Howard Nielsen - Inducted 2000

Born March 4, 1921. 1938 Yankton HS grad. 1949 USD grad. Nielsen, of Yankton, chronicled South Dakota sports as a radio broadcaster and/or as a sportswriter for 50 years. He began doing play-by-play for KYNT in Yankton in 1958, continuing for more than 30 yers. He became sports editor of the Yankton Press & Dakotan in 1968, working there for many years, writing columns daily, then weekly. He retired from his column in 2007 at age 86. He was one of the founders of the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. Nielsen, a recipient of the National High School Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award, was named South Dakota Sportscaster of the Year in 1976 and Sportswriter of the Year in 1993, 1994 and 1996 - the only person honored in both categories in any state. He received the North Central Conference's Ed Kolpack Award, the USD Dan Lennon Award, the SDHSCA Max Hawk Award and the Friend of Football Award from the SD High School Football Coaches. He was inducted into the SDIC, NCC, USD, Mount Marty, Yankton High and SD Basketball Coaches Association halls of fame. He played football in high school and college.