2015 ANNUAL REPORT he Trail of Governors Foundation wraps up the year 2015 with several check marks on its to-do list. The project’s fundraising Thas surpassed the halfway mark with more than $1million raised of the $2.1 million estimated for the first 30 governor statues. Since the fundraising and the entire project were stalled until after the clean-up of Pierre’s 2011 flood, this statistic is worthy of celebration. Another milepost the foundation is celebrating is that 12 statues are now in place and all but two of these are fully funded. The three governors’ likenesses unveiled on June 12, 2015 are Govs. Charles Herreid, George T. Mickelson and Richard Kneip. George T. Mickelson - 18th Governor of South Dakota 2015 Trail of Governors Annual Report Governor Charles Herreid The bronze of the state’s fourth governor, Herreid, stands tall at the corner of Pleasant Avenue and Pierre Street with his arms folded, dressed in a suit harkening back to the era when he served in the state Capitol. He is a commanding figure, as he was while presiding over our state and making an impression in the capital city as the first governor to live year-round in Pierre. Besides Pierre, Herreid called Leola, Eureka, and Aberdeen home during his lifetime, and the town of Herreid is named in his honor. He was fortunate to hold the reins during a time of economic prosperity in South Dakota and artist John Lopez somehow managed to portray that sense of confidence and success in his bronze. “We are confident a donor will step forward to honor Gov. Herreid. He provided valuable leadership for South Dakota as well as Dakota Territory and McPherson County.” ~ Foundation President Rick Jensen Charles Herreid - 4th Governor of South Dakota A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors. 2015 Trail of Governors Annual Report Governor George T. Mickelson Gov. George T. Mickelson graces the Capitol grounds along Nicollet Avenue. He was and still is – thanks to artist James Michael Maher – a sharp dresser in a double-breasted suit with two-toned shoes. He’s wearing a big grin and has a long stride as a tall man. At first glance it seems as though he’s about to cross the street, having left the Capitol building for the day. He most certainly looked just like that, at that exact same spot, 65 years ago. Looking at the face of our 18th governor, those who knew his son George S. can spot some of the same facial features, the grace and easy humor both possessed. Little did George T. know that his son with the interesting middle name of Speaker would follow in his footsteps as the state’s chief executive officer. “Our family has many wonderful memories of living or hearing of stories about life in the Governor’s Residence with my father. We wanted to honor him.” ~ Donor Patricia Mickelson Adam George T. Mickelson - 18th Governor of South Dakota A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors. 2015 Trail of Governors Annual Report Governor Richard Kneip Gov. Kneip is located along Broadway Avenue near Capitol Lake. He’s within a couple of blocks from the Kneip office building that also honors him. His bronze features the 25th governor smiling, standing with his hand outstretched as so many remember the charismatic leader. One detail appreciated by many who knew him well is a replica of the large Black Hills Gold ring he wore. Artists Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby surprised the Kneip family members by having additional copies of the ring made and bronzed. They then distributed these to Kneip’s sons during the family’s and friends’ celebration held the weekend of the unveiling. Gov. Kneip would have enjoyed the weekend gathering held in his honor in June. “Gov. Kneip was so important to me as mentor. It was an honor to contribute to the statue memorializing him and to encourage others to do likewise.” ~ Donor Rich Garry Richard Kneip - 25th Governor of South Dakota A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors. 2015 Trail of Governors Annual Report Endowment Fund The foundation established an endowment fund in 2014 for funds to help with the statues’ maintenance and future needs. A total of 32 contributions were made in memory of Gov. Walter D. Miller who died Sept. 28, 2015, and First Lady Patri- cia Farrar who died on Oct. 31, 2015. These contributions raised $11,630 and are acknowledged on the Trail’s website. George S. Mickelson 8th Governor of South Dakota Looking to 2016 The Trail of Governors Foundation now focuses on the next three governors to be cast in bronze: 13th Gov. Warren Green, 23rd Gov. Nils Boe, and 31st Gov. M. Mi- chael Rounds. The unveiling is planned for June 2016 in the Capitol Rotunda. Our Donors The foundation’s official fundraising total was $1,062,857.20 on Dec. 31, 2015. Fourteen statues are fully funded or pledged, one is one-quarter funded, and 15 require full funding. The South Dakota Community Foundation provides fund guidance and all donations to the non-profit are tax-deductible. Donors contribut- ing one-quarter of a statue ($17,000), one-half ($34,000), three-quarters ($51,000), up to the full contribution ($68,000), receive acknowledgement on that statue’s plaque. All donors are acknowledged on the Trail’s website at www.Trailof Governors.com regardless of amount. The following list reflects the donor status for each statue along with the years that governor served in office and the year the statue was erected or is planned to Walter Dale Miller 29th Governor of South Dakota be unveiled, if established. 1st Gov. Arthur Mellette, 1889-1893 – fully funded; unveiled in 2012 2nd Gov. Charles Sheldon, 1893-1897 – donors needed 3rd Gov. Andrew Lee, 1897-1901 – donors needed 4th Gov. Charles Herreid, 1901-1905 – donors needed; unveiled in 2015 5th Gov. Samuel Elrod, 1905-1907 – donors needed A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors. 2015 Trail of Governors Annual Report 6th Gov. Coe Crawford, 1907-1909 – donors needed 7th Gov. Robert Vessey, 1909-1913 – fully funded; unveiled in 2014 8th Gov. Frank Byrne, 1913-1917 – donors needed 9th Gov. Peter Norbeck, 1917-1921 – fully funded; unveiled in 2014 10th Gov. William McMaster, 1921-1925 – donors needed 11th Gov. Carl Gunderson, 1925-1927 – donors needed William J. Janklow 12th Gov. William Bulow, 1927-1931 – donors needed 27th and 30th Governor of South Dakota 13th Gov. Warren Green, 1931-1933– fully funded; scheduled for 2016 14th Gov. Tom Berry, 1933-1937 – donors needed 15th Gov. Leslie Jensen, 1937-1939 – donors needed 16th Gov. Harlan Bushfield, 1939-1943 – fully funded; unveiled in 2012 17th Gov. Merrill Sharpe, 1943-1947 – donors needed 18th Gov. George T. Mickelson – fully funded; unveiled in 2015 19th Gov. Sigurd Anderson, 1951-1955 – donors needed 20th Gov. Joe Foss, 1955-1959 – fully funded; scheduled for 2017 21st Gov. Ralph Herseth, 1959-1961 – donors needed 22nd Gov. Archie Gubbrud, 1961-1965 – ¼ funded; donors needed 23rd Gov. Nils Boe, 1965-1969 – fully funded; scheduled for 2016 24th Gov. Frank Farrar, 1969-1971 – fully funded; unveiled in 2013 25th Gov. Richard Kneip, 1971-1978 – fully funded; unveiled in 2015 Frank Farrar 26th Gov. Harvey Wollman, – donors needed; unveiled in 2013 24th Governor of South Dakota 27th Gov. and 30th Gov. William J. Janklow – fully funded; unveiled in 2013 28th Gov. George S. Mickelson – fully funded; unveiled in 2014 29th Gov. Walter D. Miller, 1993-1995 – fully funded; unveiled in 2012 31st Gov. M. Michael Rounds, 2003-2011 – fully funded; scheduled for 2016 A vision to create a lasting legacy of South Dakota’s governors. 2015 Trail of Governors Annual Report Donors To-Date $68,000 + $10,000 + First National Bank, First Savings Bank, Capital Card Services David and Christine Billion, Sioux Falls, SD Family and Friends of William J. Janklow Joe and Kathryn Carmody, Sioux Falls, SD Bankwest/Charles Burke II, Pierre, SD Mickelson Family Fund Thomas and Kristin (Carmody) Reaves, Sioux Falls, SD $51,000 + Charles and Bonny Schroyer, Pierre, SD Leroy and Charlene Foster, Pierre, SD $5,000 + $34,000 + Karlton and Joan Adam, Pierre, SD Linda Mickelson Graham, Sioux Falls, SD Brokaw Family Foundation Gary and Connie Grittner, Fort Pierre, SD Robert and Rebecca Christen-Pohlad, Minneapolis, MN Mansour and Ruth Karim, Pierre, SD Dakota State Bank David and Rebecca Scott, Geddes, SD Mary Joe Foss Finke, Sun City West, AZ Matthew and April Smart, Pierre, SD Nancy Jahnke, Minneapolis, MN South Dakota Retailers Association Ralph “Shorty” and Maxine Jones, Midland, SD Dr. Karl and Margaret A. Cash Wegner, Sioux Falls, SD Tom and Janis Kelley Family, Sioux Falls, SD $17,000 + $2,500 + American Bank and Trust, Miller SD BankWest – Governor Arthur Mellette Alcove Thomas and Patricia Adam, Pierre, SD Msgr. James M. Doyle, Sioux Falls, SD Beck Motor Company, Pierre, SD Donald B. Garry, Sioux Falls, SD Gov. Walter D. Miller Memorial/Lance and Julie Burma, Candace and Dan Garry, Saint Paul, MN Bloomington, MN Rich and Mary Garry, Sioux Falls, SD Farm Credit Services of America Rick and Ana Jensen, Pierre, SD Dr. Frank and Pamela Foss, Mankato, MN Aaron and Renee (Miller) Johansen Family, Rapid City, SD Governor’s Inn/Leroy Foster and John Poncelet, Pierre, SD Kurt and Elisa Kneip Family, Chandler, AZ Lt. Governor Steve and Suzette Kirby, Sioux Falls, SD Robert and Joyce Kneip, Arlington, SD G Mark and Cynthia Mickelson, Sioux Falls, SD Gov. Walter D. and Patricia Miller, Fort Pierre, SD Curtis D.