Papendick, John
1978 Bridgewater/1984 SDSU graduate. Life-long SD sports journalist/historian who wrote his first newspaper story in 1975. Aberdeen and Mitchell sports departments he led always took a statewide approach to its coverage. Three-time SD Sportswriter of the Year, Heisman Trophy voter, Distinguished SDSU Alumni, SD Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, SDHSAA Distinguished Service, and more than […]
Koupal, Louis Laddie “Lou”
Born in Tabor where he graduated in 1915 from the South Dakota small farming town’s St. Wenceslaus Catholic Parochial High School. Attended Columbus College in Chamberlain from 1915-17 where he was a multi-sport standout. Played 19 seasons of professional baseball with stints in the Majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and St. […]
Fylling, Jeff
1974 Lennox/1978 Augustana graduate. For almost 50 years, Jeff Fylling painted pictures of Augustana football and basketball teams for radio audiences. Through his voice, he created some of the best sports images in state history. On Sept. 3, 1984, Fylling called his first game as the Voice of the Vikings’ football team as Augustana defeated […]
Cutler, Frank
1978 Langford/1983 SDSU graduate. Claremont native. Was a four-year letter winner at SDSU in baseball. Was all-North Central Conference as a senior with one of the best all-time season batting averages (.443) in school and conference history. A multi-sport standout at Langford, Cutler was a two-time all-state football player, leading the Lions to the mythical […]
Ricketts, Jim
The Sioux Falls man was an official in South Dakota for 39 years for football, basketball and baseball. The Ames (Iowa) High and University of Wyoming grad also officiated six years in Colorado and Wyoming before coming to South Dakota. He worked 49 prep football playoff games and four state football finals. He also refereed […]
Rudebusch, Tom
Tom Rudebusch has established himself as one of the most respected and hardest working sports broadcasters in South Dakota history. He began his career at KOTA Radio in Rapid City in 1974. He has been calling games ever since. Rudebusch is well known as the Voice of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. He […]
Sheeks, Paul
A 1908 Mitchell High and 1913 University of South Dakota grad, Sheeks played two years in the NFL before gaining national fame in the 1920s and ’30s because of the success of the Firestone basketball teams he coached in Akron, Ohio. He helped found the National Basketball League and was named coach of the year […]
Stolze, Craig
Born Oct. 21, 1919 in Sioux City. 1938 (Sioux City) Central HS grad. 1949 USD grad. Stolze is the only person to be named South Dakota Sportswriter of the Year four consecutive years. He was sports editor at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader for 10 years (1953-63). While there, Stolze started the Associated Press basketball […]
Thompson, Jim
A three-time South Dakota Sportscaster of the Year, the 1965 Sturgis High grad was well-known nationally for his pro rodeo announcing. Thompson has been selected to announce every major rodeo finals in the country: PRCA National Finals, Circuit Finals, Indian National Finals, College Nationals, High School National Finals and Senior Pro. He started announcing rodeos […]
Toland, Roger
In a 43-year sportswriting career, all at the Rapid City Journal, Toland was No. 1 when it came to numbers. A graduate of Rapid City High and National College of Business in Rapid City, Toland began working at the Journal in 1964. He retired in 2007. The 43 years is thought to be a state […]