Giving Back: Inductees in Philanthropy
Philanthropy in South Dakota builds communities, shapes futures, and saves lives. We are honored to have inducted individuals into the South Dakota Hall of Fame who have made lasting impacts through their charitable actions. From artists to multi-generational companies, these inductees have helped shape South Dakota into a state as unique as its topography. Below are just some of the many philanthropic South Dakotans inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.
Thomas Louis Lillibridge: Giving Back to the State He Loved
Thomas Louis Lillibridge was a passionate advocate for the state of South Dakota. Four words that come to mind regarding Tom are legacy, leadership, influence, and philanthropy. He served as Co-Chairman of his family’s First Fidelity Bank in Burke, with branches in Bonesteel, Colome, Gregory, Murdo, Platte, and Winner. Thomas also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Sioux Falls and the National Music Museum Board at the University of South Dakota (USD). With a love of nature, he served on the board of the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Foundation. Tom was a President of the South Dakota Heritage Fund board and a former board member of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Preserve South Dakota, and the Great Lakes of South Dakota Association. His philanthropy made a positive impact throughout the state.
John Green: An accomplished Wildlife Artist
A lifelong resident of the Madison, South Dakota area, John C. Green earned recognition in the art community through his faithful rendition of outdoor and scenic images that capture the spirit of his native state. An accomplished wildlife artist, John's work has raised over $3 million for Ducks Unlimited and other conservation organizations through the sale of his prints and original artwork at fundraising banquets throughout the nation. This feat has earned him lifetime memberships in Ducks Unlimited in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. His work has also benefited Pro Pheasants, who recognized his philanthropy by naming a newly formed wildlife production area after John.
Joy Nelson: Giving Back to Special Needs
Joy Nelson is passionate about many things, but she is best known for giving back to her community by helping people with special needs through Joy Ranch. Nelson realized the blessings bestowed on her were meant to be shared. As more people came to visit, she realized her ranch was a special place, and it needed to be made more broadly available. She saw how horses interacted with military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and how they responded to children with disabilities or autism. So she decided to donate the nearly 100-acre ranch to Lutherans Outdoors of South Dakota and was a force in raising the money to expand Joy Ranch.
Walter Panzirer: Impacting the Lives of South Dakotans Through Philanthropy
Walter Panzirer would have been content spending his life serving as a law enforcement officer and a volunteer paramedic and firefighter. But fate led to a higher calling; a calling that has impacted the lives of nearly everyone in South Dakota. When Walter’s grandmother, hotel magnate Leona Helmsley passed away, she named Walter one of five trustees who were charged with improving lives by creating programs funded by Leona’s fortune. Walter created the Rural Healthcare Program for the Helmsley Charitable Trust, which operates in South Dakota and six other states. He knew from firsthand experience that people living in rural areas don’t always have access to the best medical services. His impact has saved lives and improved healthcare for nearly every South Dakotan.
Sue Brown: Giving Back as a Family Tradition
Sue Brown considered it her fate to have lived in one of the nation’s most generous areas. Although she grew up in Geneseo, Ill., her philanthropic parents had ties to South Dakota. “Doc” Farber, a long-time family friend, introduced her to her future husband, Richard E. “Dick” Brown, a Dell Rapids native. Together, they raised a family of three in Sioux Falls. There, Sue served her community as an elected member of the Sioux Falls Board and through leadership at more than a dozen nonprofits focusing on education, women’s issues, housing, and community development. She, along with her husband Dick, helped raise millions for various projects, including the creation of Good Earth State Park at Blood Run near Sioux Falls and Harrisburg as well as the Outdoor Campus in Rapid City.
Jeff Scherschligt: a top community leader
Under Jeffry Scherschligt’s leadership, the Howalt+McDowell Insurance company achieved a broad range of industry and community recognitions, like the Sioux Falls Business Journal Top 10 Leaders. By applying the lessons of hard work, professionalism, financial acumen for growth, profitability, and the mantra “Client is King,” Howalt grew from a solid base to a regional leader in its field. The love of the outdoors, the environment, and wildlife led Jeff to partner with his dad to start and grow “Armour Hunters Haven” into a South Dakota wildlife mecca with over 1,000 acres of habitat preserved and maintained by Jeff, his family, and friends.
Do you know an individual who has helped shape South Dakota in a positive way? You can nominate them for induction into the SD Hall of Fame in 2023. Click here for more information, and submission guidelines.