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 100 state, regional, national and international journalism awards. His stories have been published (more than 20,000 editions) in newspapers and websites across the nation and he contributed to numerous books and a movie. Interviewed some of the biggest names in the history of SD athletics as well as many legends such as John Wooden, Pete Rose and Pat Summitt. In early 2000s, he started one of nation’s first sports’ podcasts featuring SD athletes and guests like Nebraska’s Tom Osborne. For three decades, led his Aberdeen News teammates in creating awarding-winning historical special sections of the histories of NSU football; NSU men’s/women’s basketball; SD prep track and 125-year athletic history of the Aberdeen area among many others. In 2002, his paper published a 64-page history of SD prep state championships for all boys’/girls’ sports featuring stories and detailed analysis. It was a project Papendick had been working on and planning for decades. Has done extensive radio work as well as accomplished photojournalist and videographer and social media content creator. Researched, created and continued numerous lists of SD sports records/events that are still in use today. Went from typewriters to the digital/social media age. Started at SD weekly newspapers in Salem and Bridgewater. Four-sport prep athlete whose college football career at Dakota State cut short due to injury (three operations in five months). Biographer for SD Sports Hall of Fame. Credits wife of 40 years, Janene, as the source of many of his inspirations.