12-27-2017 Pointer Pheasant Hunt
in Hitchcock
8-15-2017 Added The Pulse II April Addition Newsletter- Click on the PULSE ICON at the top of the WebPage
2-17-2017 Add pictures from the 1984 Yearbook (will add more). USD/S- Final Year!
2-10-17 I just updated the Picture page - sorting the pictures by Yearbooks- I have various Yearbooks 1954 to 1984. I will be adding more pictures from more years in the near future... Bob
2-6-2017 I have added Pointer Museum Pictures to the website. Just click on the logo just to the TOP RIGHT. While I was at the museum, I obtained several duplicate copies of year books. I will be adding more pictures and organizing them for better retrieval. Please email me at bob@bobgill.com if you have Pointer Pictures, or if you have news that you want posted. ... Bob
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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.”
11-27-2006: From Alice Petrik
I wanted to let you know that Howard Nichelson passed away
this morning from cancer. His funeral will be Thursday, Nov. 30th in
Springfield.
If you want to send a card:
Nichelson's
8-3-2006: Pointer Golf at
Marina Golf Course: Click on the following link:
http://rg011.k12.sd.us/pointer/2006Golf.htm
for details
2-25-06: POINTER REUNION
1. The 12th SSTC/SSC/USDS Pointer Reunion is to be held in Sioux Falls at the Oaks Hotel, 3300 W. Russell St., (605 336-9000), during the afternoon and evening of Saturday, April 1,2006. A block of rooms has been reserved at the rate of $70 single and $76 double on Friday and Saturday, until March 10. We have reserved the Dakota Rooms from noon until midnight. It is accessible and should provide sufficient room for visiting, a delicious buffet meal at 4:30, a bar and space for the program and fellowship. You are encouraged to bring annuals and other interesting memorabilia to share.
2. Please Note: Advance cost will be $35 per individual Pointer or $57 per couple ($22 each for additional family or friends). At the door will be $40 each or $65 per couple. That charge should cover the costs of the meal, meeting room, postage, awards, supplies and incidentals. A cash bar will be available and will provide a variety of refreshments. Advance payments can be made by check to me (by March 24), and then we will have name tags ready. We plan on including maiden names on the tags if you let us know.
3. We plan on having our "business meeting" after the buffet. Agenda will include remembering those already inducted into the great "Hall of Fame" as well as induction of Wayne Baker, Wayne Barham, Duane Jansen, Gary Merkwan, Jon Mitchell & Hilda Settje into the "Pointer Hall of Fame". Legendary Mike Durfee special recognition will also be included.
4. We will again recognize Very Important Pointers. This recognition is for some of the special memories that Southern provided. It might include significant families, support groups, championship teams, legends, etc. Please share your ideas for future VIP's, but this year will be the Faculty and Employees. The VIP's should let us know when they prepay register, so that we can provide some type of identification to help identify them as this years VIP's. Jon Westling, Don VanCleave, Chuck Dawes and Dr. Tom Stone are the points of contact and they should have recommendations on how best to say thanks to the VIP's. If you were an employee of the school, please consider attending and allow us to recognize your contributions. VIP's on March 31, 2007 will be the Military/veterans, and we are asking Chuck Dawes, Tuffy Halsey, Bob Monfore and Louie Cowherd to be the points of contact.
5. Because this is the 06 reunion, we should give special encouragements to those classes ending in 6 (1946, 56, 66, 76, etc.) The photographer will be available to take pictures throughout the evening. Photos and clippings from previous reunions will be available for the taking.
6. For $40, I can again get Pointer sweatshirts (red with white logo or gray with red logo) T shirts for $20 or baseball caps for $15, with the logo of your choice as printed on the enclosed announcement. Send me a check by February 15 with size indicated, logo and style desired.
7. My wife and family again plan on helping with registration, but we would welcome volunteers. We welcome raffle items, and would appreciate help with selling raffle tickets at the door. The raffle items add enjoyment to the event as well as providing revenue to help keep the costs down. Remember to contact just one old friend that you would like to see and encourage them to join us. Enclosed is the mailing list of those that I contacted. I appreciate your help with accuracy.
8. Consider coming in mid afternoon, which allows time for browsing and visiting. We are asking all presenters to be brief, so that we can complete the entire program in a timely manner. Also remember the museum and newsletter efforts at Springfield by our Friends of Pointer, Box 502, Springfield, 57062.
9. p.s. Be sure to check the latest
Pointer webpage created by Bob Gill
http://rg011.kl2.sd.us/pointer/
Fran Schoenfelder (h) 605 692-8711
1635 Buffalo Trail (b) 605 696-4754
Brookings, SD 57006 email =
franjan@itctel.com
9-20-2005- Founder Day and Museum Pictures from Robert Snoozy
7-12-05- Founders Day and Golf
tourney- From Bob
Hi Everyone,
I haven't had a chance to put the new PULSE II on the web as of yet…
HERE are some Points of interest in the newsletter…
Founders Day - Sept 10th
$15- Pre-register by August 15th
Name:
Address:
Years Attended:
Area of Study:
Email:
Amount Enclosed:
Mail the above information and payment to:
Pointers Founders Day 2005
PO Box 502
Springfield, SD 57062
Questions: 605-369-2269
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Golf at Springfield on Sat, Aug. 20th
$25 Registration includes lunch
Call for registration: 605-369-5525
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Have a good summer… Bob
1 - 6- 2005
Pictures from Robert Snoozy- Click
HERE and
HERE
12-6-04 UPDATE FROM TOM
STONE- DONATION ADDRESS:
Donations to the Springfield College Museum fund
should be made out to the Springfield Historical Society and mailed to Jon
Westling, PO Box 502, Springfield, SD 57062. We are collecting monies through
the Springfield Historical Society as they are Incorp. as a Non-profit
organization and this makes your donation a legal tax deducation.Jon is serving
as our treasurer. Hope you can help us out with this very worthy cause.
12-3-04 From Karen Kaberna Brown
THERE WILL BE A PARTY ON THE 7TH OF JULY AT THE
FT. RANDALL CASINO. FOR ALL P.E. GIRLS THAT WANT TO COME TO THIS.
KAREN KABERNA BROWN
11-29-2004 From Tom Stone
I am Chairing a Committee of 10 people working on
putting together the Museum in Springfield to house items relating to the
College. We have done well in raising monies to get the museum completed. We now
need to raise monies to fund an endowment for the Museum. The endowment will
provide an annual income to operate and maintain the Museum. To fund the
endowment we need to raise an additional $75,000. This is a considerable amount
of money but is necessary to ensure the prepetual funding of the Museum. The
committee encourages everyone to come forward with a donation for the endowment.
With everyone contributing this goal is possible.
Donations to the Springfield College Museum fund should be made out to the
Springfield Historical Society and mailed to Jon Westling, PO Box 502,
Springfield, SD 57062. We are collecting monies through the Springfield
Historical Society as they are Incorp. as a Non-profit organization and this
makes your donation a legal tax deducation.Jon is serving as our treasurer. Hope
you can help us out with this very worthy cause.
Thanks You in advance for your
contribution. Tom Stone
8-24-2004 from Mike Clift
It is an honor and my great pleasure to announce
that the Don Baker cross country course at the University of South Dakota has
reached it's first goal of development very successfully and is ready for
competition. The Course is being dedicated to the memory of Coach Baker, one of
South Dakota's greatest coaches. This dedication ceremony will take place in
Vermillion at approximately 11:15 a.m. on Saturday Sept 4th at the course 1/4
mile north of the DakotaDome.
Schedule:
9:30 a.m. High school meet competition.
11:15 a.m. Dedication ceremony
11:40 a.m High school awards
12:00 noon College-open races for men and women.
We will be having a get together for Alumni, XC athletes and their parents, and
the Baker family at about 1 p.m. at Pros Bowling Alley which we would love to
have you attend. If you plan on attending please call 605-677-5942. It will be
very informal and fun for athletes, parents, and alumni to get to talk to the
Baker family about their memories of Don.
Mike Clift
Southern State - USD/S cross country and track runner
1971-73
mclift@genre.com
Mike Clift
USD/SMike Clift
USD/S
Cross Country and Track Runner 71-73.
7-16-2004- from Ray Willard
A Pointer Museum Benefit Golf Event will be
held at Springfield on August 21. It is a matching fund project with Modern
Woodmen of America. A good way to raise some money for the museum. It is
an 18 hole, Four Person Best Ball Format, $30/person registration fee which
includes a meal. No cash payback, there will be pin prizes and door prizes. It
would be great to have some of those Pointers from the 70's make the trip to
Springfield and have some fun golfing and visiting. To sign up, call the
Springfield Golf course- 605-369-5525
Ray Willard - rkwillard@yahoo.com
Yankton
6-16-04 - From Tom Maurer
I hope that there is going to be another
reunion in Springfield as was the case in August of 03. Maybe we should also
consider some type of athletic reunion (Baseball, Football, Basketball, etc.)
Last August, Roger Turnquist, Dennis Vedral, Mike Gassen, Joe Brandl, Dave
Wendte, and myself returned for the August event in Springfield, and toured the
campus. If we were to try to get various people from certain teams back
together, or various years, clubs, majors, etc, it would be great to see
everyone. Email me at
Tom.Maurer@state.sd.us
2-23-04- From
Karen Brown
THE P.E. GIRLS WILL HAVE A REUNION ON 17 OF JULY 2004. AT THE FT
RANDAL CASINO.
1-2-04 (Ground Hog's Day News)
1. The 10th SSTC/SSC/USDS Pointer Reunion
is to be held in Sioux Falls at the Oaks Hotel, 3300 W. Russell St.,
(605-336-9000), during the afternoon and evening of Saturday, March 27, 2004. A
block of rooms has been reserved at the rate of $66 single and $72 double on
Friday and Saturday, until March 6. We have reserved the Dakota Rooms from noon
until midnight. It is accessible and should provide sufficient room for
visiting, a delicious buffet meal at 4:30, a bar and space for the business
meeting, program and fellowship. You are encouraged to bring annuals and other
interesting memorabilia to share.
2. Please Note: Advance cost will be 30 per individual Pointer or 50 per
couple (20 each for additional family or friends). At the door will be $35 each
or $65 per couple. That charge should cover the costs of the meal, meeting room,
postage, awards, supplies and incidentals. A cash bar will be available and will
provide a variety of refreshments. Advance payments can be made by check.to me
(by March 20), and then we will have name tags ready .We plan on including
maiden names on the tags If you let us know.
3. We plan on having our "business meeting" after the buffet. Agenda wiIl include remembering those already inducted into the great "Hall of Fame" as well as induction of Dave Bride, Willy Hoff; Marcella Ludens, Helen Tiede, Don Van Cleave & Ray Willard into the "Pointer Hall of Fame". Legendary Laurel Iverson special recognition will also be included.
4. We will again recognize Very Important Pointers. This recognition is for some of the special memories that Southern provided. It might include significant families, support groups, championship teams, legends, etc. Please share your ideas for future YIP's, but this year will be the 1949 Undefeated Football Team, and in 2005 it will be the 1954 SDIC Championship Football Team. The YIP's should let us know when they prepay register, so that we can provide some type of identification to help identify them as this years YIP's. Jon Westling and Ed Sazama are the points of contact and they are preparing the YIP agenda. Please help us contact Wayne Austin, Jim Rumbolz and Allen Turner.
5. Because this is the 04 reunion, we should give special encouragements to those classes ending in 4 (1944, 54, 64, 74, etc.) The photographer will be available to take pictures throughout the evening. Photos and clippings from previous reunions will be available for the taking.
6. For $40, I can again get Pointer sweatshirts (red with white logo or gray with red logo) T shirts for $20 or baseball caps for $15, with the logo of your choice as printed on the enclosed announcement. Send me a check by February 15 with size indicated, logo and style desired.
7. My wife and family again plan on helping with registration, but we would welcome volunteers. We welcome raffle items, and would appreciate help with selling raffle tickets at the door. The raffle items add enjoyment to the event as well as providing revenue to help keep the costs down. Remember to contact just one old friend that you would like to see and encourage them to join us. Enclosed is the mailing list of those that I contacted. I appreciate your help with accuracy.
8. A last minute addition to the program will include having the Choir members back by popular demand. They were so popular last year and we welcome their return. Points of contact will be Karen Gullickson, Karol Jo (Ekberg) Hendrickson and Wayne Klinger. A practice is scheduled for 1:30 with the finale at the banquet. Let us know when registering if you are in the choir.
Fran Schoenfelder (H) 605-692-8711
1635 Buffalo Trail (B) 605-696-4754
Brookings, SD 57006 (Email): franjan@itctel.com
August 17-2003- Message
to the Student Body
The best time of my life was entering Southern
State College in the fall of 71.
The excitement and energy of the students was contagious. Even though we had a
small student body, this was an advantage because you got to know everyone
quickly. I'll never forget the people who I met there.
The most influential person I have ever met was my coach Don Baker, who headed
up the men's cross country, basketball, and track teams during this period.
It was immediately obvious this man loved his life and job teaching and coaching
at Southern. Don gave me a tour of the campus, power walking through the armory,
snapping his fingers with each step, barking greetings to every one he saw as I
tried to keep up. His charisma always lit up the room.
He taught me a lot about life on what was important and was a father figure to
me.
The main thing he had and conveyed to others was Passion and he had the rare
gift of transferring his inspiration to others.
He showed us all that with discipline and strong personal commitment you can
achieve anything in life.
Coach Baker had great success coaching cross country basketball and track
because
of his knowledge, personality, his unique inspirational motivation. He always
encouraged us to do a little bit more, to persevere, never give up, and to
succeed -even in our weakest moments.
I has been nearly 30 years since Don Baker died at the very young age of 41 and
I have thought of him very often.
An opportunity to honor his memory has recently arisen. A new cross country
course at USD will be named in honor of Don Baker.
The former Vermillion golf course owned by USD will be improved with proper
landscaping and facilities to be a national caliber cross country course which
would make it one of the finest courses in the nation, dedicated exclusively to
that sport.
Achieving this goal will be a very modest investment with the modest investment
can be completed for $10,000. We have a very long list of what we can get for
$10,000 and it is a value. Dedication of the new facility is targeted for 2004.
If any of you have any of these feelings please join us in honoring Coach Baker
in this way. Please visit the USD athletics website and/or contact the USD
coaching staff for news release information.
Please pass the word. Let's get this done. Course dedication announcements will
follow as we get closer to our goal. Hopefully we will see you there.
Donations may be sent to the USD Cross Country Fund, and note "Don Baker
Cross Country Course" in the memo line. /o Dave Gottsleben, USD Track Office, DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.
Thank you and God Bless.
Mike Clift
USD/S
Cross Country and Track Runner 71-73.
mclift2005@aol.com
APRIL 4th 2003 NEWS
There were 225 Pointers at the recent
reunion. We are preparing for Pointer Reunion #10 on March 27, 2004 at
the Oaks Hotel in Sioux Falls
USD/COLLEGE MUSEUM
On December 4, Gov.Janklow made the
announcement that he was donating a building, a 1200 sq. ft. day care
type building, to be used as a site for an
Archives collection/Museum for the
college in Springfield. This was
requested in early summer as the plans were being developed
for such a project. Land has also been made available
for the building, on the lot next to the Springfield
Historical Museum. The land belongs to Tom Monfore,
who was not a college graduate but a Springfield
person. He was a Springfield track kid who went
to U. of Wisconsin and became a surgeon in CA. Everything
is in place but the money for the project, and
a plan has been made to get that started. It
would be great if you could make such an announcement
to your list of people. It has been
difficult to compile addresses due to the lack
of any alumni records which somehow have been lost
or misplaced. I guess 1984 is a long time ago. Might
see you at the Pointer Reunion in Sioux Falls on March
29 or at the All College Reunion in Springfield on
August 9.