Alumni News Kudos & Announcements


The 60s


Raymond Ashley,


attended, Saint Jo, Texas, wrote


and published numerous historical feature articles in local area and regional newspapers after retir- ing from the Air Force as a Lt. Col. He also published a book titled Old School Scholastics: A History of Education in Saint Jo (1872-1922). Today, he is an adjunct profes- sor at Wayland Baptist University.


Avonelle (Anderson) Kelsey, Class of ’65, Hot Springs, authored two new books entitled, Cowboy and Iroquois Medicine Woman. Avonelle has an art gallery in Hot Springs.


Laurel (Kaitfors) Merkwan, Class of ’68, Gayville, retired after 35 years of teaching. The last 34 years were spent at Chamberlain Middle School as a seventh-and- eighth grade science teacher.


Millard Merkwan, Class of ’69, Gayville, retired after 39 years of teaching at Chamberlain High School. Millard taught biology and advanced biology. He spent the last 16 years as the head wrestling coach.


Michael L. Schroeder, Class of ’66, Sioux Falls, recently retired. He taught at Lake Preston, Estelline, and Jasper, Minn., and was an adjunct faculty member at SDSU. For 10 years he


also served as the sales manager for International Multi Foods.


The 70s


Tony Chytka, Class of ’77, Belle Fourche, created bronze


sculptures for the top four world trophy awards for the 2008 National Finals Rodeo.


Cal Corey, Class of ’71, Sturgis, was inducted into the South Dakota High School Activities Association Hall of Fame last summer.


Linda (Schmeltzer) Corey, Class of ’71, Sturgis, retired after 37 years in education.


Paul Higbee, Class of ’76, Spearfish, was inducted


Four BHSU alumni chosen as 2008 South Dakota Hall of Fame inductees T


he South Dakota Hall of Fame board of directors inducted 13 individuals, of which four were alumni of Black Hills State University, into the 2008 class of the South Dakota Hall of Fame. Clint Roberts, attended, Ft. Pierre, was inducted for his work in governmental affairs/agriculture; Dr. James O. Hansen, Class of '52, Spearfish, was inducted for his accomplishments in public education; Gordon Hanson, attended, was inducted for communications; and


Evelyn Leite, Class of '74, Ft. Pierre, was inducted in the professional category. Clint served as a state senator, one of South Dakota’s U.S. Representatives in 1980 with an emphasis on agriculture. He served as an interna- tional trade consultant in 1983, was appointed as director of the Office of Energy Policy in 1988 by Governor Mickelson, and was the first director for the South Dakota Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), retiring in 2003. He has improved South Dakota’s economy through unselfish political contributions, most notably the design of the CREP and indirectly bringing international recognition to South Dakota pheasant hunting.


James has held virtually every job in the South Dakota system of public education. He was a classroom teacher, a principal, and a superinten- dent. He also served as Governor Janklow’s Secretary of Education. Janklow appointed him to the South Dakota Board of Regents in his second term. “There just is no one of whom I am aware that has the breadth of experience in public education that Jim Hansen possesses,” according to a quote from Harvey C. Jewett, president of the South Dakota Board of Regents. Gordon was posthumously inducted for his work in communications and for truly representing the western roots of South Dakota. Gordon


was a long-time news reporter, working for many years with the Associated Press (AP). He later worked for the Rapid City Journal, from which he


retired in 1991. Throughout his life Gordon remained active in his two favorite causes: rodeo and Korean War veteran’s issues. Gordon also earned national recognition with a single letter: as media director for the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA), he’s widely credited, most recently by ESPN Magazine Pro Rodeo Sports News, as the man who put the “P” in PRCA. The letter signifies “Professional”. In 1989 Evelyn developed Living With Solutions and further enhanced the quality of service to the program in 2007 through her development of Faith-Based Solutions, a program designed to provide counseling to people who need help and have no insurance or money to pay for services. She is also responsible for the development of the comprehensive grief education program: Healing the Hurting Heart Grief Recovery Training Conference. She brings tireless dedica- tion and a faith-based service to each component of her counseling services.


Roberts Hansen Hanson Leite Black Hills State University Alumni Magazine Page 8


into the 2008 Spearfish High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame.


Kenneth V. McKee, Class of ’72, Pearland, Texas, was recently promoted to senior vice president and general auditor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Kenneth is respon- sible for audit operations throughout the Eleventh Federal Reserve District. He has worked with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas for the past 27 years.


Betty (Maxwell) Sowder, Class of ’71, was hired last fall as a second-grade teacher by Hot Springs Elementary School.


Robert Spencer, Class of ’77, Pierre, retired from Civil Service after 37 years.


Sandra Spencer, Class of ’79, Pierre, received her Master of Arts in Christian spirituality from Creighton University.


The 80s


Carla “C.B.” Alexander, Class of ’84, Fort Meade,


was appointed the Workforce Development Program Manager of the Department of Veterans Affairs Network 23. Carla has worked with the Department for over 19 years.


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