Biographical Records

Notable People from South Dakota

315 notable figures born in South Dakota, showing page 1 of 7, ranked by historical prominence.

Sitting Bull

Hunkpapa Lakota medicine man and holy man (1831–1890)

1831 – 1890

traditional leader or chiefmedicine man

Ernest Orlando Lawrence

American nuclear physicist (1901–1958)

1901 – 1958

nuclear physicistuniversity teacherphysicist

Hubert Humphrey

vice president of the United States from 1965 to 1969

1911 – 1978

trade unionistpharmacistpolitician

Crazy Horse

Oglala Sioux chief (1840–1877)

1849 – 1877

politiciantraditional leader or chief

Theodore Schultz

American economist

1902 – 1998

researchereducatoreconomist

George McGovern

American historian and politician (1922–2012)

1922 – 2012

autobiographerpeace activistpolitical scientist

Gene Amdahl

American physicist (1922-2015)

1922 – 2015

physicistentrepreneurcomputer scientist

Zitkala-Sa

Yankton Dakota writer (1876-1938)

1876 – 1938

violinisthuman rights defenderpoet

Marvin Heemeyer

American news figure (1951–2004)

1951 – 2004

welderentrepreneurbusinessperson

Tim Johnson

American politician of South Dakota (1946–2024)

1946 – 2024

adviserpoliticianlawyer

Alvin Hansen

American economist (1887–1975)

1887 – 1975

university teachereconomist

Rose Wilder Lane

American journalist (1886–1968)

1886 – 1968

novelistchildren's writerjournalist

Patrick Spencer Johnson

American writer

1938 – 2017

consultantlecturerphysician writer

James Abourezk

American politician (1931–2023)

1931 – 2023

juristpoliticianlawyer

Jerry Brudos

American serial killer (1939–2006)

1939 – 2006

criminalserial killer

Floyd Red Crow Westerman

Native American entertainer (1936–2007)

1936 – 2007

guitaristsingercomposer

Muriel Humphrey

American politician (1912–1998)

1912 – 1998

politician

John King Fairbank

American sinologist (1907-1991)

1907 – 1991

university teachereducatorhistorian

James Bausch

American athletics competitor (1906–1974)

1906 – 1974

decathleteAmerican football playerathletics competitor

Wilbur Thompson

American track and field athlete, gold medal in shot put at the 1948 Summer Olympics (1921-2013)

1921 – 2013

athletics competitor

Dorothy Provine

American singer, dancer, and actress (1935-2010)

1935 – 2010

television actorfilm actorsinger

James Abdnor

American congressman for South Dakota (1923-2012)

1923 – 2012

politician

Gall

19th century Lakota chief (1840–1894)

1840 – 1894

traditional leader or chief

Spotted Elk

Native American leader

1826 – 1890

traditional leader or chief

Vera C. Bushfield

American politician (1889-1976)

1889 – 1976

politician

John Miljan

American actor (1892–1960)

1892 – 1960

film actoractor

Gladys Pyle

American politician (1890-1989)

1890 – 1989

politician

Gene Okerlund

American professional wrestling interviewer and announcer (1942–2019)

1942 – 2019

announcer

Jessi Combs

American racing driver (1980–2019)

1980 – 2019

presenterracing automobile drivertelevision presenter

Angela Aames

actress (1956-1988)

1956 – 1988

modelfilm actortelevision actor

Spotted Tail

Brulé Sioux chief, Native American leader (1823–1881)

1833 – 1881

politician

Ivan Dresser

American long-distance runner

1896 – 1956

athletics competitorlong-distance runner

Charles Jacobs

American pole vaulter (1886–1971)

1886 – 1971

athletics competitor

John O'Neil

American rugby union player (1898–1950)

1898 – 1950

rugby union playerbusinessperson

David Rumelhart

American psychologist (1942-2011)

1942 – 2011

university teacherpsychologistcomputer scientist

Alfred L. Werker

American film director (1896–1975)

1896 – 1975

film editordirectorfilm producer

Clinton Anderson

American politician (1895–1975)

1895 – 1975

insurernewspaper editorjournalist

Glenn Hartranft

Track and field athlete, American football and baseball coach (1901–1970)

1901 – 1970

athletics competitor

Judith Evelyn

American actress

1909 – 1967

stage actorfilm actortelevision actor

Joe Foss

United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient (1915–2003)

1915 – 2003

presenternaval air forcesoldier

Vine Deloria, Jr.

American writer (1933-2005)

1933 – 2005

philosopherpolitical scientistuniversity teacher

Hallie Flanagan

American theatrical producer (1890-1969)

1890 – 1969

novelistdirectortheatre director

J. James Exon

American politician (1921–2005)

1921 – 2005

branch managerchief executive officerpolitician

Eagle Woman

American peace activist (born 1820, near Big Bend of the Missouri River [in what is now South Dakota], U.S.—died December 18, 1888, Miles City, Montana)

1820 – 1888

peace activistinterpreter

Gary Owens

American radio announcer

1934 – 2015

presenterdub actorradio personality

Keith Olsen

American record producer and sound engineer (1945–2020)

1945 – 2020

musicianaudio engineerrecord producer

Peter Norbeck

American politician (1870-1936)

1870 – 1936

general contractorgovernorpolitician

Karl Mundt

American politician (1900-1974)

1900 – 1974

school superintendentreal-estate agentfarmer

Walter Dale Miller

American politician (Republican) 1925-2015

1925 – 2015

ranchergovernorpolitician

Frank Farrar

American politician (1929–2021)

1929 – 2021

prosecutorjuristgovernor

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