Legend Carole Hillard

Humanitarian & First Female Lieutenant Governor | 2007 INDUCTEE

Carole Hillard was born in Deadwood, South Dakota, in 1936, and she lived an amazing life full of helping others and making big changes. She started by helping her local community in Rapid City, first on the City Council and then in the South Dakota House of Representatives. She even became the first and only female Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota, working with Governor Bill Janklow for eight years. 

But Carole didn't stop there; she cared deeply about people who needed help. She helped create important places like a women's shelter in Rapid City and the Cornerstone Rescue Mission. She also worked with organizations that looked after children and charities in South Dakota. 

Carole's passion to make a difference went beyond South Dakota. She traveled to 63 countries as a consultant, helping to build democracies and make positive changes in places that needed it. Her son, Todd, said she was brave and always wanted to live life to the fullest. Carole Hillard showed that with dedication and kindness, one person can make a big difference in the world. 

Road to the Lieutenant Governor

  • Graduated from the University of Arizona, in with a bachelor’s degree in education.

  • Earned a master's degree in education from South Dakata State University.

  • Earned a second master's degree in political science at the University of South Dakota.

  • Her first political experience was serving on the Rapid City Common Council.

    She served as President 1988 & 1989.

  • Elected to two terms in the South Dakota House of Representatives from Rapid City.

  • Hillard, a Republican, was elected as Lieutenant Governor .

  • Re-elected as Lieutenant Governor as the running mate of Bill Janklow and served from 1995 to 2003.

South Dakota’s First Female Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor is the highest officer in a state government after the Governor. The Lieutenant Governor takes on the responsibility of being Governor if the Governor travels out of the state. If the Governor gets sick or dies, the Lieutenant Governor becomes the Governor. The Lieutenant Governor also serves on the Governor's team and is included in important discussions and provides opinions on topics to help the Governor decide what to do. 

As Lieutenant Governor, Carole assisted Governor Bill Janklow. She also attended meetings and met with government officials all over the United States. 

Humanitarian

Carol wanted to make life better for people all over the world.

Shortly after the end of the Bosnian War in 1997, Carola worked for the Peace Corps and traveled to Bosnia to help ensure the elections were free and fair.

Carole eventually traveled to more than 60 countries working for the United States State Department and other organizations where she trained leaders in how democracy works, helped people set up small businesses, brought resources to the the poor, and advocated for woman’s rights.

Cornerstone Rescue Mission

Carole was a compassionate person and wanted to help those less fortunate than herself, so she helped establish the Cornerstone Rescue Mission and the Rapid City Woman’s Shelter.

The Cornerstone Rescue Mission serves more than 500 people in Rapid City every day as they work to help them become more self-sufficient.

The shelter is the only place where people in the Black Hills can continually get free meals. The Rescue provides places for homeless men, woman, and children to live temporarily.

Sense of Adventure

Carole had an adventurous spirit and was always up for a new challenge. Things you might not expect this professional woman to have done are:

Became a...

  • Private pilot

  • Licensed scuba diver

  • Skilled skier

  • Experienced horsewoman

  • Certified Red Cross disaster damage assessment team leader

She also...

  • Fished for piranhas in the Amazon

  • Tracked mountain gorillas in Uganda

  • Hang glided in Brazil

  • Bungee jumped over Victoria Falls in Zambia

  • Went sky diving with U.S. Air Force Golden Knights

  • Flew in an F-16 fighter jet with the South Dakota Air National Guard.

In addition to all of this, Carole and her husband, John Hillard, raised five children. Carole was a "stay-at-home-mom" until her husband John, retired in 1982. Carole was also an important part of her grandchildren's lives. 

Reflection:

 

  • Carole was described as a humanitarian, what does it mean to be a humanitarian?

  • Carole was South Dakota’s first female Lieutenant Governor. Why is that important?

  • What leadership characteristics do you think Carole Hillard possessed?

  • Carole believed education was very important and had a great deal of compassion for her fellow human beings. How do you think these two factors influenced her leadership skills?

  • Carol purposely set out to live a full and meaningful life by embracing challenges professionally and personally.

    • How does the way Carole embraced life inspire you?