Thank You and Goodbye
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:
This is the last column I will write as Governor of South Dakota, and I want to say “thank you.”
Thank you to the people of South Dakota. It was a great honor when you placed your confidence in me. Over these past eight years, I have always tried to work hard to make our state better. Whenever times were tough, your strength encouraged me.
I first saw that strength during the Missouri River floods of 2011. Releases from the Oahe Dam were nearly triple the previous record. Large portions of Pierre, and nearly all of Fort Pierre and Dakota Dunes, were threatened by the flooding. In a matter of days, we filled hundreds of thousands of sandbags and we built emergency levies that saved most of Pierre, Fort Pierre and Dakota Dunes. Thousands of South Dakotans stepped up – National Guard, law enforcement, first responders, busloads of volunteers, hundreds of truckers, and even prison inmates. As I said at the time – “As high as the floodwaters rose, South Dakota rose even higher.”
I saw that same spirit again and again over the eight years I’ve been governor – during Winter Storm Atlas, tornadoes in Wessington Springs and Delmont, fires in the Black Hills. I’ll never forget that selflessness –South Dakotans helping each other. Those weren’t the easiest moments, but they were the times when I was most proud to be governor of South Dakota.
I also thank the many fine people who have worked so hard on my behalf – in my cabinet, on my staff, or leading important work in state agencies. South Dakotans can be proud of the public servants who work for state government. Their advice and hard work helped me make better decisions.
In particular, I thank Lt. Governor Matt Michels. He has been a great lieutenant governor, in so many ways. He has helped with disaster response. He has led low-profile efforts to improve state risk management, insurance, bonding, and internal controls. More than anything else, Matt Michels cares about people – all people. Matt is a great South Dakotan and our state has been fortunate to have him serving us.
My wife, Linda, has been an outstanding First Lady. She led state efforts to reduce infant mortality. She encouraged more people to become foster parents. She read to thousands of students, visiting 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes in 285 schools. But as much as she’s been a terrific first lady, she’s been a loving and devoted wife. Along with our three children, Laura, Sara, and Chris, my family have always been loyal and supportive, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with them.
I owe much to my parents. My mom and dad were both born deaf, but they didn’t allow that to deter them. They worked hard on our farm for years, and once we were old enough, my sisters and I worked hard too. When Dad had financial troubles and had to sell the livestock and equipment, he didn’t use his deafness as an excuse. He and my mother drove fifty miles, every day, to work as janitors in the dormitories at Augustana. It was work that some people would not accept. But my parents taught me an important lesson – that all work has dignity.
Most people wouldn’t call my father a particularly successful man. He died with very little. But he worked hard, he took care of himself, and he paid his bills. He was self-reliant, persistent, and frugal. He was successful to me. South Dakota is a special place because there are many, many people who carry those same values with them and set that same example in their lives, every day.
That is why I love South Dakota. That is why it has been my great honor to be your governor. And that is why I know that our best days are still yet to come.
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Thank you for your service!