Jack and "The War"

The airing of Ken Burns' The War on PBS this month stirred memories of my friend Jack Shelley.

For just about anyone around today who lived a decade or more in Iowa during the 1900s, Jack Shelley is a familiar name. Born in 1912 near Boone, Iowa, Jack is as close as you get to being a "living legend.”

A journalist of the first order, Jack's career with WHO radio and television in Des Moines was punctuated with historic broadcasts of World War Two. From live broadcasts at the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 to covering the Japanese surrender ceremonies aboard the USS Missouri in 1945, Jack reported from a variety of war venues. After the war, he served as News Director at WHO-AM-TV for some 25 years.

Fortunately for a new generation of aspiring broadcast journalists, Jack moved from the newsroom to the classroom in 1965, accepting an appointment to the faculty at Iowa State University in Ames. By 1969, when I was News Director at KMA in Shenandoah, Iowa, I had become acquainted with Jack through the Iowa Broadcasters Association. That was a factor in my return to Ames in 1970 to pursue a Masters degree in Journalism. Jack Shelley was my major professor.

In 1982, Jack retired from his second career as a college professor -- but not before touching the lives and positively influencing hundreds if not thousands of young men and women. What a tremendous career this gentleman has had.

In the 1990s, he was a staunch opponent of WOI-TV being sold by the university and was rather outspoken on the topic. While the sale occurred anyway, it didn't diminish Jack's capacity for being active and involved in the community and across campus. While his pace has slowed a bit -- at 95 years of age, he's entitled!

To capture a bit of his remarkable careers as a broadcaster and educator, I heartily recommend Robert Underhill's excellent book, Jack Shelley and the News (McMillen Publishing, Ames, IA 2002). Last I heard, Jack was still giving weekly news reports at Rotary meetings in Ames, but his good friend and long-time colleague Bill Kunerth tells me that Jack has recently had a few setbacks with his health. We'll hope it's only temporary!

And then, there's Bill Kunerth, but that's a story for another day.

Fair winds and following seas to a good friend and mentor, Jack Shelley.

South Dakota Hall of Fame

If you weren’t among the several hundred people in Chamberlain last weekend (September 7-8) for the South Dakota Hall of Fame ceremonies, you missed a real treat!

Thirteen remarkable South Dakotans were inducted into the 2007 Hall of Fame. I was there because I had nominated Charles “Eddie” Clay of Hot Springs, one of the inductees, and this was one of the most moving experiences of my life.

What motivates people to give back to their communities? How do they do it? Why? There are as many answers as there are inductees – and I’m finding out that there’s no shortage of truly generous and caring people in South Dakota. Hearing their stories is a wonderfully moving experience. One thing they all shared: a deep and abiding love for South Dakota.

The Hall of Fame was established back in 1974 to recognize and honor pioneers and outstanding leaders from all walks of life who have contributed to the development and heritage of our state. The Hall is located in Chamberlain and is a “must see” site for all South Dakotans. Learn more at their web site.

Thanks to Judd Lindquist, the staff, and many volunteers who hosted the event this year. While a Friday evening reception took place at the Hall of Fame itself, all other activities were at the beautiful Cedar Shore Resort on the west bank of the Missouri River in Oacoma.

I hope you take time to browse through a few of the photographs of the Hall of Fame activities. More importantly, I hope you’ll make plans to attend future gatherings – and plan to be inspired!

Eddie Clay honored

by Larry Miller

During weekend ceremonies on September 7-8, 2007, Charles "Eddie" Clay of Hot Springs, was among 13 outstanding citizens inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame. It was an impressive event, and I was delighted to be among the hundreds of attendees who enjoyed learning about these great folks and getting acquainted with many of them. But it was especially great to visit with Eddie and Clara Clay and family members who attended.

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I’ve known Eddie Clay since 1985, when he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors that governs South Dakota Public Broadcasting. I was Deputy Executive Director of the network, and I was among the many staff members who looked up to Eddie and admired his professionalism, his wisdom, and his sage advice.

Their daughter, Bobbi Kennedy, and I conspired many months ago to nominate Eddie for the Hall of Fame, and we were overjoyed that he made it the first year he was nominated!

Eddie was born in 1922 in Stahl, Missouri and moved to Eldora, Iowa at an early age. After graduating from high school in 1940, he enlisted in the military and served with the 8th Air Force in the Pacific. Assignment to Ellsworth Air Force Base allowed him to meet and marry the love of his life, Clara May Hagen – shown in this picture with Eddie and their daughter Bobbi Kennedy. Eddie and Clara owned and operated Fall River Abstract for 43 years. And all who know Eddie and Clara know that theirs is a true “partnership” in all that they do in life.

A tireless worker in civic affairs, Eddie has provided vision and leadership to the Mount Rushmore Society, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, the Mammoth Site at Hot Springs, and numerous other organizations.

His service in the legislature and on Boards of Directors for many educational, tourism and arts organizations has been remarkable. A Mason for 50 years, Eddie Clay has been a role model for me and many South Dakotans. In addition to daughter Bobbi, the Clays have four grandchildren and four great children.

I was delighted to meet those family members able to attend the ceremony, along with friends from Hot Springs. I’ve posted a few photographs of the Hall of Fame event. More will be added in the coming days. Well done to the Hall of Fame staff for putting together a terrific program – and for having the good sense to elect Charles “Eddie” Clay as a 2007 inductee! For a glimpse of all inductees into the 2007 South Dakota Hall of Fame, visit our Hall of Fame Gallery at Galey Media.

Kunerth on Public Service

This piece was authored by our good friend Bill F. Kunerth of Belle Fourche. Originally published March 12, 2007, it's a timely topic worth re-visiting.

I recently attended a presentation by Rep. Stephanie Herseth at Black Hills State University in which she did an excellent job of outlining the current political situation and offering her well-thought-out positions on significant issues. Included was a plea for greater participation in civic activities by our youth.

As a retired educator with 35 years under my belt, I could not agree with her more.I tossed out a suggestion to her and the audience, an idea that I think should be more fully exploited in our educational system, especially in high schools, colleges and universities.It involves the formal incorporation of community and public service components into the curricula of secondary schools and higher education institutions. I realize that students at every college and university, and most high schools are involved in such activities, often as a part of their course work. Black Hills State is proposing a major community service effort for the coming school year to the South Dakota Board of Regents.

However, what I am suggesting is that such activity be required of all students.Most of us, at some point in our lives, become involved in community service, but too often it is later in life when our families are well along and we are somewhat secure financially. In fact, the sooner we become involved in such work, the more we realize its self and public benefits. And after our first venture, we tend to continue and increase these activities.

Although such programs can be, and are established locally, there is a national organization, Campus Compact, which for more than 20 years has worked with institutions of higher education - from community colleges to major research universities - in helping them implement community service initiatives. Campus Compact is "committed to educating students for responsible citizenship in ways that both deepen their learning and improve the quality of community life."Students involved in these programs work in such areas as health, literacy, hunger, homelessness, care of the elderly, voting, and the environment.Only one South Dakota university, the School of Mines, is a member of Campus Compact. There are two colleges in Nebraska, three in North Dakota, 15 in Montana, 17 in Iowa, and 47 in Minnesota that are members. Its dues are based on enrollment and are easily affordable for most schools.

I think it's worth looking into for the administrators, faculty and students of South Dakota's private and public institutions of higher education. If it hasn't already, the South Dakota Board of Regents should consider this approach.A comprehensive and compelling package of information is available by typing in "Campus Compact" on your browser.

Thanks, Bill, for allowing me to include this piece at Black Hills Monitor. By the way, Bill Kunerth is an Iowa State University Emeritus Professor of Journalism. He retired in 1988. Absent his photograph, I've posted a shot of the ISU campanile, something of a landmark at the Ames university.