5-15-2009- Article from Yankton Paper
Still A Point Of Pride
Springfield College Memories Stay Strong
BY RANDY DOCKENDORF
randy.dockendorf@yankton.net

Published: Saturday, May 9, 2009 1:01 AM CDT

SPRINGFIELD — In the College Memorial Park, a large marker gives thanks to a large group of people who will likely never see the sign of appreciation.
“Erected in appreciation for providing education for over 50,000 students, By students, faculty and friends 1986,”the printing on the stone says in the corner of the park. The marker remains a tribute to the local college, which went through many names in its history. The final dates, 1971-84, signify the time that the college was known as the University of South Dakota at Springfield.

Then-Gov. Bill Janklow and the Legislature closed the college, which was established in 1881 as Territorial Normal School at Springfield. The reasons included the school’s enrollment, its duplication of programs with other colleges and vocational schools, and the possibility of using it for other purposes.
The college’s supporters fought fiercely in the 1984 Legislature to keep the school open but were unsuccessful. The final graduation was held in May 1984. After attempts to sell the college were unsuccessful, the facility was converted to a prison that fall. The college’s closing and its conversion to a prison in 1984 remains difficult for the generations of students, faculty and staff as well as the area residents who developed a strong affection for the college.

Springfield college supporters have always fought fiercely for their school, said local resident John McNeill, a former college instructor who wrote a book chronicling the school’s history. “The threat of closure was nothing new to the community in the 1980s,” he said. “It was something they had lived with during the better part of 100 years.” But for many with ties to the school, this month’s 25th anniversary also provides a time for reflection and taking pride in the school that began as a teacher’s college and later added vocational programs. The school excelled in athletics as a member of the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference (SDIC), McNeill said. He added that the school developed a strong reputation in the humanities and fine arts,
led by professor Virgil Petrik. The school drew heavily from south-central and southeast South Dakota, McNeill said. About 90 percent of the students were South Dakotans, he said, with enrollment peaking at around 1,200. The school enrolled around 800 students when it closed. “At one point during World War II, there were probably only a half-dozen men on campus,” he said. “We had a lot of women becoming teachers, but the men were in the service and overseas.” Some students faced more of a challenge getting to the Springfield campus, as the Missouri River stood in the way, McNeill said.
“We had a lot of kids from Nebraska who would just cross the bridge at either Yankton or Pickstown,” he said. “Or they could use the ferry (at Running Water). But they couldn’t use it at night, winter, if the water was real fast or real low, or if the banks were badly eroded. “It depended which side the ferry was on. If you were on the opposite side, you would run up the flag so Captain Mickey knew he needed to cross the river and get you. But later they had CB radios or they would blow the horns.” The Springfield college appealed to small-town students who didn’t want to attend a large university, McNeill said.
“There was a girl from (a West River ranch) who was a good high school student, but she was afraid to go to a place of 6,000 or 7,000 students. She came to Springfield and flourished beautifully there,” he said. “Or there was the farm boy from Faith who tossed hay bales and played high school football. He came to Springfield and was a ferocious football player. “We sought those kids, who maybe hadn’t thought of going to college. They didn’t feel they could fit into a big college, and Springfield was perfect for them.”

Vern DeGeest considers himself one of those small-town kids. He was only 16 when he graduated from Armour High School in 1957 and didn’t have a firm direction for his life. “I didn’t even know if I wanted to go to college. In the summer after graduation, (Pointer coach) Floyd Mitchell said he had been following my name in the papers and asked why not come to Springfield,” DeGeest said. “I said I don’t think I can afford college, and Floyd said, ‘What if I found you a job or work study?’ He actually caught me down at Wagner for the Labor Day parade, and school started few days later — that was how close I was to not going to college.” But DeGeest did attend Springfield, which became a turning point in his life. He then entered education — when he first started teaching, he was only two years older than the high school seniors — and has built a 48-year career at Gayville, Viborg and Corsica. “Springfield was a great place. It was like an oversized high school,” he said. “It was a nice wonderful experience where everybody knew you.”

Jon Westling attended Springfield at the same time as DeGeest. He later returned to the college as a professor and coach. Like DeGeest, Westling found a strong bond between town and gown. “The college personnel and students were active participants in the community,” he said. “It was a unique atmosphere. It was a good marriage between the college and the community. It made Springfield a pleasant place to live.” Under the requirements at the time, a number of students could finish a summer session or one year of college and teach in a rural school, Westling said. A number of those students eventually returned and earned a four-year degree, he said. “For a number of years, the college students did all their practice teaching at Springfield because they didn’t have cars,” he said. “In the later years, they would go out to other schools to student teach.” Some of Westling’s fondest memories were the Founder’s Day homecomings from 1954-84. “Homecoming was a huge day. There was a huge parade and celebrations, then you had the big afternoon football game,” he said. “The town was so full of people. You walked because you couldn’t find a place to drive. A large number of alumni came back for homecoming. It was the most exciting day for me.”

As a non-traditional student, Susan McNeill found herself with a different yet similarly enjoyable experience at Springfield. “My husband was my advisor,” she said with a laugh. “I started college when my youngest daughter was 3 years old. I would take her with me to school, and she would sit in daddy’s office and color while Mom was in class.” In the midst of such positive experiences, Mrs. McNeill recalled the rumors that swirled during summer 1983 about the possible closure of the school. The concern kicked into high gear during the fall and as the legislative session began that winter.
“You were trying to go about your day-to-day business, but I was involved in rallies, and people were going to Pierre to appear before the Legislature,” she said. “We made several trips to Pierre to lobby the different legislators and tell them what was going on here and why Springfield was so deserving of staying open. It was a very emotional time.”

John McNeill recalled the feeling at the final commencement May 12, 1984. “It was sobering,” he said. “You had not only congratulations but also good-bye. There were faculty you would never see again.” However, there was also a resolve to make the college its best right up to the end, McNeill said.
“Don’t underestimate the great leadership of Dr. (Tom) Stone (the college dean),” McNeill said. “He wouldn’t let us sink into pity. He was upbeat and cheerful and never let us get down. He saw to it that we were functioning right up to the last day.” After a time working at Southeast Vo-Tech in Sioux Falls, McNeill returned to Springfield and worked with the adult education program at the prison. During that time, he saw many inmates turn around their lives through vocational programs, earning their GED and completing chemical dependency programs. In that respect, Springfield was no longer a college but was still making an impact on people’s lives, McNeill said. “We had inmates who had meaningful and important experiences,” he said. “Every day, I seemed to have contact with a former inmate who told me the impact that the prison programs on turning around his life.” For many Springfield graduates, the 25th anniversary of the final graduating class reinforces the college’s impact on South Dakota education by providing generations of teachers.

“I think that the school provided many opportunities for people going into education,” said Bob Krietlow, a Geddes native who graduated from USD/S before pursuing his career at Corsica and Stickney. Springfield’s impact has withstood the test of time, Krietlow said. “If you check the area, I think that you will find many of the ‘baby boomers’ who went into education attended Springfield,” he said. “I also think that Springfield put out a quality product — good, quality educators who were dedicated to their profession.”

DeGeest agreed, noting his siblings who also attended Springfield and went into education. He believes the state would not have its current teacher shortage if colleges such as Springfield still existed or continued to emphasize teacher training. As for himself, DeGeest said he still treasures his time on the campus and the direction it gave his life. “I have nothing but fond memories of attending Springfield,” he said. “It was probably the best time I could imagine. I can’t even imagine it being more gratifying than when I went.”