Rotarians, Dr. Reuben Bareis of Rapid City and Dick Brown of Custer, are two of the 10 individuals in the 2019 class to be inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame. The South Dakota Hall of Fame is celebrating its 45th year and recognizes individuals who impact the state through the mission to Champion a Culture of Excellence. The inductee accomplishments reach beyond South Dakota in representing and building the future for the state.
Brown has been a member of the Custer Rotary Club since moving there twelve years ago. Prior to his move to Custer, he was a member of a Sioux Falls Rotary club and served as the President. Bareis is a lifetime supporter of Rotary, including service as the Rapid City Club president, hosting youth exchange, hosting for friendship exchange, and serving as a leader in club projects.
The Honors Ceremony will be held in Chamberlain/Oacoma, SD on September 13 and 14, 2019, and is open to the public. A table for 10 has been reserved for Rotarians that want to be there to celebrate the induction of these two to the Hall of Fame. Contact Linda Peterson or Carol Johnson to reserve a spot at the table. The biographies of the two provided below, and further information on the SD Hall of Fame, are located at https://sdhalloffame.blog/2019/05/02/sd-hall-of-fame-class-of-2019/.
Two of This Year’s Honorees and Rotarians of District 5610 are:
REUBEN BAREISRapid City, SD | Medical
Changing the Course for Elderly Caregiving
When Dr. Bareis relocated to Rapid City in 1957, only a single care facility for the elderly existed. Reuben is one of the original board members and helped break ground at Westhills Village Retirement Community. Six more facilities eventually followed, and Dr. Bareis served as medical director of three of them. His work continues to influence South Dakota in this critical care need. Dr. Bareis retired in 1999 after almost 50 years of practicing internal medicine and geriatrics with many accomplishments as a kind and compassionate community leader.
DICK BROWN
Custer, SD | Philanthropic
Public Service Leader & Conservationist
A native of Dell Rapids and USD Political Science alumnus, Dick Brown left for Washington, D.C. in 1967 for doctoral studies and to work for U.S. Senator Karl Mundt. He then went on to lead the ten-state Missouri River Basin Commission in Omaha. In 1979, he returned to his beloved South Dakota where his impact has been felt statewide with involvement in the state legislature, charitable organizations, and outdoor recreation.