HOUSE COMMEMORATION    NO.  1022  

Introduced by:    Representatives Fargen, Abdallah, Blake, Bolin, Boomgarden, Brunner, Carson, Conzet, Cronin, Deelstra, Dennert, Dryden, Feickert, Feinstein, Gibson, Gosch, Greenfield, Haggar, Hansen (Jon), Hawley, Hickey, Hoffman, Hubbel, Hunhoff (Bernie), Hunt, Jensen, Jones, Kirkeby, Kirschman, Kopp, Lucas, Lust, Moser, Munsterman, Nelson (Stace), Novstrup (David), Olson (Betty), Perry, Romkema, Rozum, Russell, Schaefer, Scott, Sigdestad, Solum, Steele, Street, Stricherz, Tornow, Tulson, Van Gerpen, Vanneman, Venner, Verchio, Willadsen, Wink, and Wismer and Senators Olson (Russell), Adelstein, Begalka, Bradford, Brown, Buhl, Frerichs, Fryslie, Gray, Hansen (Tom), Haverly, Holien, Hunhoff (Jean), Juhnke, Kraus, Lederman, Maher, Nelson (Tom), Novstrup (Al), Nygaard, Peters, Putnam, Rampelberg, Rave, Rhoden, Schlekeway, Sutton, Tidemann, Tieszen, and Vehle
 

        
        A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, Honoring and commemorating Roger Nelson for his life-long commitment to sports in South Dakota.

    WHEREAS, Roger Nelson achieved great success while participating in sports at Brookings High School. Roger accumulated 1,027 points while playing basketball at Brookings High School - a record that stood for more than fifty years. Roger helped the Bobcats win the 1952 State A Basketball Championship and was the quarterback of the state championship football team. Roger was a two-time state discus champ and played catcher in Legion baseball. While at the University of South Dakota, Roger was the starting center for the University of South Dakota's 1958 NCAA Division II basketball team. Furthermore, Roger actively participated in sports throughout his life; and

    WHEREAS, Roger Nelson diligently coached, mentored, and refereed various sports in Hartley, Iowa, and in Colman, Fort Pierre and Canova, South Dakota. While coaching at Canova, he guided the girls basketball team to a 102-17 record and four state-tourney berths in five years. Roger refereed the South Dakota state high school football, basketball, and volleyball tournaments; and
    WHEREAS, Roger was inducted into the halls of fame at the University of South Dakota, Brookings High School, the Entringer Classic, the State Amateur Basketball Association, and the South Dakota Senior Olympics. Roger was honored in 2002 by the South Dakota Volleyball Officials Association with the Outstanding Dedication and Service in Officiating Award. Roger was also acknowledged in 2011 by the South Dakota Senior Games when he was given the Ginny Anderson Inspirational Award:

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the Eighty-seventh Legislature of the State of South Dakota, that Roger Nelson be honored and commemorated for his lifelong
commitment to sports in South Dakota.