Clement, Amanda
Born March 20,1888, in Hudson. 1909 University of Nebraska grad. Clement is recognized as the first woman to umpire baseball games. An exhibit at the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., honors her accomplishments. In 1904, at age 16 she umpired a game for the first time. At that time, the baseball game was […]
Comstock, Ev
Born in Kansas in 1909. Known as “Mr. Golf” in South Dakota, he was the first South Dakotan in the PGA Half Century Club, for those who have been pros for 50 years or longer. First encounter with golf came as a 10-year-old caddie in 1922 after his family moved to a farm right beside […]
Connors, Howard
Born July 12, 1917 in Jefferson. 1934 Jefferson grad. Went to USD-Springfield and the University of South Dakota, participating in basketball, football and baseball two years each. Connors, a USD math professor for almost 40 years, officiated high school and college football (40 seasons), basketball (36) and track (50). Was the first official elected to […]
Crevier, Tanya
1973 Jefferson grad. 1977 SDSU grad. Billed as the ‘world’s finest female basketball handler,’ the 5-foot-3 Crevier travels extensively, performing her ballhandling routines at school assemblies, camps, churches and at halftimes of many college and pro games. She’s also appeared on numerous television programs. Was a member of the San Francisco Pioneers one year and […]
Diehl, Wally
Born March 10, 1914, in Mitchell. 1932 Mitchell grad. 1936 SDSU grad. Was a teacher, coach and athletic director in Sioux Falls’ public school system for 35 years. He coached one year in Hawarden, Iowa, before joining the Sioux Falls school system in 1937. For 28 years, he ran the Howard Wood-Dakota Relays. At Washington […]
Durfee, Mike
For someone who had never seen a wrestling match before he got to college, the 1963 Highmore grad was a quick learner in the sport. While at Southern State, he was a three-time South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference heavyweight champion. And in nine years as head wrestling coach at his alma mater, then called USD-Springfield, Durfee’s […]
Egan, John
Born April 1, 1931. Minneapolis (Washburn HS). 1953 Augustana grad. Egan began a 35-year career with the Sioux Falls Argus Leader in 1955, serving as sports writer, sports editor and sports columnist. He was voted the South Dakota Sportswriter of the Year eight times. Egan was cited by the Associated Press and the South Dakota […]
Emmerich, Jim
Born March 18, 1911, in New Ulm, Minn. 1929 New Ulm HS and 1940 SDSU grad. Coached track and cross country at SDSU from 1946-60 and was prominent nationally as an athletic trainer. His track teams won 10 North Central Conference titles. He started the cross country program at SDSU in 1947. His 1953 track […]
Evans, Doug
As a coach and teacher at Washington High in Sioux Falls, Evans was a forerunner and leader in physical education in South Dakota and the nation. The 1937 University of Minnesota grad grew up in Wimbledon, N.D., where he competed in football, basketball, baseball and track. In 1939, he joined the Washington High faculty as […]
Fitzpatrick, Keith
The father of athletic training in South Dakota, Fitzpatrick was an athletic trainer/physical therapist for more than 50 years. A graduate of Sioux City Trinity High, Morningside College and the University of Iowa Physical Therapy School, Fitzpatrick started his athletic training career with the Sioux City Soos baseball team from 1950-53. He then served as […]