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
906 3rd Street

Springfield SD 57062

nichelson@gwtc.net


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

May 14th 2003 NEWS
The project to develop a museum for Archives items from the former college at Springfield is moving ahead. There is a GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY at Springfield on Wednesday, May 21st at 2:00.  It will be held toward the east end of main street where the museum will be located.   There will be a reception at Libby's Steakhouse following the Ceremony. Everyone is invited to come to the Ground Breaking Ceremony and the Reception. 

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.