Alumni News - Black Hills State University

Alumni NewsAlumni NewsKudos & AnnouncementsThe40sGrace Huck,Class of ‘49,Spearfish,recentlypublished her secondbook, “God's AmazingGrace, Stories FromMy Life.” For moreinformation, visitgracepublisher.com.Grace retired as apastor at age 65.The50sRichard“Dick”Ruddell,Class of ‘58,Spearfish, recentlycelebrated his 90thbirthday! An openhouse was held inhis honor at theBHSU RuddellGallery July 31, 2005.The60sJamesDunn, Classof ‘62, Lead,was recentlyinducted into theDeadwood Hall ofFame. James, a longtimesupporter ofDeadwood, served inthe S.D. House ofRepresentatives andas a state senator fornearly 30 years.Connie (Morrissey)Erickson, Class of ‘69,Tucson, Ariz., wasnamed Arizona'sNational DistinguishedElementary Principalof 2004-05. Her school,Mesquite Elementary,was also recognizedas one of the top threeschools in Arizona for“Best Practices.”Richard Greco, Classof ‘64, Eureka, retiredin 2004 after teachingfor 40 years. Some ofthe subjects he coveredwere biology, worldhistory, Spanish, andgeography. He wasalso the yearbookadvisor. In 1983, hewas named the S.D.Conservation Teacherof the Year.Dennis Howell, Classof ‘67, Wheatland,Wyo., was recognizedin the "Who's WhoAmong America'sTeachers" for 2005. Heis an art instructor atWheatland HighSchool.Class of ‘70 football team meets at BHA group of former BHSU football players that were part of the 1970 Yellow Jacket teamwhich holds the record as the most successful football team for 35 years, gathered atBHSU recently. The 1970 Yellow Jacket team had an 8-2 record that captivated the schooland community. Star players from the team, including Mike Savoy, went on to receiveNAIA honors. Those attending the reunion were: front row, left to right, Bob Templeton,Class of '73, Ree Heights; Bill Fleak, Class of '74, Riverton, Wyo.; Kent Waugh, Buffalo,Wyo.; Lanny Swisher, Class of '73, Spearfish; back row, left to right, Bill Hughes, formercoach, Spearfish: Mike Murphy, Class of '78, Watertown; Doug Roseth, Ft. Pierre; JimHolwegner, Ft. Collins, Colo.; Ron Young, Class of '72, Pierre; Paul Georgas, Class of '72,Rapid City; Kent Mauck, Mobridge; Ken Richardt, Winthrop Harbor, Ill.; and GeneSchlekeway, former coach, Spearfish. The group met at the BHSU vs. S.D. Tech footballgame in Spearfish to watch the Yellow Jackets defeat the Hardrockers 34-17.Robert J. Julius, Classof '60, Sturgis, is in his40th year as a sportscasteron both TV andradio. He received the2004-05 S.D. BasketballCoaches Association“Friend of Basketball”Award. He previouslyreceived this award in1993-94.Avonelle Kelsey,Class of ‘65, recentlyopened her own artgallery in Hot Springs.The gallery featuresartwork, poems, andmuch more.Clarence McGirr,Class of ‘65, ArizonaCity, Ariz., recentlyretired after workingfor the Belle FourcheSchool District for 16years and at MaricopaCommunity Collegesin Arizona for 16 years.Roger Merriman,Class of ‘67,Deadwood, works forSeaton Publishing,parent company ofthe Black Hills Pioneer,as publisher of theirnewest paper, RapidCity Weekly News.Dennis Schaar, Classof ‘64, Rapid City, isserving his third termas an elder at theWestminsterPresbyterian Church.Since retiring in 2001from his job as aUnited Airlines captain,Dennis has beentraveling and doingcommunity work.The70sCathy(Birkeland),Class of ‘76,BelleFourche, and herhusband, MelvinEaton, Class of ‘75,recently purchasedKudos & Announcementsthe Real Estate Centerfranchise in BelleFourche and built anew office there.Bob DeMersseman,Class of ‘70, RapidCity, received the2004 S.D. Tech'Outstanding PublicService Award.' Bob isRapid City EconomicDevelopment partnershippresident.Kathleen Dodson-Smith, Class of ‘72,Maple Grove, Minn.,was recently electedto serve a two-yearterm on the board ofdirectors for WAMSO(Minnesota SymphonyOrchestra Association).Elaine Doll-Dunn,Class of ‘79, Spearfish,recently startedLeading LadyEnterprises topromote books andspeaking engagementsabout her life.Robin I. (Vanvactor)Henrikson, Class of‘74, Rapid City, wasnamed the 2005-06"Teacher of the Year"for North MiddleSchool, where she hastaught for 15 years.Robert ‘Bob’ Knapp,Class of ‘77, Spearfish,recently received theSpearfish EconomicDevelopmentCorporation Awardof Excellence for hisstrong communitysupport and dedicationto economicdevelopment.Randall Macy, Classof ‘77, Deadwood,was formally swornin as a 4th CircuitCourt Judge inDeadwood inDecember 2005.Carol (Reinhardt)Meyer, Class of ‘77,Punta Gorda, Fla., hasbeen working as anindependent contractorfor three and ahalf years. Most ofher work has takenher overseas.Ernie Nauman, Classof ‘71, Spearfish,retired in fall 2005after 31 years with theForest Department.He continues to operateE & S CustomCabinets & FurnitureRepair, a business heand his wife, Sandi,started years ago.Thomas Pitlick, Classof ‘75, Pierre, wasrecently chosen to bethe finance managerfor the city of Pierre.Jennifer (Wilson)Silbaugh, Class of ‘71,received an H&BTeacher of Excellenceregional award andwas one of five inTexas to receive alifetime achievementaward. She lives inHarlingen, Texas,with husband MikeSilbaugh, Class of ‘69.Darlene (Davis)Telkamp, Class of ‘74,Spearfish, was named“South Dakota 'sPreserve AmericaHistory Teacher of theYear” for 2005. She isa teacher at SpearfishMiddle School.Martin Waukazoo,Class of ‘72, SanLeandro, Calif., washonored with theChampions of HealthProfessionals DiversityAward in June 2005.Ken Wetz, Class of‘70, Newell, wasnamed the Black HillsVolunteer of the Yearby the Black HillsCommunity EconomicDevelopment. Kenhas served as themayor of Newell andin the state legislature.The80sRichardAnderson,Class of ‘82,Laramie,Wyo., was namedWyoming Sportswriterof the Year by theNational SportswritersAssociation.Nancy (Pulliam)Coker, Class of ‘87,recently completedthe criteria necessaryto become a NationalBoard CertifiedTeacher in the field ofexceptional needs.She lives and teachesin Georgetown, S.C.Joan Conroy, Class of‘87, Rapid City, wasrecently featured inthe Black Hills FacesMagazine for her workin starting the firstNative AmericanLutheran Church inSouth Dakota. Aspastor, Joan leads theWoyatan LutheranChurch in Rapid City.Betty Coon, Class of‘85, Rapid City,received the WindBeneath our WingsAward from the RapidCity Area Chamber ofCommerce Healthand Human ServiceCommittee. Betty hasworked as a socialworker and volunteerfor many years.Dwight E. Cundy,Class of ‘84, Lincoln,Neb., retired as thesenior auditor withthe USDA Office ofInspector General,Great Plains Region,in December 2005after 25 years of dedicatedservice to thefederal government.Robert Dohrer, Classof ‘88, Eden Prairie,Minn., was recentlynamed to the AuditStandards Board bythe American Instituteof Certified PublicAccountants. He is theco-director of auditingfor McGladery andPullen, CPAs.Joe Guttierez, Classof ‘89, Sturgis, wasrecently selected asthe West RiverJuvenile CorrectionsAgent Supervisor bythe S.D. Departmentof Corrections.Josh Hall, Class of ‘89,Sturgis, was namedS.D. TechnologyTeacher of the Yearby the InternationalTechnology EducationAssociation. Josh is ateacher at NorthMiddle School inRapid City.Rosa (Vetter) Herman,Class of ‘88, RapidCity, was namedSocial Worker of theYear for WesternSouth Dakota by theWestern S.D. ChildProtection Council inApril 2005. She hasworked as a casemanager for theDepartment of SocialServices for the lastfour years.Richard J. Martian,Class of ‘86, Whiting,Iowa, has been a CADand constructioninstructor at SiouxCity West High Schoolfor seven years.Armond “Red”Olson, Class of ‘81,Ft. Thompson, is actingsuperintendentfor the Lower BruleAgency. He has 10grandchildren.Susan (Rosencranz)Proefrock, Class of‘87, Belle Fourche, isserving as presidentelectof the S.D.Association of SchoolBusiness Officials for2005-06. Next yearshe will assume therole of president.Jeanette Scarborough,Class of ‘86, Aberdeen,was inducted into theDakota MusiciansAssociation Hall ofFame for North andSouth Dakota.Darin Schiller, Classof ‘89, Belle Fourche,is assistant pipelinesuperintendent forBelle Fourche Pipelineand Bridger PipelineLLC. His wife, JoLynn (Christensen),Class of ‘88, works inthe Campbell CountySchool System.Deanna Streeter,Class of ‘87, SiouxFalls, is teachingBlack Hills State University Alumni Magazine Page 9