HOUSE COMMEMORATION NO. 1004

Introduced by: Representatives McCleerey, Anderson, Barthel, Brunner, Chase, Cwach, Deutsch, Diedrich, Duba, Duvall, Finck, Frye-Mueller, Goodwin, Hammock, Healy, Johnson (Chris), Johnson (David), Lesmeister, Marty, Mulally, Otten (Herman), Perry, Pischke, Qualm, Randolph, Rasmussen, Reed, Ring, Rounds, Saba, Schoenfish, Smith (Jamie), Steele, Sullivan, Weis, Wiese, York, and Zikmund and Senators Nelson, Blare, DiSanto, Foster, Greenfield (Brock), Heinert, Jensen (Phil), Kennedy, Klumb, Kolbeck, Maher, Monroe, Nesiba, Novstrup, Russell, White, and Wismer

A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, Honoring and commending Myron Floren, for his service to the state of South Dakota through his exemplary work as an accordionist.

WHEREAS, Myron Floren was known as the accordionist on the Lawrence Welk Show between 1950 and 1980; and

WHEREAS, Myron Floren was highly regarded by Lawrence Welk, who was an accomplished accordion player in his own right; and

WHEREAS, Myron Floren was among the first class of inductees into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame in 1984 and inducted into the International Polka Music Hall of Fame in 1990; and

WHEREAS, Myron Floren, a first-generation American who was born in Roslyn in Day County, South Dakota, and was an Augustana graduate, who worked his way through college as "The Melody Man" on KSOO; and

WHEREAS, Myron Floren was awarded by the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes their Merit Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the international accordion movement:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the Ninety-Fourth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, that Myron Floren be commended and honored for his service to the state of South Dakota through his exemplary work as an accordionist.