I mages of Governors Robert Vessey, Peter Norbeck and George S. Mickelson once again enhance South Dakota’s Capital City

of Pierre where all left their mark years ago.

The Trail of Governor’s Foundation unveiled bronze statues honoring

the governors on Nov. 1, 2014 in a Capitol Rotunda celebration that

also commemorated South Dakota’s 125th anniversary of statehood.

The annual unveiling ceremony, previously held on or adjacent to Flag

Day, moved in observance of this special anniversary.

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard shared historical glimpses

and character traits for each honored governor. Family members

representing the governors as well as others with a historical tie or

appreciation celebrated the leaders’ contributions to the state.

2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Arthur Mellette – 1st Governor of South Dakota

A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors.

2014 Trail of Governors Annual Report

Governor Robert VesseyGov. Robert Vessey was funded by the South Dakota Retailers Association for which he was a founding member in 1897.

The four unveiling his statue were SDRA Executive Director Shawn Lyons, SDRA Board President DeLon Mork, former SDRA Attorney/Lobbyist Ron Olinger who is a Vessey donor along with his wife Linda, and former SDRA Ex-ecutive Director Jerry Wheeler who the Olingers honored with their donation.

Vessey’s bronze likeness harkens back to the days when he was a retail shop owner. Artists Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby illustrated Vessey in early shop-keeper garb with an apron over business attire, and his smile and raised hands greet a well-known customer. Vessey’s resume reflects a multi-faceted man who was not only governor and shop owner, but wore several other hats as well. Vessey’s statue welcomes all who drive by the corner of Capitol Avenue and Nicollet Street, next to the SDRA’s front door. He’s back in business. Gus and Jan Ritchey provided a quarter of Vessey’s funding in memory of Gus’ father and Vessey’s grandson, Bud Ritchey.

Robert Vessey - 7th Governor of South Dakota

A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors.

2014 Trail of Governors Annual Report

Governor Peter NorbeckAny dedicated South Dakota history student will recognize the landform Artist James Michael Maher replicated at the base of Gov. Peter Norbeck’s bronzestatue: The Needles mountain formation in South Dakota’s Black Hills.

Norbeck masterminded the design of the Needles Highway with its pigtail bridges and granite tunnels framing images of Mount Rushmore NationalMemorial. He helped create Custer State Park which at the time was thecountry’s largest state park, now ranking second. Norbeck was a hands-onleader with ideas to enhance South Dakota’s Black Hills, creating world-classtourism attractions, a thriving visitor industry, and a reliable highway systemto transport those visitors. His other passions included well-drilling andwildlife conservation.

Norbeck’s statue stands at the corner of Pierre and Dakota Streets in downtown Pierre. He holds a surveyor’s rod in one hand while pointing with the other, as though plotting his next epic project. Norbeck’s donors are Dr. Karl and Mar-garet Cash Wegner, and David and Rebecca Scott. Those unveiling his likeness in the Capitol Rotunda were the Scotts as well as Norbeck family members, Margaret Cash Wegner and Jim Jennings.

Peter Norbeck - 9th Governor of South Dakota

A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors.

2014 Trail of Governors Annual Report

Governor George S. MickelsonAs the most recent governor whose statue was unveiled in 2014, many inattendance had firsthand memories of beloved giant, Gov. George S. Mickelson.

Mickelson was one of South Dakota’s tallest governors and his accomplishments were also giant. One example is the state’s REDI Fund for economic develop-ment which is still at work. Those at the unveiling recalled the cheerful leader with Speaker as a middle name as well as the deeply sad day his life was lost in a plane crash with other South Dakotans, all while on duty for their state.

Artist Maher’s image shows Mickelson wearing his oft-seen grin, a jacket slung casually over one shoulder, and his hand outstretched to greet a new or old friend. The Fighting Stallions bronze, commissioned in memory of those lost while serving their state on April 19, 1993, can be seen over Mickelson’s shoul-der at his statue’s placement along Capitol Avenue. Mickelson’s donors are First Lady Linda Mickelson Graham, the Mickelson family and the South Dakota Community Foundation, which the former governor helped launch in 1987. Members of his family including First Lady Linda, their three children, several grandchildren, and sister Patricia Mickelson Adam witnessed the unveiling.

George S. Mickelson - 28th Governor of South Dakota

A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors.

2014 Trail of Governors Annual Report

Looking to 2015The Trail of Governors Foundation now focuses on the next three governors to be cast in bronze: 4th Gov. Charles Herreid, 18th Gov. George T. Mickelson, and 25th Gov. Richard Kneip. The next unveiling is planned for June 12, 2015 in the Capitol Rotunda. Full funding has been secured for Govs. Mickelson and Kneip, with fund-raising underway for Herreid.

Our DonorsThe foundation had raised a grand total of $808,598.72 at the close of 2014. Eleven statues are fully funded, two are one-quarter funded, and 17 still require full fund-ing. The South Dakota Community Foundation provides fund guidance and all do-nations are tax-deductible. Donors contributing one-quarter of a statue ($17,000), one-half ($34,000), three-quarters ($51,000), up to the full contribution ($68,000), receive acknowledgement on that statue’s plaque. All donors – regardless of amount – are acknowledged on the Trail’s website atwww.Trailof Governors.com.

An endowment fund was created in 2014 for funds to help with the statues’ main-tenance and other needs in the future. Contributions may be made in honor or memory of individuals and this will be acknowledged with the donor’s name.

The following list reflects the donor status for each statue along with the years that governor served in office and the year the statue was erected or is planned to be unveiled, if established.

1st Governor Arthur Mellette, 1889-1893 – fully funded; unveiled in 2012

2nd Governor Charles Sheldon, 1893-1897 – donors needed

3rd Governor Andrew Lee, 1897-1901 – donors needed

4th Governor Charles Herreid, 1901-1905 – donors needed; scheduled for 2015

5th Governor Samuel Elrod, 1905-1907 – donors neededHarlan Bushfield - 16th Governor of South Dakota

A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors.

2014 Trail of Governors Annual Report

6th Governor Coe Crawford, 1907-1909 – donors needed

7th Governor Robert Vessey, 1909-1913 – fully funded; unveiled in 2014

8th Governor Frank Byrne, 1913-1917 – donors needed

9th Governor Peter Norbeck, 1917-1921 – fully funded; unveiled in 2014

10th Governor William McMaster, 1921-1925 – donors needed

11th Governor Carl Gunderson, 1925-1927 – donors needed; scheduled for 2016

12th Governor William Bulow, 1927-1931 – donors needed

13th Governor Warren Green, 1931-1933 – donors needed

14th Governor Tom Berry, 1933-1937 – donors needed

15th Governor Leslie Jensen, 1937-1939 – donors needed

16th Governor Harlan Bushfield, 1939-1943 – fully funded; unveiled in 2012

17th Governor Merrill Sharpe, 1943-1947 – donors needed

18th Governor George T. Mickelson – fully funded; scheduled for 2015

19th Governor Sigurd Anderson, 1951-1955 – donors needed

20th Governor Joe Foss, 1955-1959 – ¼ funded; donors needed

21st Governor Ralph Herseth, 1959-1961 – donors needed

22nd Governor Archie Gubbrud, 1961-1965 – ¼ funded; donors needed

23rd Governor Nils Boe, 1965-1969 – fully funded; scheduled for 2016

24th Governor Frank Farrar, 1969-1971 – fully funded; unveiled in 2013

25th Governor Richard Kneip, 1971-1978 – fully funded; scheduled for 2015

26th Governor Harvey Wollman, – donors needed; unveiled in 2013

27th Governor and 30th Governor William J. Janklow – fully funded; unveiled in 2013

28th Governor George S. Mickelson – fully funded; unveiled in 2014

29th Governor Walter D. Miller, 1993-1995 – fully funded; unveiled in 2012

31st Governor M. Michael Rounds, 2003-2011 – ¼ funded; donors needed;

scheduled for 2016

William J. Janklow - 27th and 30th Governor of South Dakota

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2014 Trail of Governors Annual Report

Donors To-Date$68,000+First National Bank, First Savings Bank and Capital Card ServicesWilliam J. Janklow Memorial Fund

$51,000+Tom and Linda Mickelson Graham – Mickelson Family Fund, Sioux Falls, SD

$34,000+ Leroy and Charlene Foster, Fort Pierre, SDGary and Connie Grittner, Fort Pierre, SDDavid and Rebecca Scott, Geddes, SD South Dakota Retailers Association, Pierre, SDDr. Karl and Margaret A. Cash Wegner, Sioux Falls, SD

$17,000+ Thomas and Patricia Adam, Pierre, SD American Bank & Trust, Miller, SD Beck Motor Company, Pierre, SDMansour and Ruth Karim, Pierre, SD Lt. Governor Steve and Suzette Kirby, Sioux Falls, SD Mark G. and Cynthia Mickelson, Sioux Falls, SDCurtis D. and Kimberley A. Mortenson, Fort Pierre, SD Ronald D. and Linda J. Olinger Honoring Jerry Wheeler, Sioux Falls, SDGus and Jan Ritchey, Holly, MISouth Dakota Community Foundation, Pierre, SD Matthew and April Smart, Pierre, SD Tom and Mary Tveit, Pierre, SD

$10,000+ David and Christine Billion, Sioux Falls, SD Foster Hospitality, Inc./Governor’s Inn, Pierre, SD Thomas and Kristin Carmody Reaves, Sioux Falls, SD

$5,000+Joe and Kathryn Carmody, Sioux Falls, SDPete and Nancy Jahnke, Bloomington, MN Tom and Janis Kelley Family, Sioux Falls, SDCharles and Bonny Schroyer, Pierre, SD

$2,500+BankWest, Pierre, SDLance and Julie Burma, Bloomington, MNRobert and Rebecca Christen-Pohlad, Minneapolis, MNMsgr. James M. Doyle, Sioux Falls, SDDan and Candace Garry, Saint Paul, MNDonald B. Garry, Sioux Falls, SDRich and Mary Garry, Sioux Falls, SDRick and Ana Jensen, Pierre, SD Kurt and Elisa Kneip Family, Chandler, AZRobert and Joyce Kneip, Arlington, SDGov. Walt and Patricia Miller, Fort Pierre, SD Aaron and Renee (Miller) Johansen Family, Rapid City, SDTed and Karen Muenster, Vermillion, SDRegency Midwest Ventures, LP, Sioux Falls, SDBill and Tina Van Camp, Fort Pierre, SDCharles and Patricia Van Gerpen, Pierre, SD

$1,000+ Dr. Samir and Mary Abu-Ghazaleh, Sioux Falls, SDThomas and Sherry Assmus, Littleton, CO Richard and Susan Beckman, Burnsville, MNJack and Deb Billion, Sioux Falls, SDBPro, Inc., Pierre, SD (in kind)Craig Burma, McKinney, TX

A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors.

2014 Trail of Governors Annual Report

$1,000+ ContinuedHarlan and Marcella Bushfield, Sun City, AZ John and Deb Bushfield, Miller, SD Robert and Suzanne Bushfield, Arlington, VA John and Prudy Calvin, Watertown, SD Capitol Bancorporation Inc./Frank Farrar, Britton, SDCountry Carpet and Flooring, Pierre, SD Dakota Classique Rock, Pierre, SD (in kind)Dakota Prairie Bank, Fort Pierre, SD Timothy Dougherty, Sioux Falls, SDJudith Olson Duhamel, Rapid City, SDJoe H. Floyd, Harrisburg, SDKevin and Melissa Garry, Sioux Falls, SDSteve and Alli Garry, Sioux Falls, SDThe Hayzlett Group, Inc., Sioux Falls, SDMike and Ellen Javernick, Loveland, CO James Jennings, Spearfish, SDDave and Jan Johnson, Reliabank Dakota, Estelline, SDSen. Tim and Barbara Johnson, Sioux Falls, SDTom and Julie Kelley, Sioux Falls, SDCharlie and Judy Kneip, Sioux Falls, SDDavid and Sara Kneip, Brookings, SDGreg and Pam Kneip, Sioux Falls, SDPaul and Kellie Kneip, Sioux Falls, SDDave and De Knudson, Sioux Falls, SDCurtis and Janet Liedtke, Sturgis, SD Maher Law Office, LLP, Pierre, SDJeff and Lynn Marso, Sun Valley, CAKevin and Deb Kneip McDermott, Nashville, TNGary and Deb McKellips, Sioux Falls, SDRoger and Wilma McKellips, Sioux Falls, SDMark V. Meierhenry, Sioux Falls, SD

Midwest Construction, Inc., Pierre, SD (in kind)Eston Miller, New Underwood, SDSteve and Mary Lynn Myers, Sioux Falls, SDSteve and Cathy Peterson, Salem, SDPryntcomm, Pierre, SD (in kind)Alvin Carl Schoeneman, Sioux Falls, SDC. Ann Thompson, Sioux Falls, SDTurnac Four, LLC, Fort Pierre, SDJon B. Urbach, Pierre, SDJeff and Linda Lea Viken, Rapid City, SDDuane and Deborah Bushfield Windemiller, Hampton, NH Gov. Harvey and Anne Wollman, Frankfort, SDPeter and Elisabeth Work, Washington, DC WR Restaurants Management LLC (Red Rossa), Sioux Falls, SD

$100+ Joshua and Katie Albers, New Underwood, SD Justin and Robin Albers, New Underwood, SD Duane Anderson, Sioux Falls, SDLarry O. Anderson and Marilyn Pruitt, Sioux Falls, SDEmily Assmus, Littleton, CO Matthew Assmus, Los Angeles, CA Anita Sarkees Bahr, Kennebunk, MEQuinton and Rebecca Bauer, Verona, MO Craig A., Kurt R. and Kyle B. Beckman, Burnsville, MN Brad and Jean Blow, Pierre, SDBrule County Democrats, Chamberlain, SDJames Burg, Wessington Springs, SDRobert and Donna Burns, Brookings, SDTadd Harlan Bushfield, Peoria, AZ Tara Liedtke Carlson, Sturgis, SD Cade, Reagan and Coen Caldwell, Lakewood, CO

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2014 Trail of Governors Annual Report

$100+ ContinuedDick and Bev Casey, Sioux Falls, SDTerry and Sharon Casey, Chamberlain, SDHerbert and Sydna Cheever, Minneapolis, MNCooler’s Drive Thru (Fiverowe LLC), Pierre, SD Sen. Thomas Daschle, Washington, DCTai Liedtke Dornfeld, Sturgis, SD Pat Dougherty, Sioux Falls, SDJeff Endrizzi, Milbank, SDBooth and Rita Fellers, Sun Valley, CA Leslie Forester, Saratoga Springs, NYFlora Foster, Hot Springs, SDBen Fry, Peoria, AZ Julianne Fry, Peoria, AZ Laurie Fulton, Alexandria, VAGrandpre Photography, Pierre, SD (in kind)Grant and Mary Gubbrud, Cedar Falls, IADale Gullickson, Sioux Falls, SDGene Hammond, Travelers Motor Club, Brandon, SDHaroldson Family, Sioux Falls, SDMatt and Stephanie Judson, Pierre, SDMarcee Bushfield Kahan, Peoria, AZKevin Kneip, West Bloomfield, MIMichael W. Kneip Family, Goodyear, AZBob and Jane Kolbe, Sioux Falls, SDJerred and Lisa Koppmann, Rapid City, SD Jake and Phyllis Krull, Watertown, SDJacqueline Garry Lampert, Columbus, OHAllyn O. Lockner Trust, Topeka, KSJerry and Berniece Mayer, Sioux Falls, SDDennis McFarland, Sioux Falls, SDScott McGregor, Rapid City, SD

Mark Nelson, Sioux Falls, SDThomas and Jean Nicholson, Sioux Falls, SDMichael O’Connor, Sahuarita, AZAlice Odegard, Brookfield, WIMichael and Sara Ogdon, Littleton, CO Timothy and Mei Oviatt, Watertown, SDScott and Maryanne Petersen, Sioux Falls, SDLarry and Beth Picek, Huron, SDDenny Pierson, Sioux Falls, SDSouth Dakota Army National GuardJan Rasmussen, Belvidere, SDEmil and Chloe Reutzel, Coronado, CA Andrew Norris and Sally Sheridan, Santa Barbara, CAJohn E. “Matt” and Helen Sutton, Jr., Sioux Falls, SDRuth Sutton, Bonesteel, SDFamily of Bonnie Farrar Tomlin, Kansas City, MORandall and Mary Turner, Pierre, SD Alan and Deb Vedvei, Lake Preston, SD Theodore and Kathleen Weiland, Madison, SDToni Liedtke Wilson, Sturgis, SD

$99- Jerry Andrews, Sioux Falls, SDJane Andrich, Lake Zurich, ILScott and Laura Carbonneau, Pierre, SD Margaret Logan, Banner, WY Judy and Jessica Page, Pierre, SD

A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors.

2014 Trail of Governors Annual Report

Walter Dale Miller - 29th Governor of South Dakota Frank Farrar - 24th Governor of South Dakota

A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors.

2014 Trail of Governors Annual Report

For more information on making a donation, contact the Trail’s Foundation Board by emailing TrailofGovernors@aol.com or calling (605) 454-0689; or calling the South

Dakota Community Foundation at (605) 224-1025 or (800) 888-1842.

Contributions may be sent to: Trail of Governors, 1714 N Lincoln, Box 296, Pierre, SD 57501.

visit www.trailofgovernors.comLike us on Facebook!

Most photography courtesy of Grandpre Photography.

Graphic design for this report provided courtesy of BPro Inc., Pierre, SD Harvey Wollman - 26th Governor of South Dakota

Trail of Governors Foundation – Board of Directors Patricia Mickelson Adam

Leroy FosterRick Jensen

Patricia MillerChuck SchroyerTina Van Camp

Patricia Van Gerpen

Trail of Governors Foundation – Advisory MembersBrian Allen

Brooke BohnenkampMarshall Damgaard

Tom FarnsworthTony Jockheck

Bradley JohnsonJacquelyn Dice Johnson

Stephanie JudsonPaul KinsmanMike Mueller

Tony Venhuizen