Grebin, Don
The “godfather of tennis in South Dakota,” Grebin has spent more hours coaching, promoting, supporting, volunteering and contributing to the growth of the sport in the state than any other individual. At 76 (as of 2008), he still is coaching, running leagues and organizing tennis tourneys at Sioux Empire Fitness. And he was a pretty […]
Grivna (Smith), Tim
TIM “SMITH” GRIVNA. Tim “Smith” Grivna, a 1968 Minneapolis Edison High School graduate and alumnus of the University of Minnesota and Brown Institute of Broadcasting, is one of South Dakota’s most iconic radio voices. His five-decade career began in 1973 at KORN Radio in Mitchell, and in 1979, he moved to KMIT, where he also […]
Guenthner, Ken
Bridgewater. One of the most versatile sports personalities the state has ever seen. Guenthner owned the Sioux Falls Canaries baseball team from 1947-53. He also owned and operated the Black Hills Greyhound Track from 1964-82. He was twice elected national president of the Greyhound Racing Association. He worked as a sportswriter for the Argus Leader, […]
Hammrich, Harvey
Harvey Hammrich was a South Dakota athletic director for 38 of his 43 years in education, 26 at Watertown, 1977-2003; 12 at Webster,1965-77; and five at Eureka, 1960-65. He graduated from Ipswich High School in 1954 and South Dakota State College in 1959. Hammrich was a tremendous high school and college athlete in multiple sports. […]
Johnston, Harve
Born Aug. 31, 1920 in rural Bradley. 1938 Bradley HS grad. 1940 Mitchell Business School grad. In an officiating career that spanned more than 50 years, Johnston umpired baseball and softball, started track and cross country meets and refereed football and basketball. He officiated football games until he was 76 and started track and cross […]
Kampen, Jim
Kampen helped Corona to two straight appearances in the state Class B basketball championship game, then went on to star at Northern State, where he finished second in career scoring with 1,206 points. He played for his dad, Gunder, at Corona. In one of the state’s most famous games, the Midgets lost to Canistota 49-47 […]
Kretchman, Jim
Born in Lebanon, S.D. 1952 Faulkton HS grad. 1956 Northern State grad. Kretchman spent 32 years at Northern State as a coach and athletic director. In 1969 in his first year as NSU’s football coach, he promptly led the Wolves to an unbeaten season. He was 67-46-7 in 12 seasons as football coach. He was […]
Lilevjen, Clar
Born May 3, 1914 in Appleton, Minn. Appleton HS. U of Minnesota. A teacher-coach-administrator in South Dakota for 40 years, Lilevjen always had his students and athletes in mind. He was executive director of the South Dakota High School Activities Association from 1977 until he retired in 1979. Lilevjen first coached and taught at Belle […]
Livingston, Ed
Sioux Falls (Washington High). USD. One of the state’s most famous basketball and football referees, Livingston refereed 15 consecutive state Class A basketball tournaments. In 1959, he became the first supervisor of officials for the North Central Conference. He was one of the state’s pioneer golf enthusiasts and in 1929 became a golf pro. He […]
Casey, Tom
1966 Wasson (Colorado Springs) High School/1970 University of Colorado. Was a high school gymnast (excellent tumbler and on the trampoline) who earned a scholarship to the University of Colorado where he competed in gymnastics. Came to Pine Ridge Reservation in June 1970 while working as a Vista volunteer and on his master’s degree in sociology. […]