NORTHERN TODAY 21 SPECIAL I SSUE | Summer 2021 REVITAL IZATION OF CAMPUS | A SALUTE TO OUR DONORS CURT JONES Curt Jones, of Britton, served Great Plains Education Foundation Inc. from 1997 until his death in 2010. Jones and his brothers formed Penrhos Farms in 1965. Jones served on the South Dakota senate from 1971 until 1986 and was also a member of the S.D. Board of Regents from 1997 to 2003. Curt also served on the Britton Development Corp.; Britton Development Board; and as chairman of the Fort Sisseton Commission. TIM KESSLER Tim Kessler, of Aberdeen, has served Great Plains Education Foundation Inc. since 2008. He owns and manages Big Shot Pheasant Fields, a 1,040-acre pheasant hunting operation. A Northern alumnus, Kessler received South Dakota’s Distinguished Service Award for his conservation efforts. Tim has owned Aberdeen’s Kessler’s grocery store for many years; is a member of the National Pheasants Forever board of directors, serving as chairman since 2015; and was a Game, Fish and Parks commissioner from 1992 to 2004 and 2005 to 2010, serving as chairman for the majority of those years. ELDON SWINGLER Eldon Swingler, of Aberdeen, has served Great Plains Education Foundation Inc. since 2010. He is president of Aberdeen’s Insurance Plus. A Northern State University alumnus, Swingler serves on the Aspire Foundation Board of Directors. Eldon has also served on the NSU Foundation’s board of trustees, and as co-chairman of the Boys and Girls Club of Aberdeen Area Capital Campaign. VI STOIA Vi Stoia, of Aberdeen, served Great Plains Education Foundation Inc. from 1997 until his death in 2008. Stoia began his career with Northwestern Mutual in 1950, working as special agent, district agent and senior financial representative. A longtime civic activist and 1976 NSU Distinguished Alumnus, Stoia was instrumental in securing financing for regional projects including the Barnett Center. JACK THOMPSON Jack Thompson, of Aberdeen, has served Great Plains Education Foundation Inc. since 1997. He had a 30-year career with First Bank of South Dakota (now U.S. Bank) before retiring. In the last few years of his employment, he also served as Deputy CEO of First Bank of S.D. state wide. Jack has served on the Education Assistance Corporation board of directors and as treasurer for Aberdeen’s Spurs Therapeutic Riding Center. He has also served on numerous local and regional boards. Thompson is a past winner of the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce Vitality Award. RON WHEELER Ron Wheeler, of Deadwood, served Great Plains Education Foundation Inc. from 1999 to 2012. He served as vice chairman of the board of directors of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority. Wheeler, who has 28 years of experience running businesses and corporations, previously led the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, S.D. Ron is also former secretary of the S.D. Department of Transportation and state commissioner of economic development. “It’s a great school, a great education and a great city. It’s an enduring commitment to the city of Aberdeen and the people that live here.” HARVEY C. JEWETT IV VI STOIA ELDON SWINGLER JACK THOMPSON RON WHEELER
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