Half of South Dakota’s governors now have monuments as part of the Trail of Governors initiative.
The foundation, which erects statues of former governors near the state Capitol, is meant to educate tourists about the state’s history through art.
Organizers say the Trail of Governors concept is the only one like it in the country. The statues of Governor’s Warren Green, Nils Boe, and Mike Rounds are set to be placed in various locations in the town of Pierre.
Governor Nils Boe held office in the 1960’s and former Governor, now U.S. Senator Mike Rounds says as a young man he used to see Boe every Sunday.
“I delivered the Minneapolis Star-Tribune to him on Sunday mornings. And so, seven o’clock would come around and you’d have to get that paper up there, but Nils was always waiting for the paper. It was always easy to collect from him, though, he was always willing… never had a problem collecting from him,” says Rounds.
Rounds says he’s humbled to be a part of history so soon. Warren Green served as governor during the Dust Bowl. Cheryl Haussman is Green’s granddaughter. She says she remembers her grandfather loved public service, including his short term as governor.
“When he was defeated in 1933, my father was riding home from Pierre with him, my grandfather was singing a popular song at that time. ‘I guess I’ll have to change my plan/I should have known there was another man/and now I’m on the shelf,’” says Haussman.
Two of next year’s statues in the Trail of Governors were announced as Tom Berry and Joe Foss.