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 […]
Kapitan, Colin
One of South Dakota’s most recognizable referees, “Kappy” has been involved in officiating for more than 50 years. The lifelong Yankton resident got his first refereeing job as a 17-year-old USD freshman on Nov. 22, 1958 (Elk Point vs. Wakonda basketball). He worked his first state “B’’ tournament in 1965 at age 24. He officiated […]
Kiner, George
The beginning of South Dakota Coaches Against Cancer started in 1984 when Dr. Charles Woodard, an English professor at SDSU, and John Papendick, one of his students, shared an interest in South Dakota sports stories. Dave Prohl, a friend of Woodard’s, also became involved, and they decided it would be a good idea to publish […]
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 […]
Laskowski, Bob
Laskowski’s award-winning TV and radio sportscasting career spanned 45 years, with 36 of those spent in Rapid City. There he became known as “West River Bob” for his support of all western South Dakota teams but he considers himself a fan of anything or anyone South Dakota. Laskowski broadcast more than 3,000 athletic events during […]
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 […]
Lindner, Don
Born Feb. 25, 1931, in Watertown. Grew up in Kranzburg. 1949 Goodwin High and 1954 South Dakota State grad. Sports editor of the Rapid City Journal for 37 years, Lindner was named South Dakota Sportswriter of the Year a record 11 times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Lindner got his start with Al […]
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 […]
Lloyd, Vince (Skaff)
Born June 1, 1917, in Beresford. 1935 Beresford HS grad. 1940 Yankton College grad. One of the Midwest’s most well-known sports announcers, primarily at WGN in Chicago. He began his broadcasting career in Sioux City with KTRI before going to WJBC in Bloomington, Ill., and WMBD in Peoria, Ill. After serving in the Marine Corps […]