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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]