Flanner, Joseph
Born in New Bern, N.C. In 1903 he authored the Basic Agreement, the regulations that govern major and minor league baseball. Also was instrumental in the early success of The Sporting News. Joined TSN in 1895 as a writer, was named co-editor in 1897 and editor in 1899. He took a job in baseball’s executive […]
Foss, Joe
Born April 17, 1915 in Sioux Falls. 1940 USD grad. As well as being a World War II flying ace and the governor of South Dakota, Foss was an avid outdoorsman and the first commissioner of the American Football League. Foss was AFL commissioner from 1959-65. The AFL grew in stature and prestige, eventually forcing […]
Goldhammer, Marlyn
Marlyn Goldhammer graduated from Wagner High School in 1950. After graduating high school, he served his country during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. He graduated from Southern State College in 1958. In 1970 he earned a master’s degree from Northern State University. Goldhammer served as executive director of the SD High School Activities […]
Goodell, Harold
Born in Fairfax, Iowa, in 1904. Moved to South Dakota at age 2. Colorado College of Chiropody. University of Wyoming. Goodell was associated with South Dakota Tech for 40 years, retiring as director of student health and director of athletics in 1970. He was president of the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference for several seasons and […]
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. […]
Hanson, Rich
The 1954 Aberdeen Central and 1958 Northern State grad has been officiating high school and college sports since 1959. He also has been a contributor to many local organizations. Hanson was a high school and college basketball referee from 1959-79 and a football ref from 1963-84. He reffed the first football game at the DakotaDome […]
Hilson, Norm
The sports director at WNAX-AM in Yankton from 1956 until his death in 1990, Hilson was the voice of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits for most of his career. He also did countless broadcasts of high school sporting events and even briefly did play-by-play of University of South Dakota games. Five times he was named […]