Harvey Wollman, former SD governor, teacher, 'citizen-legislator,' dies at 87

Oct. 19—SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Harvey Wollman, who served as the 26th governor of South Dakota, died of natural causes on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at the age of 87, his family announced.

Wollman joined the 1974 Democratic ticket as lieutenant governor to Richard Kneip, becoming governor in 1978 when Kneip was appointed ambassador to Singapore.

Wollman was sworn into office by his older brother Roger Wollman, who was then the chief justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court.

In 2017, Wollman was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in recognition of a lifetime of local, state and national service.

As a soft piano played to let Wollman know the allotted time for his acceptance

speech

was coming to an end, he finished by giving the crowd a message of hope.

"We live in a great state. Its blessings outweigh its problems," Wollman said. "Its future will be determined by the actions of ordinary citizens like you and me."

Wollman was born on May 14, 1935, and grew up on his family's farm in Spink County. He graduated from Doland High School in 1953 as a standout student, debater and baritone soloist before earning a degree in business administration from Huron College.

He met Anne Geigel, his wife of 63 years, while the two were members of the Huron College Choir.

After finishing school, Wollman served a two-year stint in the U.S. Army before teaching American government and history at Doland High School, where he coached the debate team to three state championships.

In 1968, Wollman ran successfully for the state senate, where he served three consecutive terms. Wollman sponsored bills creating the medical school at the University of South Dakota, the South Dakota Housing development Authority and the South Dakota Investment Council, which put state assets under professional management for the first time.

"A handsome young man applied and talked to us about basis points, arbitrage and other fancy investment terms. And we agreed this guy knows more than we do, so let's give him a shot." Wollman recalled during his induction speech to the state hall of fame, eliciting laughs from the crowd.

After leaving the governor's office, he was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to be a civilian aide to the secretary of the Army. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Huron College among a handful of other posts in education and medicine.

In his free time, Wollman spent six decades flying single and twin-engine airplanes. According to his family, during Wollman's time as governor, he rented the old state airplane, a twin-engine Beech Bonanza, and hired Chief Pilot Don Octane to instruct him in how to fly it.

After news of Wollman's death broke on Wednesday, Oct. 19, several people involved in South Dakota politics reacted with memories of Wollman.

Among them was Tony Venhuizen, a former chief of staff to Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Gov. Kristi Noem, called Wollman a "consummate citizen-legislator." Venhuizen, who runs a website on the history of South Dakota governors,

published

a wide-ranging account of Wollman's life and work upon news of his death.

Jamie Smith, who is running to be the first Democrat in the governor's office since Wollman, wrote the state had "lost a treasure in Harvey Wollman today."

Gov. Noem wrote that Wollman "stood up and answered the call of duty, stepping into the role of Governor at a difficult time" for South Dakota. Noem also announced that flags would fly at half-staff until Wollman's funeral.

Wollman is survived by his wife, three children and seven grandchildren. Funeral services will be announced at a later time.

Jason Harward is a

Report for America

corps reporter who writes about state politics in South Dakota. Contact him at

605-301-0496

or

jharward@forumcomm.com.