List of people from South Dakota

This is a list of prominent people who were born in or lived for a significant period in U.S. state of South Dakota. For a larger list by location, see People from South Dakota.

Academia

Vine Deloria Jr., American Indian author, theologian, historian, and activist
Alvin Hansen, economist, Harvard professor; born in Viborg
Arthur Larson, law professor, United States Undersecretary of Labor; born in Sioux Falls
Ernest O. Lawrence, inventor of cyclotron, winner of 1939 Nobel Prize for Physics; born in Canton
Lawrence Lessig, internet activist, Harvard Law School professor; born in Rapid City
Brad L. Neiger, public health professor, associate academic vice president; born in Eureka
Theodore Schultz, economist, winner of 1979 Nobel Prize for Economics; born in Arlington

Actors and filmmakers

Angela Aames (1956–1988), actress; born in Pierre
Catherine Bach (born 1954), actress; grew up in South Dakota
Bruce Baillie (1931–2020), experimental filmmaker; born in Aberdeen
Rachael Bella (born 1984), actress; born in Vermillion
Shannon Bolin (1917–2016), actress, singer; born in Spencer
Moses Brings Plenty (born 1969), actor; born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Christopher Cain (born 1943), actor, director, screenwriter; born in Sioux Falls
Leslie Carlson (1933–2014), actor; born in Mitchell
Sean Covel(born 1976),film producer; grew up in Edgemont^[1]
Harvey B. Dunn (1894–1968), actor; born in Yankton
Judith Evelyn (1913–1967), actress; born in Seneca
Amy Hill (born 1953), actress; born in Deadwood
Candace Hilligoss (born 1935), actress; born in Huron
Ron Holgate (born 1937), actor; opera singer; born in Aberdeen
January Jones (born 1978), actress; born in Hecla
Cheryl Ladd (born 1951), actress; born in Huron
Eddie Little Sky (1926–1997), actor; born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Cliff Lyons (1901–1974), stuntman, actor; born in Lake County
Beth Maitland (born 1958), actress; born in Rapid City
Gail Matthius (born 1953), actress, voice actress; born in New York City
Russell Means (1939–2012), actor, left-wing activist; born in Wanblee
John Miljan (1892–1960), actor; born in Lead City
Debra Mooney (born 1947), actress; born in Aberdeen
Conrad A. Nervig (1889–1980), Oscar-winning film editor; born in Grant County
Gary Owens (1934–2015), voice actor, disc jockey; born in Mitchell
Dorothy Provine (1937–2010), actress, singer, dancer, comedian; born in Deadwood
Gene Roth (1903–1976), actor; born in Redfield
Chic Sale (1885–1936), actor, vaudevillian; born in Huron
Eddie Spears (born 1982), actor; born in Lower Brulé Tribe, South Dakota
Michael Spears (born 1977), actor; born in Lower Brulé Tribe, South Dakota
Michael Steinberg (born 1959), director, writer; born in Rapid City
Joan Tabor (1932–1968), actress; born in Sioux Falls
Delores Taylor (1939–2018), actress, writer, director; born in Winner
Casey Tibbs (1929–1990), cowboy, rodeo performer, actor; born in Fort Pierre
Mamie Van Doren (born 1931), actress; born in Rowena
Jerry verDorn (1949-2022), actor; born in Sioux Falls
John War Eagle (1901–1991), actor; born on the Yankton Indian Reservation
Alfred L. Werker (1896–1975), director; born in Deadwood
Floyd Red Crow Westerman (1936–2007), actor, left-wing activist; born on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation
Timmy Williams (born 1981), actor, comedian; born in Watertown

Artists

Peggy Detmers, sculptor of wildlife in metal, attended South Dakota State
Harvey Dunn, painter, born in Manchester
James Earle Fraser, sculptor; spent much of his life in Mitchell
Paul Goble, author and illustrator of children's books; lives in Rapid City
Mary GrandPré, illustrator, born in South Dakota
Bill Groethe, photographer, born in Rapid City
Oscar Howe (1915–1983), Native American artist; born in South Dakota
Terry Redlin (1937–2016), wildlife artist; born in Watertown
Dick Termes, painter of Termespheres; lives in Spearfish

Authors and poets

Jacob M. Appel, author, wrote Coulrophobia & Fata Morgana while living in Sioux Falls^[2]
L. Frank Baum (1856–1919) author; lived in Aberdeen
Joseph Bottum (born 1959), essayist and poet; born in Vermillion
Charles Badger Clark (1883–1957), poet laureate of South Dakota
Allison Hedge Coke (born 1958), American Book Award-winning poet, writer; South Dakota resident
Elizabeth Cook-Lynn (born 1930), author; born in Fort Thompson
Pete Dexter (born 1943), author, screenwriter and journalist, attended University of South Dakota
David Allan Evans (born 1940), poet laureate of South Dakota
Joseph Hansen (1923–2004), author, best known for mystery novels; born in Aberdeen
Cameron Hawley (1905–1969), author, Executive Suite, Cash McCall; born in Howard
Patrick Hicks (born 1970), novelist and poet, Writer-in-Residence at Augustana University
Johan Andreas Holvik (1880–1960), author and professor at Concordia College (Minnesota)
Adam Johnson (born 1967), writer, author of The Orphan Master's Son (2012); born in South Dakota, Lakota heritage
Bill Johnson (born late 1950s), science-fiction writer; born in South Dakota
Herbert Arthur Krause (1905–1976), historian, professor at Augustana
Rose Wilder Lane (1886–1968), journalist, travel writer, novelist; born in De Smet
Gaylord Larsen (born 1932), mystery writer; born in Canova
Joseph Marshall III, Pen Award-winning author; co-founder of Sinte Gleska College; born on the Rosebud Indian Reservation
Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957), author, best known for Little House on the Prairie; lived in De Smet

Business

Gene Amdahl (1922–2015), chief architect of IBM mainframe computer; born in Flandreau
Al Neuharth (1924–2013), founder of USA Today, born in Eureka^[3]
Lee Raymond (born 1938), CEO and chairman of ExxonMobil Corporation; born in Watertown
Joseph Robbie, owned NFL's Miami Dolphins; born in Sisseton

Military

Oscar Randolph Fladmark (1922–1955), WWII and Korean War pilot; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient; lived in Sioux Falls, born in Moe
David C. Jones (1921–2013), retired U.S. Air Force general, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff; born in Aberdeen
Touch the Clouds (c. 1837–1905), Native American chief; later Indian Scout and Sergeant in the US army

Music

Joey Clement, band member of Selena Gomez & the Scene; born in Rapid City
Shawn Colvin (born 1956), Grammy Award-winning musician; born in Vermillion
Jacob Christensen (born 1994), Musical artist by the name NakeyJakey.
Mark Craney (1952–2005), drummer for Jethro Tull, Jean Luc-Ponty, Eric Burdon
Myron Floren (1919–2005), accordionist, The Lawrence Welk Show; born in Roslyn
Gary Mule Deer (born 1940), comedian and country musician; born in Deadwood, lives in Spearfish
Keith Olsen (1945–2020), record producer and sound engineer; born in Sioux Falls
Jess Thomas (1927–1993), opera singer; born in Hot Springs
Frank Waln, Sicangu Lakota rapper
Abby Whiteside (1881–1956), piano teacher, attended University of South Dakota

Native Americans

Gertrude Bonnin (Zitkala-Sa) (1876–1938), Lakota writer and activist; born on Yankton Sioux Reservation
Crazy Horse (c. 1840–1877), Oglala Lakota war leader
Russell Means (1939–2012), Native American activist; born in Pine Ridge
Maria Pearson (1932–2003), Yankton Sioux activist who helped establish the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
Rain-in-the-Face (c. 1835–1905), Hunkpapa Lakota chief
Red Cloud (1822–1909), Oglala Lakota chief
Sitting Bull (c. 1831–1890), Hunkpapa Lakota chief
Touch the Clouds (c. 1837–1905), Miniconjou Teton Lakota chief known for his great size
Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman (1936–2007), musician, activist and actor; born on Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Sioux reservation

Politics and government

Jim Abdnor (1923–2012), second Lebanese U.S. Representative and Senator; born in Kennebec
James Abourezk (born 1931), first Lebanese U.S. Representative and Senator; born in Wood
Clinton Presba Anderson, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; born in Centerville
Tom Daschle (born 1947), U.S. Majority Leader of United States Senate; born in Aberdeen
J. James Exon (1921–2005), U.S. senator for Nebraska, Governor of Nebraska; born in Geddes
Joe Foss (1915–2003), Medal of Honor recipient, 20th Governor of South Dakota, first Commissioner of the American Football League; born in Sioux Falls
Ralph A. Gamble (1885–1959), U.S. Representative for New York; born in Yankton
John Hamre (born 1950), U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense; born in Watertown
Hubert Humphrey (1911–1978), U.S. Senator, 38th Vice President of the U.S., 1968 Democratic presidential candidate; born in Wallace
Muriel Humphrey Brown, U.S. Senator from Minnesota, Second Lady of the United States born in Huron
Bill Janklow (1939–2012), Governor 1979–1987 and 1995–2003; moved as teen to Flandreau
Brendan Johnson (born 1975), 40th U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota; born in Vermillion
Tim Johnson (born 1946), U.S. Senator from South Dakota 1997–2015; born in Canton
Arthur Larson (1910–1993), United States Under Secretary of Labor, lawyer, law professor; born in Sioux Falls
George McGovern (1922–2012), U.S. Senator from South Dakota, 1972 Democratic presidential candidate; born in Avon
Karl E. Mundt (1900–1974), U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative; born in Humboldt
Kristi Noem (born 1971), first female Governor of South Dakota and U.S. Representative from South Dakota; born in Watertown
Larry Pressler (born 1942), three-term U.S. Senator from South Dakota; born in Humboldt
Gladys Pyle (1890–1989), first female U.S. Senator from South Dakota; born in Huron
Mike Rounds (born 1954), current U.S. Senator from South Dakota, former Governor; born in Huron
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (born 1970), U.S. Representative from South Dakota; born in Houghton
Edward John Thye (1896–1969), U.S. Senator from Minnesota and 26th Governor of Minnesota; born in Frederick

Science

Bob Burris (1914–2010), biochemist; elected to the NAS; contributed to our understanding of biological nitrogen fixation; born in Brookings
Niels Ebbesen Hansen (1866–1950), horticulturist and botanist^[4]
Ernest O. Lawrence (1901–1958), physicist, Nobel Prize winner, built first cyclotron; born in Canton
John Mortvedt (1932–2012), agronomist and soil scientist who was the world's leading expert on micronutrients; born and raised on a farm near Dell Rapids

Sports

Sparky Anderson (1934–2010), Baseball Hall of Fame manager of Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers; born in Bridgewater
Michael Andrew (born 1999), Olympic swimmer; raised in Aberdeen^[5]
Shayna Baszler (born 1980), mixed martial artist; born in Sioux Falls
James Bausch (1906–1974), athlete, decathlon gold medalist at 1932 Summer Olympics; born in Marion
Curt Byrum (born 1958), professional golfer, PGA Tour; Onida
Tom Byrum (born 1960), professional golfer, PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions; Onida
Dallas Clark (born 1979), tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; born in Sioux Falls
Dave Collins, baseball player; born in Rapid City
Jessi Combs (1980–2019), professional racer, female land-speed world record holder, and TV personality; born in Rockerville
Sean Doolittle (born 1986), baseball player; born in Rapid City
Justin Duchscherer (born 1977), baseball player; born in Aberdeen
Mark Ellis (born 1977), baseball player; Rapid City
Keith Foulke (born 1972), baseball player, relief pitcher for 2004 World Series champion Boston Red Sox; born on Air Force base in South Dakota
Terry Francona (born 1959), baseball player, manager of the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians; born in Aberdeen
Chad Greenway (born 1983), linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings; born in Mount Vernon
Marlene Hagge (1934–2023), golfer, member of World Golf Hall of Fame; born in Eureka
Becky Hammon (born 1977), basketball player and coach; born in Rapid City
Clare Jacobs (1886–1971), athlete, pole vault bronze medalist in 1908 Olympics; born in Madison
Dennis Koslowski (born 1959), Greco-Roman wrestler, two-time Olympic medalist; born in Watertown
Duane Koslowski (born 1959), Greco-Roman wrestler, former Olympian; born in Watertown
Jason Kubel (born 1982), outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks; born in Belle Fourche
Ward Lambert (1888–1958), college basketball coach; born in Deadwood
Ben Leber, football player; attended high school in Vermillion
Brock Lesnar (born 1977), UFC fighter and WWE professional wrestler; born in Webster
Randy Lewis (born 1959), freestyle wrestler, 1984 Los Angeles Olympics gold medalist; born in Rapid City
Clarence "Pug" Manders (1913–1985), pro football running back; born in Milbank
Jack Manders (1909–1977), pro football running back; born in Milbank
Mike Martz (born 1951), former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator; born in Sioux Falls
Lincoln McIlravy (born 1974), freestyle wrestler, 2000 Sydney Olympics bronze medalist; born in Rapid City
David Michaud (born 1988), UFC fighter; born in Pine Ridge
Derek Miles (born 1972), Olympic pole vaulter; from Tea
Tim Miles (born 1966), Big Ten basketball coach; born in Huron
Mike Miller (born 1980), pro basketball player; born in Mitchell
Billy Mills (born 1938), athlete, gold medalist in 1964 Olympics; born in Pine Ridge^[6]
Dale Moss (born 1988), football player and model; born in Brandon
Gene Okerlund (1942-2019), Professional wrestling commentator; born in Brookings
Eric Piatkowski (born 1970), pro basketball player; attended high school in Rapid City
Riley Reiff, football player for Minnesota Vikings; from Parkston
Jared Reiner, basketball player; from Tripp
Bill Scherr (born 1961), freestyle wrestler, World Champion, four-time World medalist and Olympic bronze medalist; born in Eureka
Wilbur Thompson (1921–2013), athlete, 1948 Summer Olympics gold medalist in shot put; born in Frankfort
Derrek Tuszka (born 1997), pro football linebacker for the Denver Broncos; born in Warner, SD^[7]
Shane Van Boening (born 1983), Professional pool player; born in Rapid City
Norm Van Brocklin (1926–1983), football player; born in Eagle Butte
Adam Vinatieri (born 1972), NFL placekicker; born in Yankton^[8]
Brandon Wegher (born 1990), football player; born in Dakota Dunes

Television

Bob Barker (1923-2023), television game show host; raised on the Rosebud Indian Reservation^[9]
Tom Brokaw (born 1940), television journalist, former NBC Nightly News anchor; born in Webster^[10]
Don Fedderson (1913–1994), television producer and creator, My Three Sons, Family Affair, The Millionaire; born in Beresford
Mary Hart (born 1950), television personality (Entertainment Tonight); from Madison, and Sioux Falls^[11]
Chelsea Houska (born 1991), television personality (Teen Mom 2)
Tomi Lahren (born 1992), conservative political commentator, host of TheBlaze's Tomi; raised in Rapid City^[12]
Pat O'Brien (born 1948), sports commentator, television personality (Access Hollywood); born in Sioux Falls^[13]
Gary Owens (1934–2015), announcer for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, radio disc jockey, voice actor; born in Mitchell

Uncategorized

Helen Morton Barker, social reformer
Gutzon Borglum, sculptor of Mount Rushmore
Seth Bullock, first sheriff of Deadwood
K. G. William Dahl (1883–1917), Lutheran pastor, author and social advocate
Billy Etbauer, rodeo cowboy; born in Huron
Alvin Hansen, economist; born in Viborg
Wild Bill Hickok, Wild West lawman; lived in Deadwood
Calamity Jane, Wild West figure; lived in Deadwood
Frank Leahy, Notre Dame football coach; attended school in Winner
Lawrence Lessig, political activist; from Rapid City
Boyd McDonald, pornographer
Vernon C. Miller, outlaw and Huron lawman
Peter Norbeck, South Dakota governor and senator^[14]
William H. Parker, longtime Los Angeles police chief; born in Lead
James "Scotty" Philip, rancher
James Edward Zimmerman, inventor; born in Lantry
Korczak Ziółkowski, sculptor of Crazy Horse Memorial

References

^ "Sean Covel Seminars South Dakota | Television Producer in South Dakota | Red Roa". Red Road Motion Pic. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
^ American Writer, March 2017, Pp. 7-8
^ "Allen Neuharth". South Dakota Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
^ Niels Ebbesen Hansen 1866–1950 (South Dakota History. Volume 17 Number 1) "Dakota Profile - N. Hansen". Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
^ Waltman, Scott (June 14, 2021). "Former Aberdeen swimmer Michael Andrew qualifies for Tokyo Olympics". Aberdeen News. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
^ Sun, Rebecca. Catching up with Billy Mills Olympics news, results, schedules, medal tracker - SI.com Sports Illustrated. July 28, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
^ ((cite.web|url-https://www.denverbroncos.com/team/players-roster/derrek-tuszka/))
^ "Adam Vinatieri". New England Patriots. Archived from the original on September 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
^ "Robert (Bob) Barker". South Dakota Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
^ "Tom Brokaw". South Dakota Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
^ "Mary Hart". South Dakota Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
^ "Rapid City woman anchors political talk show at 22". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
^ "Pat O'Brien". South Dakota Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
^ "Peter Norbeck: Prairie Statesman". Retrieved November 4, 2008.