In the past day much has been spoken and written
about Dick Gregerson’s passing away Monday night. Dick was a respected
community leader in South Dakota for over fifty years. He was well known, as
were his accomplishments.
To those who knew him he had a great sense of
humor.
His humor is the centerpiece of one of my best
political stories.
In 1985, Vice President Bush came to Sioux Falls
to campaign on behalf of U S Senator Jim Abdnor who was running for re election
in 1986 against then lone South Dakota U S Representative Tom Daschle. The
rally with the V P was being held in the old Sioux Falls Coliseum on Main
Avenue with a high dollar fundraiser at the downtown Holiday Inn
afterwards.
About a week before the event, the political
advance man from the Vice President’s office contacted me, as State GOP chair
to have lunch and discuss the political climate in South Dakota. He wanted
background for Vice President Bush’s remarks. I asked if the Minnehaha
Republican Chairman could join us. The advance man readily agreed. The
Minnehaha Chairman was Dick Gregerson.
At lunch, I explained the political climate was one
issue – The Ag Crisis. Since the agricultural issue was not on the national
radar, Mr. Advance Man seemed clueless and in disbelief.
At this point Dick stepped in to explain South
Dakota politics. He said for the previous four years he had served in the South
Dakota State Senate where he was the only Attorney, though there were many
Farmers and Ranchers. As a result, South Dakota laws generally are favorable to
the Agriculture Industry.
Dick said his District in central Sioux Falls was
the only one of the thirty-five in the entire State not containing a farm or
ranch. In fact he had a Zero percent voting record from the South Dakota
Farmer’s Union.
In the prior two or three years the Legislature
had empaneled a Joint House and Senate Committee to study and rewrite the
Criminal Code. Attorney Gregerson was one of only two (if I remember correctly)
Attorneys on the Committee. There were however many Farmers and Ranchers.
At the meeting when the Death Penalty was reviewed, Dick said he made a motion to exempt those working in agriculture
from the Death Penalty. He said without any hesitation the motion was seconded
with several members chiming in, it was a good idea.
(The motion was later withdrawn and removed from the record.)
Indeed he will be missed.
