CHAMBERLAIN – The South Dakota Hall of Fame will induct 10 honorees next fall, and a Brookings man who helped shape performing and visual arts in the state is part of the group. 

This year’s honorees are Cleveland Abbott (1892-1955); Nicholas Black Elk (1863 - 1950), Rod Bowar, Kennebec; Marilyn Hohm Hoyt, Huron; Tom Loveland, Sioux Falls; Anne Rieck McFarland, Sioux Falls; Roger Musick, Mitchell; Rod Parry, Sioux Falls; Raymond Peterson, Brookings; and John Porter, Sioux Falls. 

Since 1974, more than 700 South Dakotans have become members of the South Dakota Hall of Fame, which is designated as the state’s Hall of Fame. There are more than 200 living inductees, with the achievements of all inductees continuing to impact our state by the mission to “Champion a Culture of Excellence: One Act at a Time.” 

The inductee accomplishments reach beyond South Dakota in representing and building the future for this state.

The honors ceremony will be held Sept. 7 and Sept. 8 in Chamberlain/Oacoma and is open to the public. Tickets go on sale June 1 and can be purchased on the Hall of Fame website at  sdexcellence.org or by calling 605-234-4216.

Mr. S.D. Performing and Visual Arts 

An invitation to serve as a vocalist for the 1966 Miss South Dakota Pageant led to a 50-year commitment to the Miss South Dakota and Miss America Organizations as a scriptwriter, designer, producer, director and nationally renowned pageant judge. 

Ray Peterson displayed his talents in music and art early in life, singing for church, school and community events, designing prize-winning parade floats, decorating store-front display windows and producing plays in the basement of his parents’ general store. Thus began a lifetime dedication to both the performing and the visual arts.

In January 1971, while serving as a U.S. Army transportation specialist in Vietnam, Peterson was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement. 

He began his 40-year tenure at South Dakota State University in the fall of 1971, garnering both state and national recognition while guiding and changing young people’s lives for the better as a teacher in speech communication and theatre; as a scenic artist and technical director for over 200 stage productions; as an adviser to the Alpha Psi Omega Dramatics Fraternity; as the producer of South Dakota Proud; as a director of musical theatre; as administrator of the State University Theatre program; and as a highly respected judicator in both Oral Interpretation and One-Act Plays for the South Dakota High School Activities Association.

Courtesy photo