Schwartz, Bryan
Bryan Schwartz was the first NCAA Division II player ever nominated for the Dick Butkus Award, given to college football’s best linebacker. He was a second-round pick, 64th overall, of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1995 NFL Draft. The 6-4, 251-pound Schwartz was the Jaguars’ leading tackler as a rookie. He was named to the […]
Scott, James
Born April 23, 1888, in Deadwood. Scott’s family later moved to the Standing Rock Reservation west of Mobridge and then to Lander, Wyo., where he attended grade school and high school. Scott is one of the few big-leaguers ever to return to the majors as an umpire. He also was the first major-leaguer to leave […]
Smith, Gene
Born and grew up in Thomas, SD. 1947 Watertown HS grad. 1952 Huron College grad. Perhaps the greatest basketball player in the history of Huron College, Smith was one of the first South Dakotans ever drafted by an NBA team, taken by the NBA champion Minneapolis Lakers in 1952. Despite the complete loss of two […]
Stanford, Doug
A 1962 Rapid City Central and 1967 Black Hills State grad, Stanford was one of the state’s greatest amateur baseball players. The pitcher-outfielder was a two-time state tournament MVP (1972 and ’73) and he hit 26 home runs in 1976 to tie the single-season state record. In 1973, the 6-foot-1½, 205-pound right-hander pitched two complete […]
Stransky, Bob
Yankton High School. University of Colorado. Was an All-American at Colorado in his senior year of 1957, when he was second in the nation in rushing (1,097 yards on 183 carries) and fourth in total offense (1,387) as one of the last of the single-wing tailbacks. In the 1957 Orange Bowl, Stransky’s second interception of […]
Swanhorst, Bob
One of the leading scorers in South Dakota boys basketball history, Swanhorst was an outstanding coach and college player as well. At Cresbard, Swanhorst was a four-year starter and scored 2,404 points, which is now No. 4 in state history (it was No. 2 when he graduated). He led Cresbard to a state Class B […]
Swett, Rex
Huron. Nebraska. Led the 1958 Huron Tigers to a 22-0 record and state Class A basketball title, averaging 15 points a game. He averaged 20.8 the previous season as Huron finished third. Held Huron High records in the 180-yard low hurdles (20.1) and long jump (22-9). He was named the state’s High School Athlete of […]
Templeton, Kim
A graduate of Miller High School in 1972 and Black Hills State University in 1976, Kim Templeton distinguished himself as an all-state basketball player and helped lead the undefeated Miller boys’ basketball team to the 1972 State A title. Despite Miller being the smallest school in Class A at the time, Templeton’s leadership propelled them […]
Rasmussen, Wayne
Howard High School. 1964 South Dakota State grad. Rasmussen was all-North Central Conference in three sports (twice each in football and basketball and once in baseball) at SDSU. The 6-2, 180-pound Rasmussen was drafted by Detroit in the ninth round and went on to play nine seasons (1964-72) as a defensive back for the Lions. […]
Schemmel, Jeff
Jeff Schemmel was the first South Dakota native to run a sub four-minute mile (3:59.4), running for Kansas State on June 1, 1974. He was a four-time track NCAA DI All-American who anchored K-State’s distance medley relay team to the 1975 NCAA championship. He won five Big 8 Conference individual track titles and helped KSU […]