Here are bios of the 11 people being inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2025:
Johnny Brockelsby (also known as Johnny B) is an advocate for South Dakota tourism, especially in the Black Hills region. He is the public relations director of Reptile Gardens, which his family founded in 1935. He co-founded the Tourism Coalition of South Dakota, previously the South Dakota Visitor Industry Alliance and has served on the Governor’s Tourism Advisory Board.
Greg Carmon is a philanthropist from Brandon. He founded Midwest Railcar and Repair and, in his hometown of De Smet, worked to support tourism through the Sculpture Trail. Carmon helped found the Build Dakota scholarship program, which works to fill the labor gap in South Dakota. He’s also supported philanthropic efforts for the Arc of Dreams in Sioux Falls and the Special Olympics.
Dr. Mark Harlow is the chief medical officer at Oyate Health Center on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, selected by the center and the Great Plains Tribal Health Chairmen’s Board. He formerly worked with Black Hills Spine Center as an orthopedic surgeon. Harlow is known for his far-reaching philanthropy efforts, which include a health care scholarship for Native American students and his co-founding of the Rapid City Flame Special Olympics program.
Michael Huether is the former mayor of Sioux Falls, where he served two consecutive terms. Prominent projects launched during his tenure include the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, the Midco Aquatic Center and the Levitt Shell. Post-mayorship, Huether contributes to the community through the Huether Foundation and the Mike Huether Public Service Academy, a program within the School of American and Global Studies at South Dakota State University.
Dr. John A. Ismay hails from Bison and has spent his career making significant advancements in the field of veterinary science. Ismay is known for holding a patent that removes bladder stones in equine animals. Ismay now owns and operates Sturgis Veterinary Hospital and Equine Center, which he purchased in 1971. He’s also the co-founder of Mixed Animal Veterinary Associates North America (MAVANA).
Robert A. Miller was named chief justice of South Dakota in 1990 after serving on the South Dakota Supreme Court since 1986. During his tenure, he worked to repair relationships between state and tribal courts and opened court proceedings to the public. He retired from the court in 2001 and chaired the U.S. State Justice Institute until 2010, which works to improve the quality of justice in state courts.
Walter Schaefer from Winfred was the executive director of McCrossan Boys Ranch at Sioux Falls for 28 years. The ranch uses horse therapy to reach out to boys between the age of 11 and 20. Schaefer, a longtime horse breeder and exhibiter, was appointed a wagon master of the South Dakota Centennial Wagon Train, which celebrated the state’s 100th anniversary with a 350-wagon train that traversed the state. He, along with McCrossan Boys Ranch, also participated in the country-wide Bicentennial Wagon Train in 1976.
David Wayne Snyder co-founded D&D Farms after serving as a U.S. Army officer. He also was the executive director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, which helped to create the Sanford Underground Research Facility at the former Homestake Mine in Lead. Snyder contributed to the Mickelson Trail project that spans from Deadwood to Edgemont in the 1990s via donations and a “sell the bridges” campaign.
Jim Soyer worked in public service under four South Dakota governors and U.S. Sen. Larry Pressler as well as former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson. His career in public service spanned 44 years. During that time, he was chief of staff, press secretary, a legislative director and, until his death in 2021, was a member of U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds' staff. Some of Soyer’s prominent work included working on the Internet Crimes Against Children program and fundraising leadership for South Dakota’s Centennial Celebration.
Dr. Sophie Two Hawk was the first Indigenous person to graduate from the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine in 1987. She has since worked as a physician, clinical director and chief executive officer at Indian Health Service (IHS) clinics throughout South Dakota. She is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. All three of Two Hawk’s daughters are currently working toward medical careers of their own at USD.
Valentine McGillycuddy is the first historical figure to be inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame as part of the new historical figure category, which will add one inductee annually. McGillycuddy was a surgeon, Indian agent for the Pine Ridge reservation and South Dakota’s first surgeon general. He was the attending physician for Crazy Horse at his death by U.S. soldiers in 1877. McGillycuddy was often praised for his work on Native American relations, referred to as Wasicu Wakan (Holy White Man) by Chief Red Cloud.
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This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email for statewide stories. Investigative reporter Molly Wetsch is a Report for America corps member covering rural and Indigenous issues. Contact her at molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org.
