Dale Blegen has strived to bring a strong editorial voice to his community and push for open government throughout his decades in journalism.
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Blegen’s path to a journalism career began while working as a barber in Brookings. The chairman of SDSU’s journalism department, George Phillips, was a frequent customer who encouraged Blegen to enroll at the university...
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Tim Giago, also known by his Lakota name Nanwica Kciji, or “Stand Up for Them,” has made significant progress for the Native American community across the country through his journalistic and publishing endeavors.
In creating the Lakota Times, Giago gave a voice to Native Americans and addressed critical issues on the reservations. Persistent through gunshots, firebombs and other threats to his newspaper office, Giago stayed motivated and encouraged his employees to continue...
Verlyn Hofer began his journalism career in the 1930s as a child working for his family’s newspaper, the Lennox Independent. He would carry on the family tradition but with a few notable journeys along the way.
Soon after graduating high school, Hofer was drafted into service during World War II.
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While sailing to France, he helped put out about a dozen issues of the ship’s newsletter...
Maricarrol Kueter’s interest in public service and watchdog journalism sparked in high school as she closely followed the news about Watergate and learned the importance of investigative reporting.
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After attending SDSU, Kueter worked as a reporter for the Rapid City Journal, covering police and courts and later city government. She went on to be editor of the Dell Rapids Tribune and later a sister publication...
Richard W. Lee was head of the South Dakota State University Department of Journalism from 1978 until his retirement in 2002. During that period, he built a distinguished record of instruction, management, scholarship and service. During his time at SDSU, he was a champion of diversity and was one of the founding organizers of the annual Crazy Horse Journalism Workshop. He also taught at the University of Maryland and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
Wayne Lyford fell in love with printing and newspapers as a 12-year-old earning a Boy Scout merit badge in the 1930s.
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After college, Lyford began his journalism career at the Madrid Register News in Iowa. Shortly after, in 1950, the Army called upon him to serve in the Korean War. Overseas, he became a war correspondent, writing stories about soldiers for publication in their hometown...
Roger Kasa knew from his days in elementary school that he was destined to be a writer, a determination made even stronger when a college professor told him he’d never make it as a journalist.
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For more than 50 years, Kasa has worked in the South Dakota journalism industry, continuing to write into his retirement after a long career at the Huron Daily Plainsman.
Noel Hamiel wants to be remembered as a newspaperman, a fitting tribute after a 35-year career that began with an epiphany.
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Hamiel attended Northern State University with plans to become an English teacher. He proceeded to teach for a year before switching to the newspaper industry after realizing that was a better fit. It is here where he thrived. He started out as a sportswriter...
Jack Marsh has never forgotten one of the first notes he received when he joined the Argus Leader as executive editor in 1992.
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Legendary former Gannett CEO Al Neuharth wrote to welcome him “to the sacred soil of South Dakota” and hoped they would keep in touch. It was a turning point in what would become a long and prosperous partnership between the two.
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