In Memoriam | 2004 Inductee Dave Geisler
Class of 2004 Inductee, David A. Geisler, “Your friend by the side of the road” of Murdo passed away May 17, 2024.
South Dakota Hall of Fame Inductees inspire generations of South Dakotans. At the South Dakota Hall of Fame, we are honored to continue to uplift inductee legacies long after they have passed. Dave Geisler has had a memorable impact on South Dakota, and his legacy will continue to inspire others for generations to come. Our condolences go out to Dave’s family at this time.
Dave believed that to go forward is the only direction there is. He was a tourism pioneer known as “Your friend by the side of the road.” He became a “wheeler and dealer” at the young age of nine when he started his own bicycle sales and repair shop at his Father’s Chevy-John Deere Agency. He completed his first automobile transaction after being left alone to answer the phones.
In 1963, Dave became manager and part owner of the Murdo Motor Company and became sole owner in 1967. He took the business from 15 car sales a year to several hundred. At age 26, Dave was the youngest Ford Dealer in the Twin Cities District. He played a role in helping the Pioneer Auto Show and Museum in Murdo grow to over 30 buildings with hundreds of automobiles.
Dave was an active member of the Murdo Chamber of Commerce and the South Dakota Tourism Board, West Central Electric's board of directors, and the board of Genesis of Innovation. He was a founding member of the Black Hills Central Reservations and the Visitor Industry Alliance.
Dave Geisler was also a longtime advocate for tourism in South Dakota, especially in the Black Hills area. In 1986, he received the prestigious Ben Black Elk Award for his promotion of tourism in South Dakota.