Now is our Opportunity - The University of South Dakota
The Magazine of the School of Law of the University of South Dakota Winter 2013/14 A Life of Philanthropy Estebo bestows $1 million to School of Law ‘Now is our Opportunity’ Law School seizes chance to evolve in a time of transformation FROM THE DEAN Now is Our Opportunity . . . It is an honor to introduce this issue of the South Dakotan Lawyer. I invite you to learn how students, faculty, staff and alumni (Orrin Estebo, for example) are seizing current opportunities. Please also take special notice of our recent list of donors. We would ask that you join us in extending our sincere thanks to them for their contributions. There is no question: Now is our opportunity. A bold assertion in a time when law school applications are down sharply (45 percent in the last three years nationally) and the legal practice has experienced a decade or more of financial challenges, hard decisions and dramatic adjustments. It is precisely at such times, however, that truly meaningful change can and should occur, not only at this institution but far beyond. Now is our opportunity for all of USD Law (faculty, staff, alumni and students) to seize a pivotal moment and lead, shape and propel legal education and practice into the 21st century. Candidly, times have been tough. Other schools have lost a quarter or more of their students, scaled back programs and laid off professors, administrators and staff. Fortunately, South Dakotans, their civil servants and university employees, have held to our values of adhering to proven measured, sometimes austere, approaches in challenging times. With the help of our university, USD Law not only maintained our staff, but have been able to modestly expand our student service capacities through rigid preparation, strategic planning and transparent accountability. We are lean but strong, maintaining exceptionally high standards in legal education and possessing a drive, vision and determination for the future. Now is our opportunity. After 20 years of teaching for USD Law, I am both enthusiastic and dedicated to working with all of you now as we seize the day. I consider it an honor, privilege and duty to stand beside our outstanding, nationally recognized and extremely productive faculty and you, our accomplished and dedicated alumni, as we venture forward into a new normal. Now is my opportunity and assisting USD Law seize its opportunities is my duty. Please contact me so that we may continue this discussion individually by calling 605-677-5443 or email at [email protected]. I give my good faith promise to respond. We want your ideas, and legal education and practice need your sage advice. If you want to see some changes already being instituted that directly relate to the practicing bar, please visit our library website at www.usd.edu/law/lawlibrary.cfm. I hope to see many of you in my travels in the coming year. I would welcome and encourage invitations to local bar associations, private firms, government programs, non-profit entities and civic group meetings. I am happy to prepare topics, participate in discussions, or, simply attend. I plan to see as many of you as I can in the months ahead. Tom Geu Dean and Professor of Law Adjunct Graduate Professor, Beacom School of Business Faculty Affiliate, Department of Biology South Dakotan Lawyer Vol. 20, No. 1, Winter 2013/14 ADMINISTRATION Thomas Earl Geu Dean and Professor John Henry Glover Interim Associate Dean Angela R. Ericson Assistant Dean EDITORIAL STAFF Kim Lee Editor, Marketing Communications & University Relations CONTRIBUTORS John Henry Glover Nick Kotzea Kim Lee Tom Sorensen GRAPHIC DESIGN Terry Dyvig PHOTOGRAPHY Miller Photography Winter 2013/14 The Magazine of the School of Law of the University of South Dakota Features 8 A Life of Philanthropy Estebo’s major gift benefits the School of Law Aaron Packard Copyright 2014 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• USD Law School Advisory Council OFFICERS President Roy A. Wise Vice President Reed A. Rasmussen Secretary Karen P. Hunt 10 ‘Now is Our Opportunity’ Law School seizes the chance to evolve in a time of transformation CIRCUIT DIRECTORS 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Lisa Z. Rothschadl, Dennis L. Duncan Mary A. Akkerman, William C. Garry Richard L. Ericsson, Chad C. Nelson Karen Paige Hunt, Heather Lammers Bogard Roy A. Wise, Reed A. Rasmussen William M. Van Camp, Jr., Robert C. Riter, Jr. Joseph Ashley Parr, Brian Hagg MEMBERS AT LARGE Kent R. Cutler Marilyn J. Hagberg Robert E. Hayes 35 13 Years of Service Associate Dean Tom Sorensen Retires EX OFFICIO Hon. David E. Gilbertson, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of South Dakota Terry L. Hofer, President Thomas H. Frieberg, President-Elect Thomas C. Barnett, Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Director, State Bar of South Dakota Pamela R. Bollweg, Chair, SD Bar Law School Committee Thomas E. Geu, Dean and Professor Printed on recycled paper. Anderson Brothers/4.8M/$1.01pc Departments 2 Briefs 18 Our Newest Alumni 20 Faculty Notes 23 Class Notes 30 Honor Roll of Donors WINTER 2013/14 | 1 BRIEFS Madison Attorney Ericsson Receives McKusick Award The Student Bar Association (SBA) at the University of South Dakota School of Law presented Madison attorney Richard (Dick) L. Ericsson the 2013 Marshall M. McKusick Award on June 21 during the annual meeting activities of the State Bar of South Dakota in Pierre. “It is the Student Bar Association’s honor and privilege to present this year’s McKusick award to Mr. Ericsson,” Shekar Jayaraman, the newly-elected SBA president, said. Jayaraman, a third-year law student from Cincinnati, Ohio, presented the award in a room packed with members of the State Bar of South Dakota. Ericsson is a native of Madison, where he practices law as a partner of Ericsson & Giles law firm and currently serves as a city commissioner. He is a past President of the State Bar of South Dakota and has served as a bar commissioner and as former president and chair of the Bar’s Disciplinary Board. Comments among the nomination letters, according to Jayaraman, included: “As an attorney, Dick is one of the best. Dick is great at making clients feel comfortable and handles uneasy situations with so much compassion.” Additional comments stated, “As a small town lawyer, he helps clients start and operate businesses, plan for their later years, buy and sell property, resolve disputes and deal with countless other matters,” and “as are most good small town lawyers, he also is called upon for leadership in various nonprofit community organizations.” 2 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER Ericsson is the past president of the former Law School Foundation and is a frequent guest speaker to law classes at USD, including those on legal profession, law practice management and South Dakota drafting and legal practice. “Dick Ericsson is a fine and worthy recipient,” Dean Tom Geu said on Ericsson receiving the award. “His service and other contributions to the law school are remarkable.” Ericsson has participated in two terms on the Madison City Commission and as a member of Madison Rotary. His other board services include the Madison board of Education, the boards of Madison Community Hospital, the Community Center and as chair of the Lake and Miner County Boards of Mental Illness. Ericsson is a graduate of Madison High School and received both a bachelor’s degree and a juris doctor degree from USD. The McKusick Award is presented annually to an outstanding member of the South Dakota Bar for contributions to the legal profession. The SBA selects the recipient from nominations by members of the South Dakota Bar. Marshall M. McKusick (1879-1950) was a professor at the USD School of Law beginning in 1902. He was named dean of the Law School in 1911, where he served for nearly five decades. Briefs Past Recipients of the McKusick Award 1951 M.T. Woods 1952 Ambrose Beck 1953 Claude W. Schutter 1954 Joe R. Cash 1955 Alan L. Austin 1956 A.K. Gardner 1957 Vernon A. Vrooman 1958 Dwight E. Campbell 1959 Robert C. Bakewell 1960 M.Q. Sharpe 1961 George T. Mickelson 1962 Charles S. Hanson 1963 Karl Goldsmith 1964 Blaine Simons 1965 H.F. Fellows 1966 Holton Davenport 1967 James R. Bandy 1968 Roy D. Burns 1969 Alex Rentto 1970 Walter H. Seacat 1971 Wallace A. McCullen 1972 Ellsworth E. Evans 1973 William R. McCann 1974 Kelton Lynn and Ross Oviatt 1975 Samuel W. Masten 1976 Horace Jackson 1977 Stanley Siegel 1978 Fred J. Nichol 1979 Francis G. Dunn 1980 Robert Driscoll, Jr. 1981 Robert Riter, Sr. 1982 Gordon Gunderson 1983 Philo Hall 1984 Joseph H. Bottum 1985 Joseph M. Butler and Joseph H. Barnett 1986 William G. Porter 1987 William K. Sahr 1988 William F. Day, Jr. 1989 Honorable James R. Adams 1990 Honorable E.W. Hertz 1991 Deming Smith 1992 Donald R. Shultz 1993 John W. Larson 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 George S. Mickelson Francis M. Smith Honorable John B. Jones Honorable Robert C. Heege Honorable Andrew W. Bogue Carleton C. “Tex” Hoy Honorable Roger L. Wollman Robert E. “Mike” Driscoll III Marvin G. Amiotte Mildred Ramynke Gene Lebrun David V. Vrooman Fredric Cozad Robert Frieberg Honorable Richard W. Sabers Richard O. Gregerson Honorable Lawrence L. Piersol Honorable Judith Meierhenry and Honorable Mark Meierhenry 2012 Honorable David Gienapp and Charles M. Thompson University of South Dakota Trial Team the next generation of trial attorneys Winter 2013/14 | 3 BRIEFS Student Group Assists South Dakota’s Veterans The Veterans Legal Education Group (VLEG) was rejuvenated four years ago by two law students, Dusty Ginsbach and Bradley Richardson, who were looking to create a group that would educate law students about military law and veterans’ issues at the University of South Dakota School of Law and throughout the state. Open to veterans and non-veterans alike, a tightly-knit cadre of caring and loyal members was created. VLEG leaders recognize balance must be maintained and the group strives to ensure its members are exposed to both the disciplined course work and in-class education of law school with necessary out-of-class experience and camaraderie. As a result, VLEG engages in an agenda in an effort to further these goals. In the spring of 2013, VLEG, along with Veterans Affairs (VA) and 14 practicing attorneys, created the Veterans’ Legal Drop-in Service. This service has two main objectives. The primary goal is to provide much needed legal services to indigent veterans and their spouses through legal advice and counseling. The secondary objective is to pull the VLEG members out of the typical meeting and classroom experiences offered at law school, and allow them to partake in client assistance on a supervised basis. The inaugural Veteran’s Legal Drop-in Service was held in Sioux Falls and was a resounding success. The Drop-in Service assisted more than 40 veterans with issues such as housing, benefits and medical assistance. Among the many highlights for the group in Sioux Falls last 4 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER spring was the opportunity to assist a double amputee in getting two traffic tickets, which were obtained prior to deployment, dismissed. In conformity with the goal of balance, VLEG also participates in the annual Black Hills Veterans March. This marathon-length march is an annual event aimed at honoring our country’s veterans. The course takes place on the scenic Mickelson trail and culminates in the city of Deadwood, S.D. The march takes place every September and this year, VLEG will have sponsored 15 law students to take the challenge of honoring our veterans. The overreaching goal of VLEG is to make the trip out to the Black Hills both enjoyable and educational and in that VELG aspires to create a Veterans Legal Drop-in Service to be held the day prior to the Black Hills Veterans March in Rapid City. The inability to secure enough legal counsel committed to assisting veterans and their families along with logistical setbacks stifled the attempts this year, however, the group remains hopeful that it generate the service next year. While this is a time-consuming event, the payoff is worthwhile. Attorneys are exposed to clientele who may not have thought of retaining counsel, law students have the opportunity to perform client intake and partake in the legal advice from the licensed attorneys, VA staff gain exposure to the hidden populations of poverty-stricken veterans, and most importantly, real people with real problems walk away with some direction as to what their next steps should be. Briefs VLEG’s central goal is educating law students about military law and veterans’ issues at the University of South Dakota School of Law and throughout the state of South Dakota. In line with this goal, VLEG attempts to bring insightful speakers to the law school and encourages and motivates all those interested in military law to enroll in the courses that address this subject matter. The speakers engage and instruct law students about the dynamics that exist between military and civilian law. With the time the speakers are given, they do an incredible job of educating law students. However, due to the complexities inherent in both spheres of law, the speakers cannot hope to impart a conclusive understanding of the differences between military and civilian. In an effort to combat this problem, the University of South Dakota School of Law provides two separate courses, Military Law and National Security Law. The speakers and courses provide the valuable services of enlightening future and practicing attorneys to the challenges they will face when clients, who are also current or former members of the military, walk into their prospective law office. This is especially true of future South Dakota practitioners, as the state of South Dakota has a high population of current, active military, National Guardsmen/Reserve members and veterans. NALSA Students Help Draft Wills During spring break, a dozen members of the Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) traveled to three different reservations to help draft wills for tribal members with the help of Dakota Plains Legal Services (DPLS). The students traveled 1,000 miles in three days and opened 25 new cases for DPLS. Also, senior students Brad Richardson and A.J. Franken were interviewed for an hour on KLND radio, reaching into the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Reservations. Ten NALSA members also traveled to the Yankton Sioux Tribe Reservation on Election Day to help with poll monitoring through the Native Vote Program to ensure that people on the Reservation received a fair opportunity to vote. In November, NALSA hosted a toy drive for the Crow Creek Boys and Girls Club and the toys were handed out at Christmas. NALSA also hosted a clothing drive for children on the Rosebud Reservation and held a presentation for native undergraduates about applying to law school. A USD Law NALSA team consisting of seniors Steven Iverson and Franken earned third place among the highest brief scores in February at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Ore., in the National NALSA Moot Court Tournament. Another USD NALSA team of 3Ls Nathan Chicoine and Richardson also competed among more than 60 teams from across the nation. The tournament problem involved aboriginal title and criminal jurisdiction. Winter 2013/14 | 5 BRIEFS Pictured is the 2012 Law Review Symposium: Antitrust and Competition in America’s Heartland. The South Dakota Law Review Presents Rural Practice Symposium The University of South Dakota School of Law will host a Rural Practice Symposium March 20-21. Students, practitioners, scholars and the public are invited to join the discussion about the rapidly declining number of attorneys in rural areas across the United States. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 20 with a keynote address by South Dakota Chief Justice David Gilbertson at the law school courtroom and features panel discussions and dialogue about the problems facing rural practitioners and legal consultants across the nation as they examine new solutions for revitalizing rural America. The South Dakota Law Review will address South Dakota’s innovative rural lawyer recruitment legislation as well as different programs being implemented in other states; and Linda A. Klein, past chair of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates, will lead a panel discussion at the symposium. Additional highlights of the symposium include a panel discussion at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 21 followed by Professor Lisa R. Pruitt of the University of California, 6 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER Davis, guest speaker at noon on Friday, March 21 at the Muenster University Center ballroom. Pruitt has published an impressive collection of peer-reviewed articles concerning rural legal issues and access to justice. She noted that South Dakota’s initiative is an excellent step in providing legal services to all rural Americans. “Project Rural Practice is a strong step toward facilitating access to justice for South Dakota’s rural residents,” Pruitt added, “and it is a model for how other states might do the same for 51 million rural Americans.” USD School of Law Dean Thomas Geu expressed his enthusiasm for the event, specifically on how Project Rural Practice showcases the interconnectedness of the entire legal community in South Dakota. “The symposium is an example of the close working relationship between the law school, the legal profession, the judiciary and the citizens of South Dakota and the region,” Geu stated. “Needless to say, I am proud that at least 70 percent of South Dakota’s lawyers chose to get their law degree here.” Briefs L–R: Patrick Weber ’13, policy analyst in Gov. Daugaard’s office, Justice Lori Wilbur, Masten winner Moser, Best Brief winner Liz Chrisp, Supreme Court Chief Justice David E. Gilbertson, Justices Steven Zinter, Glen Severson and John Konenkamp and Masten runner-up Shanor. Moser Prevails in Sam Masten Moot Court Tournament The School of Law’s Sam Masten Moot Court Tournament took place in March 2013 with the final round on March 20 in the USD School of Law courtroom. Nick Moser of Yankton, S.D. became this year’s Sam Masten champion, defeating James Shanor, a native of Casper, Wyo., in the final round after the two argued their case before the South Dakota Supreme Court. The final round coincided with the annual March visit of the Supreme Court of South Dakota. Moser and Shanor were among the first-year class members presenting oral arguments in a hypothetical case for which each student had researched and prepared an appellate brief. Each first-year student then presented their arguments before volunteer judges including the Moot Court Board, alumni of USD School of Law, attorneys, judges and faculty. “The Sam Masten tournament allows the first-year students to take what they have learned in the Fundamental Legal Skills course and apply it in a real-world setting,” said Professor Barry Vickrey, faculty advisor of the Moot Court Board. “I doubt that there is any other law school in the nation in which first-year students get to do oral arguments before practicing lawyers and judges. I am confident that there is no other school in which two of them get to argue before the state’s supreme court, as do the Sam Masten tournament finalists.” The Sioux Falls law firm of Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith hosted a reception, open to all students, faculty, staff and others who helped or participated, immediately following the final round at the Al Neuharth Media Center. Winter 2013/14 | 7 Major Gift Benefits USD School of Law by Nick Kotzea ’08, Director of Development, USD School of Law Orrin Estebo doesn’t recall from whom he borrowed his go-to expression, “Education opens doors.” It probably doesn’t matter; the axiom’s rightful owner would likely view Estebo’s custodianship with glowing approval. In June, the 1971 USD Law School graduate committed $1 million to support construction and renovation at the law school’s 32-year-old facility. The seven-figure gift marked the largest single contribution in Estebo’s growing portfolio of philanthropic undertakings. “The law school was good to me,” said Estebo, 72, who lives with his wife, Shirley, in Redwood Falls, Minn., about 200 miles from the USD campus. “Education opens doors. I don’t care what it is you’re pursuing,” he continued. “The more I learned, the more I was subjected to opportunities that worked out.” Estebo’s $1 million gift arrives as the law school eyes the future of legal education and the tools necessary to facilitate modern training and a heightened sense of community. “We’re so honored and excited that Orrin has offered his generosity and leadership,” said Tom Geu, dean of the USD Law School. “We’re a family of only about 3,000 living alumni. Orrin’s thoughtful reflection on his own journey— 8 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER and the vision to help sustain those opportunities–that is something I’m hopeful will inspire others to step up.” Estebo’s gift will help the law school secure additional common space for gatherings of current students, alumni and members of the public. “Orrin is one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met. He seems to perceive the importance of community at a basic and foundational level most of us are unable to appreciate,” Geu said. “It is appropriate that this gift will provide the physical space for dialogue to take place and the necessary human connections for community to emerge.” The caliber of Estebo’s law school gift is remarkable, but not surprising. The mostly retired lawyer and businessman has injected more than $1 million into the Redwood Falls public school system, and his charitable fingerprints may be found throughout the community of 5,200 residents. “Orrin bred a culture of giving,” said Redwood Area Schools Superintendent Rick Ellingworth. “We’re the envy of a lot of school districts.” The impact of Estebo’s support is apparent throughout the facilities Ellingworth oversees. Hundreds of area students have benefited from scholarships administered through the “When people say you’re making a lasting difference, and you can see it, that’s a good feeling. It’s a gift. I feel like I’m getting a gift.” —Orrin Estebo local “Dollars for Scholars” chapter, which bears Estebo’s name. Estebo is pictured in the school system’s hall of fame, along with his first wife and inspiration, Nancy. A longtime special education teacher, she died of cancer in 1995. His name appears prominently upon a donor wall, and the couple’s likenesses are bronzed with the phrase “Education opens doors” at the entrance of the Estebo Performing Arts Center, a 500-seat theater built and maintained largely through Estebo’s private gifts. In 2006, Estebo established the Orrin S. Estebo Foundation, whose mission is to support local education and economic development. He was instrumental in the expansion of a Redwood Falls public golf course and actively supports a long list of community events. This spring, for example, Estebo successfully lobbied a coaches’ caravan from the University of Minnesota to kick off its tour in Redwood Falls. Estebo, who completed his undergraduate studies at Minnesota, provided lunch to hundreds of attendees, and the event outdrew the caravan’s stops in much larger communities. Suffice it to say Estebo continues to build the reputation that earned him USD’s 2001 Alumni Achievement Award for “Outstanding Contribution to His Community.” “There are many people throughout this community who say, ‘What would Redwood Falls be like today without the support of Orrin Estebo?’” said Jim Tersteeg, a local grocer and longtime friend of Estebo. Not bad for a farm kid from Cannon Falls, Minn. “I’m not sure anyone expected much out of me,” joked Estebo of his Cannon Falls upbringing. Estebo’s path to success included a blend of hard work and calculated risk. He worked his way through the University of Minnesota, taking six years to earn a history degree. In 1965, fresh out of college, he borrowed money from Nancy, his girlfriend at the time, to purchase a piece of South Dakota farmland. The investment paid off, an early sign of the profit potential Estebo would realize through later land acquisitions. In 1968, with the support of his working wife, Estebo left his job in chemical sales and enrolled at the USD Law School. He went on to write for the South Dakota Law Review, serve as Student Bar Association president and graduate with honors. “Orrin was always a very thoughtful person. He was always a kind of big-picture type of person. You knew that he was going to be very successful,” said Greg Eiesland, Estebo’s law school classmate and longtime friend. Eiesland, who practices law in Rapid City, S.D., said Estebo’s altruism was apparent even as a law student. “He was never self-centered,” he explained. “When he left law school, you could just tell wherever he went he would be a leader.” Estebo knew very little about Redwood Falls before accepting his first legal post there, teaming with an established attorney to create the firm of Farnberg & Estebo. Five years later, in 1976, Estebo joined the modern-day firm of Estebo, Frank, Gilk & Munshower. Almost 40 years later, in an “of counsel” role, Estebo occupies a law office filled with mementos from big-game hunts, fishing expeditions and business endeavors that are as much a part of his professional profile as the practice of law. In the early 1980s, Estebo invested heavily in Warrior Manufacturing Company, a struggling producer of “quick hitches” used in the agricultural industry. His investment helped save the local company, and he maintained an ownership interest for more than 20 years. As Estebo found stability, he also made lucrative investments in farmland, much of which remains occupied by loyal tenants. Estebo has faced his share of lows along the way, too, the most gut-wrenching being the 1995 passing of his wife and college sweetheart, Nancy. It would be six years before he remarried, tying the knot with his current wife, Shirley, a retired bank executive. The ups, downs, risks and rewards–the composite picture– is something Estebo regards with a distinct brand of pride. Not boastfully, but in that pleased sense one might expect of a craftsman or artist on the homestretch of a strong piece. Estebo’s desire to do good is far from depleted, even though his legacy seems all but certain. “When people say you’re making a lasting difference, and you can see it, that’s a good feeling. It’s a gift. I feel like I’m getting a gift.” Winter 2013/14 | 9 ‘Now is Our Opportunity’ Law School seizes the chance to evolve in a time of transformation by Kim Lee Tom Geu Dean and Professor of Law It’s not news to anyone in the legal profession that the legal climate experienced considerable change in recent years. What might be newsworthy may be the way the USD School of Law has chosen to embrace it. South Dakota’s only law school isn’t exempt from the national trends of decreasing enrollments. The American Bar Association reported in December 2013 that the number of first-year law students dropped 11 percent from fall 2012, the lowest it’s been since 1977--when the U.S. had fewer, and smaller, ABA-approved schools (americanbar.org). The Law School is determined to seize the opportunity to springboard itself into one of the nation’s premier law schools in the face of this adversity. Tom Geu, dean of the USD School of Law, sees this time as an opportunity rather than a threat. “Some great opportunities are created by challenges that face legal education and the practicing bar,” Geu said. “In that regard, we are all facing wonderful opportunities to improve legal education.” A Tenacious Leader Geu came to USD in 1989 as a visiting assistant professor of law and joined the faculty permanently the following year. As a professor, his teaching areas included organizational, transactional and capital formation courses. He is a two-time winner of the Law School’s John Wesley Jackson Award for teaching (in 1997 and 2010), and is an elected member of the American Law Institute. Geu has been active in the State Bar of South Dakota and has served as a national reporter (drafter) for the Uniform Laws Commission. 10 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER Geu stepped up to the position of dean of the School of Law on an interim basis in July 2011 after Barry Vickrey retired. The “Interim” moniker was dropped in May 2013 when Geu was named the School of Law’s dean. Although Geu, a self-described “hayseed” from western Nebraska, who laments not being able to wear jeans and cowboy boots to work any longer, relishes his new role. Since 2012, Geu has made tracks across much of the United States—from New York to many points in South Dakota—talking up the USD School of Law. His message, primarily, is this: the law climate is changing tremendously throughout the United States, but the USD School of Law is prepared to ride those waves of change. “Declining enrollment is one factor that has prompted the Law School to form a new and more robust administrative team to be competitive in the present environment,” Geu explained. In recent months, the law school administration has undergone some restructuring to make better use of its limited resources. For example, the Law School received a university investment to fund new positions, allowing it to form a new and robust team to be able to thrive in the new environment. In addition to new positions in career services manager and admissions and enrollment coordinator, the School of Law also recently hired a new registrar and interim associate dean due to retirements. John Glover, J.D., is the interim associate dean and has been involved in South Dakota public higher education since 1992. A New Perspective Glover has somewhat of an outsider’s perspective on Geu’s leadership. “Grabbing hold of opportunities to shine brings a smile to Dean Geu’s face. It’s in his wheelhouse,” Glover explained. “[Geu] has an understanding of our program and of business operations you don’t necessarily see in upper level higher education management. He’s here to take the USD School of Law to the next level.” Along with changes in the legal climate, law schools need to be more flexible and offer more experiential learning, a perspective that is increasingly in demand as fewer students choose the traditional practice of law. Geu pointed to a national survey, administered two years ago, that indicated a full 50 percent of first-year students didn’t intend to practice law. “We are exceedingly aware of the expanded use of a J.D. and how instrumental it is in our society to have those well- John Henry Glover Interim Associate Dean Glover, on leave from Black Hills State University where he is a professor, received his bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. and graduated from Willamette University School of Law in Salem, Ore. He has been a part of South Dakota public higher education since 1992. trained professionals in critical roles in and outside of the practice of law,” Geu said. “But this Law School has always been closely tethered to the practice and applied doctrine by the nature of our involvement with the state bar and the judiciary and because of involvement of faculty members with those groups. It’s because of that that we are in a much better position than many other schools others to embark upon more experiential learning.” The emergence of the law school’s joint degrees, offered in collaboration with USD’s Beacom School of Business, School of Education and College of Arts & Sciences, also contribute to the school’s ability to meet that increasing demand for J.D.trained professionals. Moreover, the Law School is looking to extend its pro bono services, student internships and externships and to explore the possibilities of a virtual legal clinic. “We value practice experience,” Geu said. “We embrace the opportunity to be an active and vital component of the community.” Some of these initiatives should come naturally, given the unique nature of South Dakota’s law community. “There is a symmetry here you can’t find anywhere else,” Glover explained. “Supreme Court judges practice alongside each other and have gone to school together, have mentors and go on to become mentors to others.” Influencing for Change Geu is optimistic that the USD School of Law’s influence won’t stop at the borders of South Dakota; it aims to improve legal education at the instructional level and also to influence it upon the national level. Geu intends to collaborate with law school deans nationally to share ideas in taking advantage of new flexibility in accreditation standards in order to improve legal education in the U.S. “This is a rare time when we have the opportunity to fully leverage all our resources,” Geu said. “We can’t lose track of the reason why a J.D. is valued for jobs other than being a lawyer—that’s the transferable skillset that learning how to practice law provides,” Geu explained. “Lawyers as problem solvers have never been more important; whether they are lawyers or serving in some other capacity.” An example of how some indigenous South Dakota programs go national is the South Dakota State Bar’s Project Rural Practice (PRP). PRP provides structured guidance and financing for young lawyers to break into rural practice, with the goal of helping ameliorate a shortage of lawyers in many South Dakota rural counties. PRP has even won an ABA award and was picked up by the New York Times. “In this competitive market, if someone comes up with a program that works, it gets copied—immediately,” Geu explained. Nicholas McInereny Admissions and Enrollment Coordinator McInerney completed his B.S. in business administration at National American University and received his M.A. in political science and J.D. from the School of Law. McInerney has a background in management and training work for Midcontinent Communications. Winter 2013/14 | 11 Darla Jackson McKusick Law Library Director Jackson earned her J.D. and Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Oklahoma and her LL.M. in international law from the University of Georgia. Before beginning her career in legal education, she served as a judge advocate in the United States Air Force. She also taught at the U.S. Air Force Academy Department of Law and was most recently associate director of the Oklahoma City University Law Library. Making McKusick Shine The McKusick Law Library is a space where tangible change is visible at a glance. The facility was in dire need of some upgrades, both in physical space and in technology. It needed to streamline its resources and clean out dated materials. As it turned out, it was an ideal situation for Darla Jackson, J.D. to lead the charge. Jackson said she was excited to join the USD School of Law as director of the Law Library partially because of the opportunity to work with Dean Geu. “He understands the importance of the Law Library and has a willingness to devote resources to making changes happen,” Jackson explained. She also loves a challenge. Before beginning her career in legal education, she served as a judge advocate in the United States Air Force. She also taught at the U.S. Air Force Academy Department of Law and was most recently associate director of the Oklahoma City University Law Library. Like many university entities, the Law Library experienced some setbacks from state cutbacks in 2010. When Jackson came on board in July 2012, one of the first things she did was implement a survey, a self-study of sorts, for students, faculty and staff of the law school to find out what the wants and needs of those groups were. From there, the McKusick staff developed a strategic plan. “It’s really important that we have a Law Library strategic plan that focuses on improving the services we offer,” she stated. In just 18 months, Jackson has spearheaded several additions to the library’s range of services. As more resources become available electronically we also want our patrons to 12 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER be able to access the resources remotely. One of the most significant things, she said, is the addition of a proxy server so students could access databases when off-campus. The staff also created numerous LibGuides, which serve as bibliographic tools to help students find not only print resources, but also electronic materials. Electronic files, images and multimedia tools make the LibGuides more engaging for users. The Law Library is also trying to reach out using social media tools such as a blog and is considering the possibility of using tools such as Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest to reach the student. Jackson also oversaw the creation of more physical spaces for students to study, relax and socialize within McKusick and reconfigured study spaces to be more conducive to studying socially. ”This is a new generation of students who are digital natives,” Jackson explained. “They’ve grown up using electronic resources.” Jackson is also making headway with teaching classes in legal research, strengthening relationships across campus, becoming more involved with law school faculty and restructuring the staff positions to facilitate the offering of new and improved quality services. Further digitization of South Dakota legal resources is also on the docket. “We want people to know that our library is available to anyone to use,” Jackson pointed out. “We aim to serve our students, yes, but we also want to South Dakota legal community and alumni to know that they can access many of our resources and that while we cannot conduct research for them, we can provide other types of assistance.” Benton received a B.B.A. in economics and her M.B.A. from USD. She has had a variety of management experiences, including traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad, particularly Japan. Lee Benton Registrar Still Transforming Students Geu hastens to point out that although much is changing in the law school, much remains the same. “Almost half of our faculty has been here 20 years or more,” Geu said. “We have a tremendous group of experienced faculty, mixed with new faculty who bring new expertise to the table. Leah Piersol Career Services Manager Piersol, both an attorney and a counselor, graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School and has a master’s degree in counseling from SDSU. Piersol has practiced criminal defense as well as private practice in family law, counseling, mediation and consulting. “If someone who hasn’t been to the Law School in 20 years walked through our doors today, they’d see a lot has changed; but more that hasn’t,” he continued. “In many ways, we’re still the Law School our alumni remember.” The USD School of Law still transforms the best students into complete attorneys with strong skillsets. “We provide a higher quality product than many in the region that cost at least twice as much, even though we still have the smallest non-faculty infrastructure of almost all law schools in the nation,” explained Geu. “We’ll continue to emphasize what we believe are important aspects of legal education even though they may not be recognized. We are not driven by rankings; we are driven by best practices and demand.” “All of the opportunities we’re faced with have the cumulative effect to tell our story,” Glover continued. “The reason we have not been regarded as prominently as easily recognized national law school names is not because of our quality, it’s because we have failed to tell our story and that is going to come to an end. We are not going to keep ourselves a secret anymore.” “The University of South Dakota School of Law provided me with a strong legal education and prepared me to serve as our State’s first Cabinet Secretary of Tribal Relations. Like all USD Law alums, I proudly keep an eye on its graduates because I know that they are being well equipped for success.” Leroy “J.R.” LaPlante South Dakota Secretary for Tribal Relations LaPlante is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and serves as the chief judge and court administrator for the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe in Ft. Thompson. In both his law practice and his work, LaPlante has focused on serving the Native American community. He was the former administrative officer for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and has an extensive background working for Native American human service organizations. The mission of the University of South Dakota School of Law is to prepare lawyers and judges for the federal, state, and American Indian justice systems in South Dakota and to provide South Dakota residents and other students an affordable legal education imparting the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for the practice of law or other careers in a culturally diverse and global environment. Winter 2013/14 | 13 School of Law Takes Opportunities to Preserve Legal History 1 14 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER Why did you choose the USD School of Law? “I chose the University of South Dakota School of Law because the combination of a convenient central location, reasonable tuition rates, and low faculty to student ratio fulfilled my educational and personal interests.” —Melissa Tidwell, Class of 2014 “I chose USD because it offers a small town atmosphere without sacrificing quality. USD is home to many distinguished and renowned professors who have an intense passion for teaching and the law. This passion is evident throughout the law school; whether it be during lecture, in discussions with students outside of class, or in the professor’s personal works.” —Brianna Feerer-Huss, Class of 2014 “I came to the USD Law School even though it is far from home… because it was a mix of the best value, it is a state name, great student teacher ratio, low attrition rate, and high bar passage rate.” —Luke Lockett, Class of 2014 “I was really impressed with my undergraduate education from USD and knew the Law School would be no different. I appreciate the access, attention, and lack of pretension a school like this offers.” —Mandy Hagseth, Class of 2014 “As a non-traditional student I chose USD Law because of the small class sizes, responses from professors prior to making my decision, and the community of Vermillion suited the needs of me and my small family.” —Cory Cottam, Class of 2014 “Economically, USD Law just makes more sense; you get more for your money.” —Dean Fankhauser, Class of 2014 Winter 2013/14 | 15 1 The 81st Annual Meeting of the State Bar of South Dakota was held June 19 –21, 2013 in Pierre, which was attended by about 900 lawyers, judges, law students, paralegals, court reporters and others. 2 1. From left to right: Terry Hofer ’82, Barry Vickrey, Stephanie Judson, Dean Tom Geu and Nick Kotzea ’98. 2: Justice John Konenkamp ’74 (left) with Chief Justice David Gilbertson ’75, recipient of the SDTLA Award. 3: South Dakota Bar Past President Tom Nicholson (left), with current President Terry Hofer ’78. 3 16 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER 4 5 6 7 4. Cheryl Hanna and J.R. LaPlante ‘09. 5. Stephanie Pochop ’91 (left) with Francy Foral. 6. Luella and Fred Cozad, ’49. 7. Cheryl Hanna, A2J director (left) presents the William Day, Jr. Award to Tamara P. Nash. 8. Charlie Thompson ’69 was honored with the SDTLA Trial Lawyer of the Year Award. 8 Winter 2013/14 | 17 The Class of 1 18 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER 2 3 The Class of 2013 2013 Our Newest Alumni The 2013 Hooding Ceremony was held Friday, May 3 in Slagle Hall’s Aalfs Auditorium. Clay Anderson Kristi Jones Joseph Balkenbush Casey Jorgensen Kelsey Bauerly Dillon Karras Vailferree Brechtel Cherry Kolb Amanda Breemes Brianne Kreber Joshua Brown Anthony Lamb Missy Bunger Nicholas McInerney Matthew Campbell Patrick McKay Catherine Chicoine Erin Melling Nathan Chicoine Tamara Nash Caleb Christopherson Daniel Nelson Eric Cleveringa Nathaniel Nelson Abbigail Clindaniel Elvis Ngonga Tyler Custis PJ Painter Eric Davis Kimberly Paz Kimberly de Hueck Aaron Pilcher Ryan Dougherty Timothy Platt Kate Dykstra Andrew Polzin Lacy End-Of-Horn Sarah Popp Eric Erickson Theresa Rachel Carmen Evenson Melody Reimer Joshua Finer Thomas Reynolds Melinda Folkens Bradley Richardson Anthony Franken Jeffrey Schaefer Kara Frankman Brady Schlechter Dusty Ginsbach Caroline Srstka Aaron Gunderson Staci Stupka Roxanne Hammond Robert Tripp Samantha Hargrave Benjamin Tronnes Brittany Hatting Andrew Twinamatsiko Chris Healy Paul Van Olson Alyssa Herbold Caleb Veldhouse Arthur Hoksbergen Patrick Weber Sara Hughes Andrew Wilka Steven Iverson Joshua Wurgler 1. Now -retired Associate Dean Tom Sorenson 2. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley delivered the address Find the Senior Spotlight at www.usd.edu/law 3. U SD President and School of Law alumnus James W. Abbott Winter 2013/14 | 19 FACULTY Faculty Notes Faculty were asked to provide notes on their scholarship, service, honors and accomplishments, in and outside the classroom. These are some examples. Roger Baron Professor Professor Baron published the 4th Cumulative Supplement to his Family Law Book in August 2013, and he co-authored an Amicus Brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of United Policyholders and Seven Trial Lawyer Organizations in US Airways v. McCutchen, No. 11-1285, an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) case. He also authored (with Tony Lamb) the article Defeating an ERISA Lien with the Statute of Limitations (2012) which has been published in trial lawyer journals in South Dakota, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Vermont and the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. He has also created a number of music videos (available on YouTube) featuring USD Law School students and faculty. Professor Baron’s teaching interests include civil procedure, insurance and family law. His research interests include ERISA reimbursement litigation issues involving subrogation on personal injury claims; family law and civil procedure. David S. Day Professor Professor Day’s teaching interests cover both public and private law, with specific interests in constitutional law, employment discrimination and civil procedure areas. His research interests include constitutional law, plenary powers doctrine, equal protection doctrine, dormant Commerce Clause doctrine, First Amendment law, civil procedure and employment discrimination law. Day is also a co-author of “Cases and Materials on Constitutional Law,” which is in its 5th edition (Lexis/Nexis, 2010). 20 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER Patrick Garry Professor “It was my great privilege to have outstanding students in my classes last year,” Garry stated. “These students exhibited not only an eager curiosity and keen legal analysis in the classroom, but also demonstrated an energetic and creative embrace of the wide array of opportunities arising out of the law school environment.” Garry’s teaching and research interests include First Amendment, Media Law, Administrative Law, Advanced Torts and Employment Law. Thomas Horton Associate Professor A highlight of Horton’s 2012-13 academic year was working with 31 third-year students in the class of 2013 (44.3 percent of the class) who competed on at least one of the Law School’s 11 national trial competition tournament teams. He was also pleased to serve as an instructor at the South Dakota Trial Lawyers’ week long Trial Academy in July, and to publish four journal articles and three book chapters in 2013. “I was thrilled and honored to chair the Law Review’s March 15, 2013 symposium on Antitrust & Competition in America’s Heartland.” Horton’s teaching interests include Antitrust & Consumer Protection, Trial Advocacy and Techniques, and History and Law. His research interests focus on evolutionary biology models applied to structural and behavioral antitrust analyses; ethics and antitrust enforcement; Clayton Act merger regulation standards and enforcement/international merger review standards; agricultural antitrust issues; and comparative antitrust/competition law standards and enforcement. Christine Hutton Professor Hutton’s publications include commentary on the death penalty, evidence issues in criminal trials, retroactivity, and standards of review. She provides annual training for the state judges of the Unified Judicial System, has testified before the South Dakota Criminal Code Revision Commission, and has also spoken about search and seizure and federal sentencing. She serves s faculty advisor to USD Law’s Women in Law. FACULTY Darla Jackson Library Director Darla Jackson is the director of the University of South Dakota McKusick Law Library. Prior to joining USD, she served as the associate director of the Oklahoma City University Law Library and director, Certificate in American Law Program. Before beginning her career in legal education, she served as a judge advocate in the United States Air Force. During her service in the Air Force, she was stationed at numerous bases and performed a variety of military justice, international operations and civil law (government procurement) functions. Additionally, she taught at the U.S. Air Force Academy Department of Law. Jackson’s research interests are U.S. military justice, empirical legal research, legal research instruction—U.S. and foreign comparative and international law, international commercial arbitration, and international human rights, indigenous peoples and Native American law. She has published on these topics in a variety of journals and publications. he represented large manufacturing clients for the tax group of Fenwick & West and later served in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel National Office. He also worked in-house at Dow Chemical as an attorney on tax matters. Jo Pasqualucci Professor Pasqualucci received her Doctor of Juridical Science from George Washington Law School and her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin. She has been clerk of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, author of “The Practice and Procedure of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights” (Cambridge, 2013), and received a Fulbright to Costa Rica. Pasqualucci’s teaching interests are in Public International Law, International Human Rights Law, International Business Transactions, U.S. Commercial Law (Sales and Negotiable Instruments) and U.S. Secured Transactions. Her research interests are primarily in the area of international human rights law with a specialization in the inter-American human rights system. Sean Kammer Assistant Professor Kammer is a recent addition to USD Law. A Duke University Law graduate, Kammer’s areas of expertise include Natural Resource, Environmental, Mineral and Energy Law. His article titled “Coming to Terms with Wilderness: The Wilderness Act and the Problem of Wildlife Restoration” (2013) was recently published in Environmental Law. Allen Madison Assistant Professor Professor Madison’s teaching interests include Federal Taxation and Business Law, with research interest in taxation, statutory interpretation, logic and the intersection of all three. He joined the University of South Dakota law faculty in 2012. Prior to joining USD, Professor Madison held teaching positions at Georgetown University, University of Wyoming, University of Idaho and in the Anglo-American Law Program at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. Before academia, Professor Madison practiced law with a focus on taxation for 10 years. After clerking at the U.S. Tax Court, 30 Years at USD Law Frank Pommersheim Professor Prior to joining the faculty in 1984, Pommersheim lived and worked on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation for 10 years. He currently serves on a number of tribal appellate courts throughout Indian country including Chief Justice for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Court of Appeals and the Rosebud Sioux Supreme Court. Pommersheim writes extensively in the field of Indian law. He is the author of “Braid of Feathers” (American Indian Law and Contemporary Tribal Life) and numerous scholarly activities. Pommersheim is a contributor to the 2005 edition of Felix Cohen’s “Handbook of Federal Indian Law” and his newest book, Broken Landscape: Indians, Indian Tribes, and the Constitution, was published in 2009 by Oxford University Press and has recently been released in paperback. Pommersheim has also received the USD Belbas-Larson Award for Excellence in Teaching, the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center Reconciliation Award and the John Wesley Jackson Award as the Outstanding Professor of Law. Winter 2013/14 | 21 FACULTY Charles M. Thatcher Professor Thatcher was most recently published in the South Dakota Law Review in 2012 with an article entitled “Specific Performance as a Seller Remedy for Buyer’s Breach of Sales Contract—The Availability of Judicial Purchase Orders.” Jon Van Patten Professor Van Patten has recently published several articles regarding persuasion and storytelling in the South Dakota Law Review, including “Metaphors and Persuasion” (2013), “Storytelling for Lawyers” (2012) and “Themes and Persuasion” (2011). Barry Vickrey Professor Vickrey served as dean of the Law School from 1993 to 2011. At USD, he teaches the required first-year course on property law and the required upper-level course on the legal profession, as well as upper-level elective courses on mediation and legislation. He is also in charge of the South Dakota Drafting & Legal Practice course, which he helped create while dean. He has held numerous positions in state and national professional associations, including membership on the ABA Standing Committee on Lawyer Competence for nine years. He is active in the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, for which he regularly chairs accreditation inspections at other law schools. Professor Vickrey is a board member of the Consensus Council, Inc., Bismarck, N.D., the Vermillion United Way and the Vermillion Center for Children and Families. Vickrey’s teaching interests include the required course on the legal profession and legal ethics, legislation and legislative drafting, mediation and property law. His research interests follow the ethics and history of the legal profession, specifically including the South Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct, the area of legal education and Abraham Lincoln’s legal career. 22 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER New Faculty Wendy Hess Assistant Professor A year ago, Hess was a visiting professor and is now on the faculty as an assistant professor and director of the Fundamental Legal Skills and Legal Writing Program. Her teaching interests include Legal Skills, Interviewing & Counseling, Legal Writing and Juvenile Justice. Hess’s research interests include law teaching methods and practices, legal education reform, law student and lawyer wellness, and juvenile transfer. Thomas Simmons Assistant Professor “I am enjoying my first semester (fall 2013) teaching at the law school more than I can even put into words,” Simmons said. “Working directly with students and wrestling with difficult legal concepts is a thrill. Our students are focused, inquisitive, curious and just plain exceptional.” Simmons’s teaching interests include Estate & Trust Administration, Business Organizations, Trusts & Wills, Elder Law and Estate Planning. CLASS NOTES Class Notes Retires After Quarter Century After teaching for 26 years at USD School of Law, including courses on health care law and elder law, Michael J. Myers ’67, has retired from the classroom and announced his candidacy for South Dakota governor on the independent ticket. His running mate is Caitlin Collier, a graduate of the law school. Prior to coming to USD, Myers was a CEO for Mayo-St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn., and is an emeritus trustee of the Mayo Foundation. 1960s Lewayne M. Erickson, ’60, Brookings, was among those honored June 21 during the 2013 Annual Meeting of the State Bar of South Dakota for reaching the 50-year milestone since admission to practice law in South Dakota. Richard O. Gregerson, ’62, Sioux Falls, was among those honored June 21 during the 2013 Annual Meeting of the State Bar of South Dakota for reaching the 50-year milestone since admission to practice law in South Dakota. Eugene E. Dobberpuhl, ’63, Aberdeen, was among those honored June 21 during the 2013 Annual Meeting of the State Bar of South Dakota for reaching the 50-year milestone since admission to practice law in South Dakota. Ralph C. Hoggatt, ’63, Deadwood, was among those honored June 21 during the 2013 Annual Meeting of the State Bar of South Dakota for reaching the 50-year milestone since admission to practice law in South Dakota. Boyd L. McMurchie, ’63, Sioux Falls, was among those honored June 21 during the 2013 Annual Meeting of the State Bar of South Dakota for reaching the 50-year milestone since admission to practice law in South Dakota. Robert A. Miller, ’63, Pierre, was among those honored June 21 during the 2013 Annual Meeting of the State Bar of South Dakota for reaching the 50-year milestone since admission to practice law in South Dakota. Jack Von Wald, ’67, Aberdeen, retired Jan. 8 after serving as presiding judge in the 5th circuit for 10 years. Charles Thompson, ’69, L.L.D. ’95, was honored as Trial Lawyer of the Year in June by the South Dakota Trial Lawyers’ Association. Chief Justice Gilbertson was selected to his first four-year term in September 2001, and has served three consecutive terms. At a press conference announcing the selection, Gilbertson thanked the members of the Supreme Court for their continued confidence in his leadership and the Unified Judicial System employees for their dedicated service and hard work. Chief Justice Gilbertson also received the Fred J. Nichol (’36) Award as Outstanding Jurist in June from the South Dakota Trial Lawyers’ Association. Richard (Dick) A. Bursell, ‘77, recently concluded a two-year appointment by the Colorado Springs City Council to the Colorado Springs Liquor and Beer Licensing Board (a quasi-judicial administrative tribunal). Bursell (retired, U.S. Army JAG Corps, Lieutenant Colonel) and his wife Patricia (Manion) Bursell, ‘75 B.F.A., have resided in Colorado Springs since 1998. Jeff Larson, ’78, Sioux Falls, was named Defense Attorney of the Year for 2013 by the South Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. 1970s Richard (Dick) L. Ericsson, ’74, of Madison, was presented the Student Bar Association’s 2013 Marshall M. McKusick Award. The award was presented June 21 during the Annual Meeting activities of the State Bar of South Dakota by the Shekar Jayaraman, the new SBA president. 1980s Hon. Kathleen Caldwell, ’80, announced that she will be retiring from the Second Judicial Circuit bench effective Jan. 8, 2013. Judge Caldwell has served as a circuit court judge since 1993 and has been the Presiding Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit since 2009. The Supreme Court of South Dakota in June unanimously selected the Hon. David Gilbertson, ’75, to a fourth term as chief justice, making him the first chief justice selected to four terms in South Dakota history, according to the Unified Judicial System announcement. Mike Day, ’83, of Belle Fourche, was selected for appointment as a circuit judge in South Dakota’s Fourth Judicial Circuit. He has been a partner in the Day Morris Law Firm of Belle Fourche, and has practiced law in Belle Fourche since his 1983 graduation from the University of South Dakota School of Law. Day’s service includes vice chair of the Belle Fourche School Board and a member of the state Board of Minerals Winter 2013/14 | 23 ALUMNI and Environment. He is a past president of the State Bar of South Dakota and has served on the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the State Bar Disciplinary Board and as president of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association. Courtney Clayborne, ’89, Rapid City, a track star for Stevens High School and USD, was inducted into the Rapid City Sports Hall of Fame. In 1978, at the age of 13, he came to the United States with his family, and he became a U.S. citizen in 1986. He is a 1990 graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, where he earned his degree in aeronautical engineering, and worked as a commercial airline pilot and flight instructor. Joni Clark Cutler, ‘95, of Sioux Falls, was appointed as magistrate judge for the Second Judicial Circuit. Early on, she worked in the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s office and later served 10 years in the South Dakota Legislature, including as chair of the House Judiciary Committee and as vicechair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. More recently, she worked with the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault and as a partner in the Beck & Cutler, LLP, law firm. Christopher Synsvoll, ’96, of Sioux Falls, in December 2012 received the Assistant (U.S.) Attorney General’s (Criminal Division) Award for Exceptional Service. Christopher was a member of a team whose extraordinary dedication and perseverance resulted in the extradition of five terrorists from the United Kingdom. The team’s tenacity, persistence and diplomacy were instrumental in presenting the United States’ position before the European Court of Human Rights, where the defendants had challenged their extradition. The protracted litigation began in 2007 and concluded successfully in April 2012, after three days of argument in the United Kingdom High Court. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the team, the defendants now face charges in the United States in connection with, among other things, the 1998 East African Embassy bombings and the taking of 16 hostages in Yemen in 1998. Susan Sabers, ’95, was appointed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard as a circuit judge in South Dakota’s Second Judicial Circuit. She fills the vacancy left by Judge Kathleen Caldwell’s retirement at the end of 2012. Ronald Parsons, ’97, is compiling a collection of short stories (fiction) entitled “The Sense of Touch,” due out by spring 2014. The publisher is Aqueous Books, an independent company based in New Orleans. Jason Campbell, ’96, Lead, was selected as staff judge advocate of the South Dakota National Guard. Thomas E. Simmons,’98, joined the faculty of USD School of Law in fall 2013. His fall law courses include Business Organizations I, Trusts and Wills, and Estate and Trust Administration. Prior to coming to the Law School, he was a partner with the Rapid City Law firm of Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson & Ashmore, LLP, where he worked as a trusts and estates lawyer becoming a partner in 2006. Book reviews by Simmons were featured in the 1990s Hon. Mark Salter, ’93, of Sioux Falls, was appointed as a circuit judge in South Dakota’s Second Judicial Circuit, which includes Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties. He takes the place of the Hon. William J. Srstka, ’68, who retired at the end of 2012. Robert Gusinsky, ‘96, of Rapid City, was selected for appointment as a circuit judge in South Dakota’s Seventh Judicial Circuit. He has served as assistant United States attorney, and earlier had been in the private practice of law in Rapid City. Gusinsky was born in Latvia, which at the time was a part of the Soviet Union. 24 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER Jan./Feb. 2013 edition of The Nebraska Lawyer magazine winter reading section (pp. 13–16). Having clerked for the late Andrew W. Bogue, senior U.S. District judge, Simmons’ article is entitled “Judicial Memoirs,” his review of the book Called to Justice: The Life of a Federal Trial Judge, by Hon. Warren K. Urbom. Matthew Rusch, ’99, Omaha, Neb., was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. He is a partner with the law firm Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C., in Omaha and practices primarily in the areas of civil litigation and real estate. Thomas L. Sorensen, ’99, retired in December 2013 as associate dean after 13 years at the USD School of Law. Tom was hired in fall 2000 and served as assistant dean for two years. He had practiced law as an associate at Bogue, Weeks & Collier law firm in Vermillion and served as deputy city attorney. His career prior to the legal profession spanned more than two decades as a broadcast journalist for KSOO radio in Sioux Falls, WDAY radio in Fargo, N.D., South Dakota Public Broadcasting radio (KUSD radio) in Vermillion, and as a news writer for the Associated Press. Sorensen and his wife, Mary, have three grown daughters and three grandchildren, who will be occupying much of their time in the days and years ahead. 2000s Eric R. Kerkvliet, ’06, was named a shareholder in the Sioux Falls offices of the Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun law firm. Katy Ritter, ’06, of Eagle, Idaho became the assistant director of university and industry ventures at Boise State University. Bryan Denham, ’07, Bismark, N.D., joined Larson Latham Huettl LLP as an associate attorney, practicing primarily in criminal defense and family law. CLASS NOTES Hon. Mildred Ramynke, ’39, of Peever, died on Sept. 7, 2013 at the age of 96. Ramynke became the first female county judge in South Dakota when she took the bench in Roberts County in 1958. She later served as county judge for Day, Grant and Marshall Counties. After the creation of the Unified Judicial System, Ramynke successfully ran for circuit judge in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, becoming the state’s first female circuit judge. During the two years Ramynke was the presiding judge of the circuit, she filled in on several Supreme Court cases, becoming the first woman to serve on the state’s highest court. She retired in 1986. Ramynke was a “consummate professional” who blazed trails for women in the law, said Hon. David Gilbertson, chief justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court and Ramynke’s close friend. April (Norton) Hamilton, ’08, formerly of Miller, S.D., in November 2012 joined the Phoenix law firm of Ridenour, Hienton & Lewis, PLLC, as an associate. Jolene Nasser,’09, Sioux Falls, has joined Nasser Law Offices as an associate attorney. Philip Terwilliger,’09, Vermillion, was named deputy state’s attorney for Clay County. 2010s Melissa Fiksdal, ’10, Crooks, has joined Jeff Larson Law in Sioux Falls. Courtney (Stottler) Holthus, ’10, of Meridian, Idaho, joined DisAbility Rights Idaho as a staff attorney in the Boise office. Corey Bruning,’12, Sioux Falls, has announced the opening of Bruning & Lewis Law Firm. Jason Krause, ’12, Hartford, has joined the Dorothy Law Firm as an associate. Tamara Nash, ’13, received the William F. Day, Jr. Law Student Pro Bono Award in June from Access To Justice, State Bar of South Dakota, for her outstanding pro bono services while a student at USD Law during (and more) the 2012–2013 academic year. P.J. Painter, ’13, was selected as master scholar on the 2013-2015 Supreme Senate at the 2013 summer convention of Delta Theta Phi held in August in Bloomington, Minn. The fraternity is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of its creation. In Memoriam 1940s John H. Zimmer, ’48, of Parker, died on Sept. 15, 2012 at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion. Zimmer was born on Dec. 30, 1922 in Sioux Falls, where he grew up and graduated from Cathedral High School. He attended Augustana College before serving in the U.S. Army during WWII. After his discharge from the service he attended the University of South Dakota where he received his law degree in 1948. On Dec. 26, 1946 he married Phyllis Graber. In 1948 he started his law practice in Turner County. He practiced law with Zimmer, Duncan, and Cole at Parker. He had served as a state’s attorney of Turner County, as an assistant professor of medical jurisprudence at the USD School of Medicine, as minority counsel to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Critical and Strategic Materials, president of South Dakota Junior Bar Association, president of South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association and was listed in Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He also served as general counsel for South Dakota State Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners, South Dakota Medical Services (Blue Shield), South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care, South Dakota Basic Science Board and the South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association. His professional associations included chair of Southeastern Council of Governments (SECOG), member of USD Law School Advisory Council, chair of the Turner County Republicans, member of South Dakota State Republican Advisory Commission, assistant doorman 1960 National Republican Convention, alternate delegate to 1968 National Republican Convention, president of South Dakota Easter Seal Society, South Dakota Association for the Deaf and South Dakota Easter Seal Board of Directors. Zimmer was a member of the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW), American Legion, Parker Masonic Lodge and El Riad Shrine, including Legion of Honor Shrine. He was also an avid sportsman and enjoyed spending time outdoors. On July 31, 1976 he was united in marriage to Deanna Waddle at Tyler, Minn. They enjoyed spending winters in Arizona. 1950s Frank E. “Rudy” Henderson, ’51, died on Dec. 28, 2012. A passionate and larger-than-life figure, he influenced his family, the military, the law and the State of South Dakota for more than eight decades. Justice Henderson was born April 7, 1928, in Miller and grew to be a three-sport letterman for the Miller Rustlers and All-State athlete in basketball, football and track. He attended the University of South Dakota on a basketball scholarship where he Winter 2013/14 | 25 ALUMNI and served as a U.S. commissioner. In the 1970s, Henderson became a circuit court judge and sat on the benches of Pennington, Custer and Fall River Counties. In 1979, Judge Henderson became a justice on the Supreme Court of South Dakota. Justice Henderson experienced many professional and personal associations with Native peoples of South Dakota. Henderson appreciated his kind and capable wife, Norma Jean Henderson, with whom he was married for 56 years, and the family they raised. Justice Henderson lived to the age of 84. Barry Vickery, Bud Day, USD President James W. Abbott, Don Dahlin Col. George E. “Bud” Day (Ret.), ’49, of Shalimar, Fla., died on July 27, 2013 at age 88. George Day was born on Feb. 24, 1925, in Sioux City, Iowa and married his hometown sweetheart, Doris Sorensen, the “love of his life” for 64 years. The Sioux City airport was named for Day and displays a statue of him just outside the main entrance. Col. Day enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942 and served in the South Pacific. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1946–1949 and graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1949. He was appointed second lieutenant in 1950 and called to active duty in the U.S. Air Force, where he entered jet pilot training. He served two tours in Japan and Korea and later fought and flew in Vietnam. Col. Day’s plane was shot down on Aug. 26, 1967, when he was forced to eject over North Vietnam. He survived as a POW for five and a half years, part of which was in the “Hanoi Hilton.” A cellmate for a time was future Arizona U.S. Senator John McCain. Day was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1967 and also received South Vietnam’s highest military honor. In his 34-year military service, he earned 70 medals and honors. He was admitted to the South Dakota Bar in 1949 and to the Florida Bar in 1977. He was instrumental in helping win a major victory for World War II and Korean War retirees from a U.S. Court of Appeals, which acknowledged that the government had breached its contract to provide retirees and their spouses free, lifetime medical care. In 2004, Col. Day was the speaker featured at the Law School’s hooding ceremony. also competed in track and field and football. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He completed law school at USD in 1951 and immediately left to serve in the United States Army. The Korean Conflict was to have a profound impact on Justice Henderson. He served as an officer and remained a 26 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER strong patriot, with ties to the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Upon his return from Korea, Henderson began law practice in Rapid City as a trial attorney, and later moved his office to Hill City. He twice served as a state senator for Pennington County Robert Stark, ’51, Denver, Colo., died on May 3, 2013. A Vermillion native, Stark served in the United States Army before returning to South Dakota to receive his bachelor’s degree in history in 1950 and his law degree in 1951. Alan R. Purintun, ’52, died on Jan. 23, 2013. He practiced law in association with Harry Eggen and E.F. Wilkinson in De Smet and was appointed Kingsbury County judge in 1955. Alan was recognized as a 50-year member of the State Bar of South Dakota in 2002. George R. Horner, ’56, of Vermillion, died on April 4, 2013. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and grew up in Vermillion. George was admitted to law practice in South Dakota and Nebraska and was recognized by both states for his legal services of more than 50 years. George worked in Omaha at USF&G Insurance Co. for 10 years, moving next to the Grand Island office. He became city attorney. In 1969, he joined the faculty at USD School of Business, retiring in 1996. His U.S. Navy service included as enlisted and as a commissioned officer in Naval Intelligence. Floyd E. Meidinger, ’59, of Aberdeen, died on Nov. 13, 2013. He was born Nov. 1, 1929, near Eureka, and received a bachelor’s degree in 1951 at the University of South Dakota. He served in the U.S. Air Force as an interpreter (German and Russian) in both Libya and Germany, receiving his Honorable CLASS NOTES Discharge in 1955. Floyd entered the USD School of Law, graduating in 1959. He practiced with the Ivan Borman Law Firm in Mobridge, served as McPherson County State’s Attorney, purchased the Francis Holman Law Practice in Leola and served as Leola city attorney. Floyd also served as Leola’s mayor and chair of the McPherson County Republican Party. Alan Fay Glover,’64, of Brookings, died on June 21, 2013, unexpectedly at the age of 72 at his home. He was born June 24, 1940 in Aberdeen and raised in Frederick. He served as a captain in the JAG Branch, U.S. Army, having enlisted in 1963 and serving during the Vietnam War. In 1998, he joined the law practice of Glover, Helsper and Rasmussen PC in Brookings. 1960s Dennis Raymond Padrnos, ’60, died on Nov. 20, 2012. He was born Sept. 9, 1936 to Judge George Padrnos and Lillian (Honner) Padrnos in Lake Andes, the youngest of six children. He went to USD on a basketball scholarship, taught business law in the School of Business and graduated with a business and law degree in 1960. He served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps from 1960-1963 and received the Army Commendation Medal. While stationed in Germany, he served as chief defense counsel for the 24th Infantry Division and prosecutor for the JAG Corps. Achieving the rank of captain, he was honorably discharged and returned to Mitchell where he joined the law practice with local attorney Fred Tinan. Padrnos married Diane Nelson in 1967. He was appointed to the position of Davison County States Attorney, was successful in his re-election bids and served the county for 13 years. Gary Johansen, ’66, of Sioux City, Iowa, age 75, died on April 17, 2013 at a Sioux City hospital. He was born on Aug. 30, 1937 to Arthur and Pearl Johansen in South Sioux City. He was in the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Midway aircraft carrier before marrying Joan Rymill on Jan. 5, 1965. Johansen graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1966 and went on to be a partner at Johansen & Johansen with his brother, Raymond, for 33 years. He retired in 1999. Robert Stewart, ’60, of Aberdeen, age 81, died on May 7, 2013. He was born on Feb. 12, 1932 to Roy and Thelma Stewart. Steward received his undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado, where he met his wife, Jackie Holder. He went on to receive his LL.B. in 1960 from the University of South Dakota. Stewart and his wife Jackie raised five children. Anthony “Tony” Buckmeier, ’61, of Mobridge, age 77, died on March 28, 2013, in Sioux Falls after a long illness. After college he moved to Mobridge to practice law with Ivan Bormann and continued to practice law for more than 50 years. His clients were always his number one concern and family was his greatest joy. Thomas Muilenburg, ’66, of Sioux Falls, age 72, died on Feb. 14, 2013 at his residence due to diabetic complications. He was born June 12, 1940 in Sioux Falls, and in 1958 graduated from Washington High School. Following high school, he attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion where he excelled in debate with his debate partner, Robert Legvold. In 1962, Muilenburg moved to Washington, D.C. where he worked in the office of Sen. Karl Mundt. Upon returning to South Dakota, Muilenburg enrolled at the University of South Dakota Law School and earned his law degree in 1966. That same year, on Aug. 6, Tom was united in marriage to Elizabeth Bainbridge in Paullina, Iowa. Following several years of residence in Brandon, the couple moved to Sioux Falls in 1974 where Muilenburg practiced law. Gary Lamont Richter, ’69, of Brandon, died at the age of 72 on June 17, 2013. He was born on Nov. 1, 1941 in Sioux Falls. He practiced law in Parker until 1988 when he became an assistant attorney general for the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. He had retired in 2006. 1970s Larry Gullickson, ’76, of Sioux Falls, age 67, died on May 12, 2013 at his residence from cancer. He was born on May 16, 1945 to Leo and Edla Gullickson in Volga, S.D. He attended the University of South Dakota where he received his B.S. in accounting before serving as an officer for the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Gullickson married Lynn Gascoigne in 1973 and had two daughters before returning to USD to earn his J.D. degree from the School of Law in 1976. Stanley Everett Whiting, ‘74 of Winner, died on Jan. 30, 2013. He received a B.S.B.A. in accounting at USD in 1966 and a J.D. degree from the School of Law in 1974. After college he joined the Marine Corps and achieved the rank of captain. As an F-4 Phantom fighter pilot, he accumulated 407 combat missions in Vietnam. He was once shot down, parachuted into a tree and was subsequently recovered—only to resume his role as a Marine Corps aviator and continue flying. He received more than 20 awards and medals. After his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in 1971, he returned to South Dakota where he met the love of his life, Alyson Kocer. They were married in 1974 and enjoyed nearly 39 years together. Whiting initially practiced law with the firm Day, Grossenburg and Whiting for several years before venturing out on his own. In the summer of 2012 at the annual meeting, Whiting received the Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association. Brian Stuart, ’78, of Sioux Falls, died on May 29, 2013, in Bucyrus, N.D. Brian received a B.A. degree from the University of South Dakota in 1967, became a C.P.A. in 1970, earned an M.B.A. in 1977, and completed his J.D. degree in 1978. He was born Sept. 22, 1943, in Adams County, N.D., and later moved to Plankinton, S.D. He practiced law in Sioux Falls at Stuart Winter 2013/14 | 27 ALUMNI & Gerry Attorneys at Law in a 25-year partnership. Stuart had retired in 2003 due to medical reasons. 1990s Jeff Giebink, ’91, of Sioux Falls, passed away suddenly at age 56 of natural causes on Jan. 25, 2013. He was born Nov. 22, 1956 in Sioux Falls. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Maura, four sons, Travis, Nic, Chase and Sam, all of Sioux Falls; his siblings, Jan Giebink and Joan (Dr. Bob Meyer) Giebink, both of Sioux Falls; Dr. Jim (Roxanne) Giebink, Merritt Island, Fla., Dr. Patti Giebink, Chamberlain, Dr. Robert Giebink, Watertown and Brad (Mary Ann) Giebink, Sioux Falls; his three canine companions, Frankie, Daisy and Chunky Monkey, Boo Boo the cat, and Rudy the African Gray Parrot. 2000s David Bruce “Dave” Curington, ’05, died at age 40 from brain cancer on Dec. 26, 2012, in Rapid City. Curington was born Oct. 23, 1972, at Ellsworth AFB, to Bruce and Rachel Curington. Despite living in other states while a young boy, after coming back to Rapid City while in junior high, Curington always thought of the Black Hills and South Dakota as home. As an assistant public defender for Pennington County, Curington was a committed advocate for his 28 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER clients and believed in the importance of his role in the legal process. He was especially proud of his work with the JDIA in South Dakota, which created a process to find alternatives to juvenile detention. In 2012 he was recognized for his dedication to improving the lives of children by the Western South Dakota Child Protection Council. Curington was a musician for most of his life as a bass player and most recently had been a member of the Jolly Llamas. Faculty and Friends Richard L. Barnes, age 58, distinguished lecturer and professor of law at the University of Mississippi, died Jan. 22, 2013 in a car accident in Conway County, Ark., as he was driving home to Oxford, Miss. Before joining the UM law faculty in August 1989, Barnes practiced law in Tucson, Ariz. He served on the faculty at the University of South Dakota School of Law from 1983-87, was a visiting associate professor in 1985-86 at Brigham Young University and returned to Vermillion in 1987-89 to teach as an associate professor at USD Law School. His specialties included contracts, secured transactions, commercial law and federal Indian law. His interests in agriculture and Indian law stemmed from his Cherokee grandparents and his childhood on an Arizona farm. Marriages 2000s Blair (Lawhon) McGowan, ’07, and David McGowan were married April 13, 2013. The couple resides in Decatur, Ga. 2010s Tyler Custis,’13, and Megan Kahler Custis were married Sept. 15, 2012. The couple resides in Elk Point, S.D. Courtney Stottler, ’10 and Justin Holthus, ’10, were married on June 16, 2012 in Hermiston, Ore. Births 2000s To Lindsay (Efting) Hovden, ’05, and Christopher Hovden, Yankton, a son, Myles William, born Nov. 27, 2012. He joins brother Maddox (4). To Philip Terwilliger, ’09 and Lisa Terwilliger, Vermillion, a son, Frederick Lawrence, born March 4, 2013. Frederick joins big sister Maggie (4). 2010s To Krista (Voyles) Benson,’10, and Adam Benson, Boone, Iowa, a son, Finley George, born Dec. 4, 2012. He joins a sister, Lila. CLASS NOTES Wilbur Presides over Dakota Days Parade South Dakota Supreme Court Justice Lori Wilbur ’77, served as Parade Marshal for the 99th Dakota Days Parade, which was held on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013. The 48th justice in the history of the South Dakota Supreme Court and the second female justice, Wilbur was appointed to the state’s highest court in 2011 by Gov. Dennis Daugaard. She graduated from USD with a bachelor’s degree in 1974 and earned her law degree from the USD School of Law in 1977. Wilbur represents the Fourth Supreme Court District, which is comprised of Union, Clay, Yankton, Hutchinson, Hanson, Davison, Bon Homme, Douglas, Aurora, Brule, Charles Mix, Gregory, Tripp, Lyman, McCook, Turner counties and a portion of Lincoln County. She has held every judicial position in the South Dakota court system. She served first as a part-time, and then a full-time magistrate judge from 1992 to 1999. She took the bench as a circuit judge in 1999 after being elected in 1998, and was re-elected in 2006. Wilbur led the Sixth Circuit as presiding judge since 2007, and she served as a replacement justice on about 20 state Supreme Court cases. As a circuit judge, Wilbur led the Sixth Circuit’s DUI Court program, which is an alternative sentencing program that seeks to address defendants’ underlying addictions. A Madison, S.D. native, she and her late husband, Brent, have two grown daughters. Moen Honored with Alumni Achievement Award A USD School of Law graduate was among three distinguished University of South Dakota alumni honored with Alumni Achievement Awards during the alumni dinner held during Dakota Days in October 2013. Daniel Moen, ’78, of Pickerel Lake, S.D., was honored for Service to the University. Moen, an Irene, S.D. native, began his career as a private practice attorney in Aberdeen, S.D. before becoming associate general counsel for Super 8 Motels, Inc. He was then president of ACS, Inc., a subsidiary of Wells Fargo Financial Bank from 1994-2003 and then continued his career in business development. Following his retirement from ACS, Inc. in 2003, Moen became involved in several business endeavors as an independent investor. In 2007, he was named chairman of the board of the USD Foundation. He resigned that position in 2009 to become a major gifts officer for the USD School of Law and Beacom School of Business. Moen served in that capacity, obtaining many substantial gifts for the university, until 2011 when he served as interim president and CEO of the USD Foundation–a position he held until January 2012 when Steve Brown assumed the position. Other USD alumni honored with Alumni Achievement Awards were Joel Portice ’87 and David Landry ’73. Winter 2013/14 | 29 DONORS Honor Roll of Donors Partners in Excellence Dean’s Circle Senior Partner ($5,000 and above) Partner ($1,000 to $4,999) Advocates Golden Advocate ($500 to $999) Century Advocate ($100 to $499) Supporters & Friends ($1 to $99) The law school is grateful to all Partners In Excellence and encourages a “rise to the top” and special recognition as a member of the Dean’s Circle. These gifts were received July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013. 1949 Fredric R. Cozad, Century Advocate 1950 Dale E. Bradshaw, Century Advocate James E. Moore, Century Advocate Harry Pflaumer, Supporters & Friends 1951 Acie W. Matthews, Supporters & Friends 1952 Joseph S. Lesser, Senior Partner Charles S. Milliken, Supporters & Friends 1953 Erwin L. Wiest, Century Advocate 1955 Roger S. Bottum, Supporters & Friends 1956 James L. Weaver, Partner Carleton R. Hoy, Century Advocate 1958 Travis H. Lewin, Golden Advocate Andrew Aberle, Supporters & Friends Roger A. Peterson, Supporters & Friends 1959 Carlyle E. Richards and Rev. Sheila Richards, Senior Partner $100,000 gift to be used at the dean’s discretion, made in honor of Dean Simpson, Clark Gunderson, Ed Hadd, Chapin Clark and others who positively influenced Richards’ law school experience and career trajectory. George Applegate, Partner J. D. Austin, Century Advocate 30 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER 1960 Russell R. Greenfield, Century Advocate Chet Groseclose, Century Advocate Golby C. Uhlir, Century Advocate Burke M. Critchfield, Supporters & Friends 1961 Hermon B. Walker, Century Advocate 1962 Roger L. Wollman, Century Advocate 1963 Robert A. Miller, Century Advocate Nicholas V. O’Hara, Century Advocate 1964 Frank G. Stickney, Supporters & Friends 1965 James R. Haar, Golden Advocate Lawrence L. Piersol, Golden Advocate David L. Blair, Century Advocate Frank D. Brost, Century Advocate Scott C. Moses, Century Advocate Ronald E. Clabaugh, Supporters & Friends Thomas F. Martin, Supporters & Friends 1966 Robert A. Warder, Partner Charles L. Riter, Century Advocate Richard W. Sabers, Century Advocate John D. Gubbrud, Supporters & Friends Thomas R. Pardy, Supporters & Friends 1967 Virgil K. Johnson, Partner Charles V. Sederstrom, Partner Jack R. Von Wald, Century Advocate 1968 John P. Blackburn, Partner John E. Simko, Century Advocate William J. Srstka, Supporters & Friends 1969 Larry C. Johnson, Century Advocate Gary Richter, Century Advocate Charles M. Thompson, Century Advocate 1970 Richard A. Bauerly, Golden Advocate Peter J. Horner, Century Advocate Allen K. Nepper, Century Advocate Thomas P. Tonner, Century Advocate George P. Williams, Century Advocate Paul F. Angel, Supporters & Friends 1971 Orrin S. Estebo, Senior Partner $1 million gift for purposes of future construction and renovation efforts at the School of Law, namely, the addition of common space that may be suitable to serve as a primary lobby, entrance or reception area. Arthur L. Rusch, Partner Jan S. Amundson, Golden Advocate John S. Theeler, Golden Advocate Michael R. Austin, Century Advocate Thomas V. Conway, Century Advocate Dennis W. Finch, Century Advocate 1972 George L. Hirschbach, Partner Thomas J. Whorley, Golden Advocate Andrew S. Bogue, Century Advocate Francis P. Cappello, Century Advocate Allen G. Nelson, Century Advocate Perry S. Patterson, Century Advocate D. D. Titus, Century Advocate 1973 Harvey C. Jewett, Senior Partner James P. Hoy, Century Advocate Robert C. Riter, Century Advocate Lyle W. Petersen, Supporters & Friends 1974 James W. Abbott, Partner Richard L. Ericsson, Partner Warren R. Neufeld, Partner Roy A. Wise, Partner Randal E. Connelly, Century Advocate John K. Konenkamp, Century Advocate Stanley E. Whiting (Dec), Century Advocate Timothy R. Johns, Supporters & Friends 1975 Mary Sue Donohue, Golden Advocate Edwin E. Evans, Golden Advocate Thomas J. Welk, Golden Advocate Bruce W. Cutler, Century Advocate Vance R. Goldammer, Century Advocate Rodney C. Lefholz, Century Advocate Carolyn F. Rusch, Century Advocate Haven L. Stuck, Century Advocate Timothy C. Sweeney, Century Advocate Steven L. Zinter, Century Advocate Dennis D. Evenson, Supporters & Friends David Gilbertson, Supporters & Friends DONORS 1976 Arthur T. Carter, Partner Robert E. Hayes, Partner Michael M. Hickey, Partner Mary Jane Cleary, Century Advocate William D. Froke, Century Advocate Richard A. Johnson, Century Advocate Craig A. Kennedy, Century Advocate C. J. Neiles, Century Advocate Barry R. Buehler, Supporters & Friends 1977 Richard D. Casey, Golden Advocate Howard W. Paulson, Century Advocate 1978 Jeffrey T. Sveen, Senior Partner Aloysius J. Arendt, Century Advocate Craig M. Eichstadt, Century Advocate Gary D. Jensen, Century Advocate Terry N. Prendergast, Century Advocate Brian J. Stuart (Dec), Century Advocate 1979 Robert A. Martin, Partner Joseph D. Nadenicek, Century Advocate Reed A. Rasmussen, Century Advocate 1980 Mark J. Gherty, Golden Advocate Glen W. Eng, Century Advocate Michael J. McGill, Century Advocate Richard L. Travis, Century Advocate James M. Wiederrich, Century Advocate Kenneth W. Cotton, Supporters & Friends James D. Wilkerson, Supporters & Friends 1981 Patricia Riepel, Golden Advocate Jon S. Flemmer, Century Advocate Jeffrey R. Mohrhauser, Century Advocate Dean E. Brekke, Supporters & Friends 1982 Kimberley K. Mortenson, Partner 1983 Roger W. Damgaard, Century Advocate 1984 Brian J. Bauer, Supporters & Friends 1987 Karen R. Twitchell, Century Advocate 1988 Darrell A. Jesse, Partner Judith C. Arnold, Century Advocate Frank T. Lautenschlager, Century Advocate Martin P. Oyos, Century Advocate Kim M. Riley, Century Advocate Judith F. Rost, Century Advocate Susan N. Steele, Century Advocate Gregory G. Giles, Supporters & Friends 1990 Joy Nesmith, Century Advocate Rodney W. Schlauger, Supporters & Friends 1992 Sandra K. Hanson, Partner James S. Schultz, Golden Advocate Vaughn P. Beck, Century Advocate Jeanne M. Combs, Century Advocate Patricia K. Economos, Century Advocate John A. Gors, Century Advocate Lucy Lewno, Century Advocate 1993 Brian J. Donahoe, Century Advocate Joseph E. Martell, Century Advocate 1994 Todd C. Lockwood, Partner Pamela R. Bollweg, Century Advocate 1995 William M. Van Camp, Golden Advocate John A. Caucutt, Century Advocate Jayna M. Voss, Century Advocate 1996 Heather M. Bogard, Century Advocate Donald M. McCarty, Century Advocate 1997 Barbara A. Braley, Century Advocate David E. Lust, Century Advocate Matthew J. Vance, Century Advocate Gregory J. Erlandson, Supporters & Friends Michael S. Martin, Supporters & Friends Jill S. Schaffer, Supporters & Friends 1985 Kay Cee Hodson, Golden Advocate Steven L. Aberle, Century Advocate Blake W. Duerre, Century Advocate John H. Raforth, Century Advocate Jerry L. Wattier, Supporters & Friends 1998 Marilyn J. Hagberg, Century Advocate Bradley J. Lindeman, Century Advocate Clint L. Sargent, Century Advocate Robert C. Scremin, Supporters & Friends 1986 Lee “Kit” C. McCahren, Century Advocate Glenn A. Metcalf, Century Advocate Robert A. Peterson, Century Advocate M. B. Mayer, Supporters & Friends 1999 Thomas L. Sorensen, Century Advocate Melissa B. Nicholson, Century Advocate Matthew V. Rusch, Century Advocate Dale M. Kadlec, Supporters & Friends 2000 Stephanie R. Amiotte, Partner Jerad G. Seurer, Golden Advocate Jamie C. Thompson, Century Advocate Julia M. Dvorak, Supporters & Friends 2001 Mary A. Akkerman, Partner John A. Becker, Century Advocate 2002 Belinda N. Lamptey, Supporters & Friends Lindsey L. Riter-Rapp, Supporters & Friends 2003 Joanne M. Haase, Century Advocate Ryan W. Snell, Century Advocate De Anna C. Le Beau, Supporters & Friends Brad J. Lee, Supporters & Friends 2004 Michele L. Crissman, Supporters & Friends 2005 James C. Cerney, Century Advocate Andrew R. Damgaard, Century Advocate Jeffrey J. Fransen, Century Advocate Ryan J. Kolbeck, Century Advocate Sander J. Morehead, Century Advocate Jennifer M. Williams, Century Advocate 2006 Alecia E. Fuller, Century Advocate Jeffrey J. Roby, Century Advocate Jessica R. Noll-Oetken, Supporters & Friends 2007 Marcus A. Behm, Century Advocate Carla R. Cushman, Century Advocate Denise J. Kracl, Century Advocate 2008 Justin R. Johns, Century Advocate Nick A. Kotzea, Century Advocate Tonnis H. Venhuizen, Century Advocate 2012 Elizabeth S. Tomlin, Supporters & Friends Friends ALPS, Senior Partner Augustana College, Senior Partner Claude W. Schutter (Dec), Senior Partner Johnson, Heidepriem & Abdallah, LLP, Senior Partner $125,000 gift to provide a salary supplement to an outstanding Law School faculty member who specializes in the teaching of trial advocacy. SD Continuing Legal Education, Inc., Senior Partner Lindquist & Vennum PLLP, Senior Partner Winter 2013/14 | 31 DONORS SD Continuing Legal Education, Inc., Senior Partner Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith P.C., Senior Partner ALPS/Law School Foundation Golf Tournament, Partner Alyssa Taber, Partner Barbara Butler (Dec), Partner Cadwell, Sanford, Deibert & Garry, LLP, Partner Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, Partner DSEA Wong Foundation, Partner Elizabeth A. Rosenbaum, P.C., Partner Frances Biegelmeier Lowenstein, Partner Katharine W. Richards, Partner KPMG Foundation, Partner Lorys H. Eiesland, Partner State Bar of South Dakota, Partner Thomas E. Geu, Partner Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Golden Advocate ConAgra Foods Inc., Golden Advocate Covidien, Golden Advocate Delta Theta Phi Foundation, Inc., Golden Advocate Green, Roby, Oviatt, Cummings & Linngren LLP, Golden Advocate Karla D. McCallister, Golden Advocate Kolker Law Office, Golden Advocate Lynne D. Day, Golden Advocate Murphy Law Office, P.C., Golden Advocate Nasser Law Offices, Golden Advocate Nelson Law Office, P.C., Golden Advocate American Bar Endowment, Century Advocate Beardsley, Jensen & Von Wald, Prof. L.L.C., Century Advocate Carol M. Zielike, Century Advocate Colleen K. Tucker, Century Advocate Elizabeth A. Vonalt, Century Advocate Emma Laird, Century Advocate Frohling Law Office, Century Advocate Gail H. Young, Century Advocate Hollmann Law Office, Century Advocate Janklow Law Firm Prof, LLC, Century Advocate Julie L. Brink, Century Advocate Julie M. Bernard, Century Advocate Keith A. Goehring, Century Advocate Kenneth L. MacRitchie, Century Advocate Kinney Law PC, Century Advocate Lucy S. Elliott, Century Advocate Mumford & Protsch Law Office, Century Advocate Nathan L. Buller, Century Advocate Peter Quist, Century Advocate Roger M. Baron, Century Advocate Sally J. Cummins, Century Advocate Sandra J. Zinter, Century Advocate Sarah E. Houy, Century Advocate Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, Century Advocate Srstka & Srstka, Century Advocate Steele Law & Mediation, Century Advocate 32 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER Thomson Reuters LLC, Century Advocate U.S. Bancorp Foundation, Century Advocate Von Wald Law Offices, Century Advocate Whiting, Haag & Haag, Century Advocate Wilde & Hunt Prof. LLC, Century Advocate William K. Sauck, Century Advocate Wipf & Cotton, Century Advocate Worden-Wachsmuth Law Ofc.,Century Advocate Zieser & Rothschadl Law Office, Century Advocate Anonymous, Supporters & Friends Casey Deibert, Supporters & Friends Catherine Hall, Supporters & Friends Charles W. Buttz, Supporters & Friends Charlie Gross, Supporters & Friends Cynthia Painter, Supporters & Friends David R. Gienapp, Supporters & Friends Denise M. Teesdale, Supporters & Friends Evelyn Charlson, Supporters & Friends Fassnight Meadows Association, Inc., Supporters & Friends Frederick B. Gullett, Supporters & Friends H. Scott Aalsberg, Esq., P.C., Supporters & Friends Helen E. Olsen, Supporters & Friends Jean C. Dahlinger, Supporters & Friends John C. Gross, Supporters & Friends Joyce De Maro, Supporters & Friends Karras Family Foundation, Supporters & Friends Keva Aberle, Supporters & Friends Kristin N. Wheeler, Supporters & Friends Legacy Financial Group, Inc., Supporters & Friends Mary Habeck, Supporters & Friends Mary Q. Fry, Supporters & Friends Meierhenry Sargent LLP, Supporters & Friends Microsoft Corporation, Supporters & Friends Peter G. Guthrie, Supporters & Friends Reefa Y. Hanenberger, Supporters & Friends Ron Ollis, Supporters & Friends Sheela L. Stuart, Supporters & Friends Steve Adams, Supporters & Friends Steven J. Oberg, Supporters & Friends Theodore R. Muenster, Supporters & Friends Webster Arms A Partnership, Supporters & Friends Senior Partners ALPS Augustana College Claude W. Schutter (Dec) Johnson, Heidepriem & Abdallah, LLP Lindquist & Vennum, PLLP SD Continuing Legal Education Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith P.C. Partners ALPS/Law School Foundation Golf Tournament Alyssa Taber Barbara Butler (Dec) Cadwell, Sanford, Deibert & Garry, LLP Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation DSEA Wong Foundation Elizabeth A. Rosenbaum, P.C. Frances Biegelmeier Lowenstein Katharine W. Richards KPMG Foundation Lorys H. Eiesland State Bar of South Dakota Thomas E. Geu DONORS Participating Alumni/Friends 2012–2013 The School of Law each year attempts to collect the names of all the lawyers and judges who contributed, in some respect, to the success of our academic program. In addition to those listed in the Honor Roll of Donors for their financial support, we offer sincere thanks to those listed below who gave their time and expertise. Without all of you, we would not be the great school we are. We apologize to anyone we may have inadvertently omitted from the list. Aaron McGowan Aaron Salberg Adam Hoier Alan Peterson Alecia Fuller Alex Hagen Anthony Hohn Hon. Arthur Rusch Ashley Parr Beth Roesler Blayne Hagen Bob Wichser Hon. Bradley Zell Brendan Johnson Brian Bauer Hon. Brian Gosch Catherine Piersol Catherine Schlimgen Chad Jungman Chad Nelson Hon. Charles Kornmann Cheryl Three Stars Valandra Hon. Cheryle Gering Clint Sargent Curt Mortenson Dana Frohling Hon. David Gienapp Hon. David Gilbertson David Whitesock Hon. Dennis Daugaard Derek Nelson Doug Barnett Doug Cummings Duane Anderson Ed Evans Elizabeth Rosenbaum Ellen Kappmeyer Ellie Bailey Eric Preheim Eric Schulte George Hirschbach George Johnson Hon. Glen Eng Hon. Glen Severson Henry Evans Hilary Williamson Greg Huckabee Gregg Peterman Heather Bogard Hon. J.R. LaPlante Pres. James Abbott Hon. Janine Kern Jason Krause Jay Denne Hon. Jeff Davis Jeff Larson Hon. Jeff Viken Jennifer Williams Jeremy Roemen Jerry Miller Jesse Perkins Jim Power Jim Seward Hon. John Konenkamp Hon. John Schlimgen Hon. John Simko Hon. Joni Cutler Joe Dylla Joseph Haas Hon. Joseph Neiles Hon. Judith Meierhenry Judith Roberts Justin Goetz Karen Hunt Hon. Karen Schreier Kari Mouw Hon. Kathleen Caldwell Hon. Kathleen Trandahl Kenny Jacobs Kevin Loftus Kim Allison Krista Tschetter Hon. Larry Long Hon. Lawrence Piersol Leo Disburg Linda Kogel Lisa Maguire Lisa Rothschadl Hon. Lori Wilbur Hon. Marc Feinstein Marilyn Hagberg Mark Ekse Mark Haigh Mark Meierhenry Hon. Mark Salter Mark Welter Marshall Lovrien Hon. Marty Jackley Mary Akkerman Hon. Mary Thorstenson Matt Bock Matthew Dorothy Hon. Matt Michels Meghan Dilges Meghann Joyce Melissa Hinton Michael Roche Michael Luce Mitch Martin Mitch Morrison Mitch Peterson Morgan Brekke Pamela Bollweg Hon. Patricia Riepel Patrick Burns Patrick Goetzinger Hon. Patrick Kiner Pete Gregory Hon. Peter Lieberman PJ Jennings Richard Casey Richard Cutler Hon. Richard Engels Richard Ericsson Hon. Richard Sabers Robert Frieberg Robert Hayes Hon. Robert Miller Robert Riter Hon. Robert Ulrich Hon. Roger Wollman Roy Wise Ryan Kolbeck Ryan Snell Sabrina LaFleur-Sayler Samuel Goodhope Sandy McKeown Scott Abdallah Scott McGregor Hon. Scott Myren Scott Swier Hon. Sean O’Brien Shelly Munson Sheridan Anderson Sidney Strange Stacy Hegge Stephanie Chase Stephanie Pochop Steve Siegel Hon. Steven Jensen Hon. Steven Zinter Hon. Susan Sabers Hon. Tami Bern Teddi Gertsma Hon. Terry Huitink Hon. Thomas Deadrick Hon. Tim Tucker Hon. Timothy Bjorkman Timothy Langley Tom Barnett Tom Davies Tom Frieberg Tom Welk Traci Smith Hon. Veronica Duffy Victoria Reker Hon. Wally Eklund William Garry Hon. William Gerdes William Kunstle William Larson William Van Camp Winter 2013/14 | 33 DONORS Endowed Funds Partners in Excellence Myrtle M. Smith Scholarship Frank & Louise Fischer (Sahr Award) Flynn Family Scholarship Kenneth E. Raschke Memorial Scholarship Winkler/Lovre Family Law P. Daniel & Laura Donohue Scholarship Law School General Alan Cross Tax Scholarship Law School Honors Scholarship Everett A. Bogue Memorial Law Scholarship Roy E. Willy-Law George Applegate Scholarship J.Timon Burke Memorial Scholarship The Honorable Peder K. Ecker Memorial Scholarship Fund M. Plin Beebe Memorial Scholarship Alan Bogue Memorial Law Awards & Scholarship George Jonathan Danforth Memorial Law Scholarship Francis J. Dillon Law School Fund Levi B., W.W. & Louis B. French Memorial Scholarship Edward Hope Marshall, Alice & Francis McKusick Thomas Sterling Eleanor Keuter Law Scholarship Mary W. Hanson-Law School Professor Frank J. and Ruth Ann Slagle Scholarship Irlbeck/Housker Law School Faculty Business Law & Tax USD Law School State Bar Hannah Anderson UCC Prize Alan L. Austin Bangs, McCullen, Butler, Foye & Simmons Joseph H. Barnett Memorial Justice Frank Biegelmeier Andrew & Elizabeth Bogue Law Student Scholarship William F. Brady Memorial Scholarship Joseph M. Butler Scholarship Dwight Campbell Memorial Gary G. Colbath, Sr. Costello, Porter, Hill, Nelson Heisterkamp & Bushnell Fred & Luella Cozad Scholarship George J. Danforth, Jr. Memorial Law Scholarship James E. Doyle Scholarship Justice James M. Doyle Scholarship Elinor M. & Robert E. Driscoll, Jr. Mary L. Drury Ellsworth E. Evans Memorial Hubbard Freemont Fellows Scholarship Clark. Y. Gunderson Memorial Edwin J. Hadd Law School Scholarship Roland W. Hagemann Prize in Water Law Philo I. Hall Herbert A. Heidepriem Memorial Scholarship 34 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER George L. Hirschbach Law Library/John F. Hagemann Book Fred J. Homeyer Scholarship Preben C. & Christine Hvistendahl Horace R. & Dorothy L. Jackson Award John Wesley Jackson Outstanding Faculty Award E.O. Jones, B.C. Matthews & E.G. Jones Memorial Library John W. Larson/Delta Theta Phi Mary J. Leamy H. Lauren Lewis Law School Enrichment H. Lauren Lewis Faculty Development Robert B. & Kevin E. Looby Scholarship Kelton S. Lynn Scholarship Sam Masten Award William R. McCann Memorial Scholarship McKusick Law Library Judith & Mark Meierhenry Family Lyman & Lucille Melby Brian B. Meyer Scholarship George S. Mickelson Law School Scholarship George T. Mickelson Law School Scholarship Ruth M. West & Lloyd R. Moses McKusick Law Library Ruth M. West & Lloyd R. Moses Scholarship Theodore R. Muenster, Jr. Judge Fred Nichol Memorial Scholarship Michael F. Pieplow Scholarship Thomas E. Poe, Jr. Law Library Research Assistant Donald I. Porter Memorial Scholarship Kurt Preszler Memorial Gene E. Pruitt Scholarship Susie Radigan Memorial Roy K. Rietz Scholarship Riter Family Memorial Scholarship Max Royhl Memorial William K. Sahr Law School Foundation Scholarship M.Q. & Emily Sharpe and Lorena Sharpe Leedy Scholarship Donald R. Shultz Stanley E. Siegel Memorial Scholarship Harry & Marie Siver Scholarship Deming Smith Memorial Marion R. Smyser Jurist-In-Residence Program Cindy Spears Memorial Georgiabelle & Erwin Stainbrook State Bar RPPT Law Award W. Richard Stengel Research Scholarship Gayla Gull Worthington Memorial Native American Law Students Association Leslie C. & Gertrude L. Winters Scholarship Jerry Norgren Environmental Law Scholarship Harvey J. & Alwayne B. Gunderson Law Teaching Associate Dean Sorensen Retires Associate Dean Tom Sorensen retired in December 2013 after more than 13 years at the USD School of Law and 20 years with the State of South Dakota. Among the areas of service and contribution to USD and the School of Law were Sorensen’s oversight of academic affairs, policy and support; media, public and alumni relations; student recruitment; and as director of the summer externship law course. “You could say I have enjoyed the aspects and duties of being ‘number one’ to two ‘captains,’ Barry Vickrey and Tom Geu, in our service to students and the profession here,” said Sorensen. “I have also been fortunate to work closely with Assistant Dean Angela Ericson, the excellent faculty, and a very special group of staff members. “A couple of my closest friends still tease me sometimes and ask ‘you’re associate dean of what?’ and it reminds me how lucky I have been to work with all of these interesting, talented and intelligent people,” he said. “Add that I had opportunities to rub shoulders with and serve justices, judges, great guest speakers, members of the bars, and alums and I’m really humbled. I am absolutely honored to have been included in this professional and friendly community.” Prior to his service in the legal profession, Sorensen’s work spanned two decades in various positions in the region as a radio news director and journalist, often moderating political debates and other public panel discussions. Sorensen briefly practiced law with Bogue, Weeks & Collier on Main Street Vermillion, including serving as deputy city attorney. Before law school, he had served two terms as an alderman on the Vermillion City Council and spent more than two decades in broadcast journalism. Sorensen had served as news and public affairs director for KSOO radio in Sioux Falls, WDAY radio in Fargo, N.D. and South Dakota Public Broadcasting radio (KUSD radio) in Vermillion. He also worked as a news writer for the Associated Press in Bismarck, N.D. before returning to Vermillion. During those years he was elected four times as president of the South Dakota Associated Press Broadcasters and served one term as president of the Sioux Falls Area Press Association. “Dean Sorensen is a very loyal USD alumnus and a tireless advocate for the School of Law and for its students,” Dean Tom Geu said. “I have always valued his talents as an effective communicator and important and knowledgeable representative of the Law School.” Sorensen is a native of Vermillion and received his B.L.S. with a minor emphasis in Native American studies, including Lakota language, and J.D. degrees at USD. Upon returning to Vermillion in the mid-1980s, Sorensen rejoined the fire department as an active member and certified instructor. He had served as a medic in the 730th Medical Company Clearing (field hospital), South Dakota National Guard, honorably discharged in 1978. Sorensen and his wife, Mary, have three grown daughters and three grandchildren. Winter 2013/14 | 35 Gratitude and the Sounds of Silence A university capital campaign is an interesting animal. Its components emerge from a laborious assessment of needs and feasibility. Once the most critical and achievable objectives are identified, the campaign rolls into an oddly labeled “silent phase.” That’s when people like me talk openly about leadership opportunities and momentum in the build up to the “public phase.” The transition to the public phase of a capital campaign is special because it’s the point at which campaign leaders stand celebrated and united, poised to influence others to demonstrate their own commitment and leadership. A large campaign lasts several years, mostly in some form of a public phase. The beauty of such an ambitious undertaking is that lives and institutions are changed forever. I hope it’s an open secret at this point that the USD School of Law is in the silent phase of Onward: The Campaign for South Dakota, the first major campaign in the law school’s 112-year history. Law school needs total roughly $19 million, and private investment will enhance these areas: 1.Scholarships ($5 million) — Even with comparatively low tuition and fee costs, 90 percent of USD law students must borrow money. In 2012, the median debt of graduating students was roughly $54,000. 2.Program Enrichment ($500,000) — Co-curricular activities provide students important opportunities to customize their education and find their passion. The law school seeks support to better fund, sustain and expand these programs. 3.Endowed Chairs & Professorships ($1.5 million) — Students realize their potential when inspired by highly qualified professors. With a wave of faculty retirements on the horizon, funding is needed now to help attract and retain quality teachers. 4.Construction/Renovation ($12 million) — Construction and renovation at the 32-year-old law school building will create the attractive, high-tech and functional learning environment beneficial to both students and the public they will serve. Naming rights are available for the school of law, school of law building, law library, courtroom, offices and classrooms. As we move toward a projected public phase launch of October 2014, I invite you to join the ranks of leaders like Orrin Estebo ‘71, whose $1 million gift will add common space to our law school; Carlyle Richards ’60 and his wife, Sheila, whose $100,000 gift will address general law school needs; the law firm of Johnson, Heidepriem & Abdallah, whose $125,000 pledge created a trial advocacy fellowship; and the law firm of Cutler & Donahoe, whose $125,000 endowed gift established a teaching award that will annually reward deserving law faculty. The Onward South Dakota campaign presents real challenges and real opportunities. It belongs to all alumni and friends of the USD School of Law, providing an unprecedented opportunity to leave a lasting legacy and, most importantly, open doors for very talented and deserving students. Demonstrate your leadership. Whether it’s through a multi-year cash pledge, revocable estate pledge or a more sophisticated planned giving vehicle, the USD Foundation is prepared to bring your philanthropic vision to fruition. Please contact me at [email protected] or 605-670-4256 with any questions, concerns or ideas. Thank you so much for your ongoing support! Will you be at our side when October 2014 arrives? Nick A. Kotzea, ‘04 B.S., ‘08 J.D. Director of Development USD School of Law Current-fund annual gifts are crucial to the everyday operations of our law school. They are the primary funding source for student programming. These gifts are initiated by donors and solicited by the USD Foundation’s Annual Giving staff. FY2010: 219 unique donors FY2011: 217 unique donors 36 | SOUTH DAKOTAN LAWYER $73,516.10 $82,431.28 FY2012: 210 unique donors FY2013: 227 unique donors $65,431.65 $74,719.28 Law School Advisory Council Mary A. Akkerman 2nd Circuit Thomas C. Barnett, Jr. Ex-Officio (State Bar Exec. Sec.) Heather Lammers Bogard 4th Circuit Pamela R. Bollweg Ex-Officio (LS Committee Chair) Kent Cutler At-Large Dennis L. Duncan 1st Circuit Thomas H. Frieberg Ex-Officio (Bar Pres.–Elect) Richard L. Ericsson 3rd Circuit William C. Garry 2nd Circuit Thomas E. Geu Ex-Officio (LS Dean) Hon. David Gilbertson Ex-Officio (SCSD Chief) Marilyn J. Hagberg At-Large Brian Hagg 7th Circuit Robert E. Hayes At-Large Terry L. Hofer Ex-Officio (Bar Pres.) Karen Paige Hunt Secretary 4th Circuit Nick A. Kotzea Ex-Officio (non-voting, USD Foundation) Chad C. Nelson 3rd Circuit Reed A. Rasmussen VP 5th Circuit Robert C. Ritter, Jr. 6th Circuit Not pictured: Joseph Ashley Parr 7th Circuit Lisa Z. Rothschadl 1st Circuit William M. Van Camp, Jr. 6th Circuit Roy A. Wise, President 5th Circuit SCHOOL OF LAW 414 East Clark Street • Vermillion, SD 57069-2390 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID ABPC
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