robert earned his Ph.D. at South Dakota State University, and Mary a master’s degree in social sciences in 1974 and a Ph. D. in sociology in 1978. / Wagner first joined the university in 1971 as an assistant professor of rural sociology, and he earned “legendary” status through his Marriage 250 class. The class enrolled almost 1,200 students a year in three sections, filling every seat in Rotunda D, the largest classroom on campus. / Wagner served two years as an assistant to the vice president for academic affairs and spent a year as vice president and chief administrator at Dakota State University in Madison before he was called back to SDSU to assume the university presidency. A position he held from 1985-1997. / Wagner led SDSU from a controversial era into a decidedly more tranquil time. His quiet attention to the internal workings of the college, rather than external politics, worked well and resulted in a great deal of growth. Despite constant budget problems under his administration, the campus expanded by more than 380,000 square feet. Twenty-two faculty were added, and technology became a major factor in the university. The College of Education and Counseling was formed, and many buildings were built, including Berg and Bailey Apartments, the Animal Disease Research, and the Northern Plains Biostress Laboratory. / His wife, Mary, was also an SDSU staffer as well as a member of the Brookings school board and a Republican legislator for 12 years. She died in 2004. / In 2010, SDSU renamed its Nursing, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Arts and Sciences building in honor of the Wagner’s. The South Dakota Board of Regents approved the name change. / A scholar as well as a popular teacher, Wagner was the author of 64 publications and chaired numerous academic committees.

Edwin C. Graber is from Freeman, Hutchinson County, South Dakota. Publications include a number of self-published poetry collections and chapbooks.

Charles F. "Fritz" Gritzner was born June 6, 1936 in Fremont, Michigan. He graduated from Mesa, Arizona, High School in 1954. He received in Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from Arizona State University in 1958. He received his graduate degrees in geography and cultural anthropology at Louisiana State University. He began college teaching at East Carolina University in 1960, and has taught at Louisiana State University, the University of Montana, Oregon College of Education, and the University of Houston prior to joining the South Dakota State University faculty in 1980. Gritzner taught many undergraduate and graduate courses in geography at South Dakota State University. He has served as thesis or research paper advisor to many successful Master's degree recipients. Throughout his career he has pursued many interests in geographic education. He has conducted several hundred workshops, short courses and institute for in-service educators. He also served as coordinator of the South Dakota Geographic Alliance and the State Geographic Bee. Additionally, he has served as the Geography Consultant, author, and editor for the Core Knowledge Foundation and as Consulting Editor and Frequent author for the Chelsea House Publishers book series on Modern World Nations. Gritzner's research interests include a variety of themes in folk and popular culture and geographic education. He has authored or co-authored several books, and many of his works have appeared as chapters in edited volumes, as well as many refereed publications appearing in numerous professional journals. He also was contributing editor to the "Panorama" feature in the Journal of Geography. Gritzner has served as both Executive Director (1977-1980) and President (1986) of the National Council for Geographic Education, in 1997, he received their highest honor, the George J. Miller Award for Distinguished Service. He also is a recipient of the National Council for Geographic Education Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award and the Council's Distinguished Mentor Award for his work with students at the graduate level. Gritzner also received the 2004 Distinguished Teaching Honors Award from the Association of American Geographers. At South Dakota State University, Gritzner has received both the University and F.O. Butler awards for Excellence in Teaching, and in 1993 he became the South Dakota State University's sixth faculty member to be recognized as a Distinguished Professor by the South Dakota Board of Regents.

John P. Hendrickson was born February 17, 1923 in Valley City, North Dakota to Rev. Alfred and Karen (Skorpen) Hendrickson. He graduated from Bismarck High School in 1940. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946 in the United States and Europe. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1947, his master's degree in international relations from the University of Minnesota in 1949, and his doctorate in political science from the University of Iowa in 1952. IN 1951, he married Arlene "Susie" Brogla in Iowa City, Iowa. Before coming to South Dakota State University in 1954, he taught at the University of Iowa and the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. He also performed post-doctoral study at the University of Nebraska and the University of Manitoba. His work at the University of Manitoba resulted in the development of courses on Canadian politics and government at South Dakota State University. / Dr. Hendrickson was noted for a long and distinguished career as a professor of political science at SDSU (1954-1988) and head of the political science department (1967-1988). He also worked with the South Dakota Constitutional Revision Commission (1969-1975), the Local Government Study Commission, and the State Supreme Court Blue Ribbon Committee. In 1967, he was selected to confer an Honorary Doctor of Science on Vice President Hubert Humphrey. In 1969, he was selected as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the SDSU students, faculty, and alumnae. In 1986, he was recognized by the South Dakota Supreme Court for his service on the Blue-Ribbon Citizen Committee, he received the SDSU Alumni Association's non-alumnus award in 1988 for service to South Dakota and was named Professor Emeritus. He received the Liberty Bell Award from the Brookings County Bar Association in 1989. Dr. Hendrickson was also featured in South Dakota 99, a collection of profiles of 99 distinguished people who were influential in the first 99 years of South Dakota's history. / Following his retirement from SDSU, Dr. Hendrickson was involved in local government. He wrote the Home Rule Charter for Brookings in 1996 and was a member of the Argus Leader Editorial Board. He was also a member of Golden K and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Lawrence Alvin Hunt was born July 22, 1918 in Verdel, Nebraska to Warren and Elizabeth Hunt. Lawrence was a carpenter and cabinet maker. He married E. Jeanne McCartney in 1946. They had three children.

Henry M. Johnson was born to Ole and Beret Johnson on October 5, 1903, on a farm near Baltic, South Dakota. He was baptized at the Old Nidaros Lutheran Church where he was a member. He enjoyed hunting and fishing all of his life. On March 14, 1931 Henry married Inez Ericksonat East Nidaros Lutheran Church. They lived and farmed on the farm of Henry' parents until they retired and moved into the town of Baltic in 1987. Henry and Inez had four children. Odel, Ivan, Dean, and Jerome. Henry died June 4, 1993, at the Dell Rapids Community Hospital.

J.A. Johnson graduated from Brookings High School in 1923 and from South Dakota State College in 1927. He then taught at high schools in Redfield (South Dakota) and Howard (South Dakota) until he joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1941. After World War II, Johnson became the equipment manager for the South Dakota State University Athletic Department, a position he held from 1943 to 1968. He passed away on March 17, 1989.