"personalities" With Chuck Anderson

Gladys Pyle was the first woman elected to the S.D. House, the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate, and the first woman to address a national political convention. Pyle was born in Huron, South Dakota in 1890. She attended Huron College, earned a degree, and taught school in Miller, Wessington, and Huron. Pyle's father had been a South Dakota attorney general and her mother, Mamie, had been very active in the women's suffrage movement. (South Dakota women were granted voting rights in 1918, a year before federal passage of the 19th Amendment.) In 1923, Gladys Pyle became the first woman elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives. She served in the House until 1927, when she took over as South Dakota's Secretary of State. Pyle sought the Republican nomination for governor in 1930 but lost by a narrow margin. She earned a living outside of politics in the insurance business. After U.S. Senator Peter Norbeck died in 1936, Governor Tom Berry appointed fellow Democrat Herbert E

Hubert H. Humphrey was one of the most prominent politicians and policy-makers in the United States from the mid-1940s until his death in 1978. Humphrey was born in Wallace, South Dakota in 1911 and attended high school in Doland, where his father owned a pharmacy. During the 1930s, Humphrey Sr. moved the business from Doland to Huron. Hubert earned a pharmacy degree and helped run the family business. But being a pharmacist was not what Hubert Humphrey wanted to do. In 1937, he moved to Minnesota to pursue a degree in political science. When America joined the fighting in World War II, he tried to enlist in the military but was rejected on account of color-blindness and other physical issues. He completed his studies and began teaching at the college level. In 1945, Hubert Humphrey was elected mayor of Minneapolis and his political career was launched. He served as vice-president under Lyndon Johnson, made several unsuccessful runs at the presidency, and served three terms

Chuck Gemar was born in Yankton and graduated from Scotland high school in 1973. He was accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he earned an engineering degree in 1979. Gemar was attached to the 24th Combat Aviation unit as an Assistant Flight Operations Officer and Flight Platoon Leader. In 1985, Gemar was accepted into NASA's astronaut program. He flew on three space shuttle missions - 1990, 1991, and 1994. He retired from NASA in 1998. Chuck Anderson interviewed Gemar in 1992. He asked Gemar about his feelings the night before a shuttle launch. Gemar said it's probably a more anxious time than either the launch or the spaceflight. Col. Gemar says the launch sequence usually brings about a certain sense of calm. Everybody stays focused on their job. Coming back to earth begins with a de-orbit burn the slows the shuttle down. After a series of maneuvers that slow the shuttle to a manageable landing speed, the shuttle touches down and slows to a stop.

Jim McKinney came to South Dakota State University in 1975 and was SDSU's band director from 1983 until his retirement in 2009. Hundreds and more likely thousands of student musicians followed McKinney's lead in concerts and other performances in South Dakota and around the nation. Chuck Anderson interviewed McKinney in November of 1992. They talked about filling the ranks of SDSU's large marching band, "The Pride of the Dakotas." Students seeking music scholarships must perform well in auditions before the entire SDSU music faculty. Among other things, band directors need to draw a line between having fun in the band and having too much fun. Chuck Anderson was a high school band director for a time. He and McKinney discovered they had a musical experience in common: both played drums for Bob Hope on tour. McKinney began his musical career as a drummer and percussionist. Listen to Chuck's entire interview with Jim McKinney, SDSU band director from 1983 until 2008.

Charles "Chuck" Isakson (1917-1997), a Webster native and longtime Huron resident, was among some 50 South Dakotans who survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He told his story to a gathering at the Huron Elks Club in 1993. Chuck Anderson, Huron radio personality and host, recorded and preserved the speech. Isakson was serving with the 19th Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, a large Army garrison in the middle of the island of Oahu. Schofield Barracks was adjacent to Wheeler Army Airfield, one of the first sites hit in the attack. (Wheeler and the other airbases on Oahu were a priority target for Japanese pilots. They wanted to quickly inflict as much damage as possible to U.S. aircraft on the ground and prevent them from engaging their own aircraft in the sky.) Chuck Isakson remembers going to bed early on Saturday, December 6th. He had a job to do in the morning. He'd been ordered to build a boxing ring in the middle of the

Radio host Chuck Anderson traveled to Joe Foss's Scottsdale, Arizona home in 1996 for an interview with one of the most famous and accomplished South Dakotans ever. Very few people achieve as much as Joe Foss did in his lifetime. After the death of his father in 1933, Foss had to take over the family farm near Sioux Falls. He was still in high school and was suddenly responsible for taking care of his mother and younger siblings. His younger brother eventually took over, allowing Foss to graduate from high school and earn a degree from the University of South Dakota. Joe Foss joined the South Dakota National Guard in 1937 and entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1940. He worked his way into fighter aircraft and combat. He became America's top flying ace, earning the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions during 1942 and 1943. While on duty in the Pacific, Foss met Navy Lieutenant Richard M. Nixon. Joe Foss became a world-wide celebrity during the war. He was recalled from combat to the U

Amy Burnett is one of the best South Dakota basketball players ever. Burnett grew up in Huron and led Huron High to a class AA State Championship in 1989, her junior season. The team took third place during Burnett's senior year but she set a state tournament scoring record with 86 points over three games. She also lettered in volleyball and track. Burnett went on to play NCAA Division One basketball at the University of Wyoming. In her junior and senior years, she led the Western Athletic Conference in total points scored and percentages in free throws, rebounding, and field goals. She was named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1994 and 1995. Burnett is an inductee of the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame, and the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame. Amy Burnett is now a coach and teacher at an Austin, Texas middle school. She also works with an Austin-based basketball club dedicated to developing young

While many bookworms spend their time cocooned in public libraries and bookstores searching for the next great story, George Hall had only to walk through his own front door. Surrounded by over 1000 books, Hall claimed the nation’s largest private collection of written material on South Dakota, including county and city histories, books exploring Native American topics, and over 100 volumes on the Black Hills. Hall has even written a few of his own books, including Kingsbury County: 120 years of Kingsbury County History , Far Flung & Free, Poetry and Prose by South Dakota Poets, and two fiction novels ‘He Wanted to be a Millionaire by 30’ and ‘Isolation Island’ . In January of 1993 and again in June of 1994, Chuck Anderson sat down with Hall in his De Smet home to discuss some lesser known aspects of South Dakota history and Hall’s experiences within it. Anderson began the interview by talking with Hall about his latest book release, a collection of works by South Dakotan poets.

The South Dakota State Fair is different every year and yet it never really changes. It's a capstone experience for hundreds of 4-H kids earning ribbons by showcasing their skills - from photography to poultry to pickles. The State Fair is midway food like corn dogs and funnel cakes. It's demonstrations of super-sharp but amazingly affordable cutlery, the latest in farm machinery, and so many other (mostly) useful things. It's carnival rides and games and the mingled smells of popcorn, sheep, diesel fuel, and fried you-name-it. The first South Dakota State Fair was held in Huron in 1885 and it's been held there ever since. For more than 130 years, it's where people from South Dakota's farms, small towns and cities have gathered to greet, meet, eat, and enjoy some top-quality grandstand entertainment. Chuck spoke with singer/songwriter Shania Twain just after a performance at the 1993 State Fair. Twain had recently released her first album and third single. She was well-known in 1993

Singer, actor, and teacher Joseph Mahowald graduated from Huron High School in 1977. He went on to study music and voice at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, graduating Magna Cum Laude. By 1987 he was working on Broadway as a member of the original cast of 'Les Miserables.' Mahowald now lists dozens of musical and other roles on his resume , including "Mr. Hart," the lead male character in a touring production of "9 to 5." (Dabney Coleman played the part in the 1980 film, which also starred Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda.) Chuck Anderson interviewed Mahowald and his wife, Elizabeth Moses Mahowald on New Year's Day, 1994. The Mahowald's had recently performed to a packed house at the Huron Event Center. Joe Mahowald has worked with well known stars like Stacy Keach and Robert Goulet, with whom he's been favorably compared. Mahowald says there's something special about the people who become true stars. Joseph and Elizabeth Mahowald live in New York

Gloria Mackoy, a country gospel singer and songwriter and former De Smet resident, visited Chuck Anderson in-studio during August of 1993. South Dakotans know Mackoy for her work in De Smet's "Little House on the Prairie" pageant, performances at the state fair and elsewhere. Mackoy and Anderson talked about her musical career and featured several songs from her first album, "From My Heart". To begin the interview, Mackoy explained how she initially fell into music during her elementary and high school years, despite an inability to read music. The conversation quickly turned to Mackoy’s first recording experience in Omaha, Nebraska. Prior to this, Mackoy had spent her career only performing live at small venues. While a seasoned, live performer, even Mackoy was subject to forgetting the occasional song lyric. Anderson compared her to the famous Bing Crosby and his premire NBC Live performance While Mackoy grew up in Barnard, Missouri, she traveled across the country to follow her

For over 100 years, Hazel Mahone carried her grandparents' memories of surviving pre-civil war slavery. These stories provoked emotions associated with brutality, inhumanity, and an overwhelming hope for a better life. In 1992, Chuck Anderson sat down with Mahone to discuss these rare, second-hand stories that filled her childhood and inspired her lifetime as a humanitarian and cosmetologist in Huron, South Dakota. To begin the interview, Anderson asked Mahone a few questions concerning terminology. Mahone went on to explain the different types of slaves that existed in the deep South, and how her grandmother fit into the equation. With her grandparents as part of the slave trade, tracing Mahone’s genealogy back farther than three generations would be difficult due to serial numbers used in place of names. In addition, those enslaved would often take the last name of their owners, increasing the struggle to find family ties. Mahone went on to explain how her grandfather escaped slavery

For over 49 years, De Smet, South Dakota has been the home of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant, attracting tourists from around the world. Started in 1968, local residents began acting out “ The Long Winter ”, a "Little House on The Prairie" series novel published in 1940. The novel and the play recall the events of Wilder’s childhood in rural South Dakota. Historical De Smet continues to pride itself on its annual pageant, which includes covered wagon rides, souvenir stands, and special guests. In July of 1994, Chuck Anderson brought his show to De Smet to analyze the life of the area. Anderson began his interviews with Portia Potvin—the director of the play—who explained the pageant’s humble beginnings. Potvin went on to explain how the Little House on the Prairie books tie into the South Dakota Landscape. Wilder and her family resided in De Smet for many years. The 35 member cast all reside within the De Smet area, and is made up completely of volunteer actors. One of the members

For 54 years, the friendly greeting “Hello there, good friends” resonated over WNAX radio waves throughout the Midwest, delivering trusted recipes, words of advice, and Yankton’s most reliable neighbor lady—Wynn Speece. From 1941-2005, Speece, a South Dakotan radio icon of the 20 th century, broadcasted live shows featuring letters from faithful listeners, interviews with both national and hometown celebrities, and numerous household tips. Beginning in 1949 with the birth of her first child, Speece began broadcasting from her own dining room table, conversing with women throughout South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. In June of 1995, Chuck Anderson visited Speece and her husband Harry at this unconventional studio to chat about her rise to radio fame. Growing up and attending high school in Des Moines, Iowa, Speece caught the “radio bug” early on. Speece went on to pursue a dual degree from Drake University in Theatre and Speech/English. She graduated in 1939 and

Prior to his unfortunate death in 2001, Kyle Evans, a South Dakotan country music recording artist and entertainer, visited the Huron Arena in April of 1994 for an interview with local radio host, Chuck Anderson. During his 20 years within the music industry, Evans traveled throughout the United States, playing in over 1,500 professional rodeo performances, the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas, Miss America Rodeo Pageants, and numerous other venues alongside Kitty Wells, Hank Thompson, Tex Ritter and many other notable country artists of the time. As a proud Midwest native, Evans set up his own recording studio, Company Cowboy Productions in Wessington Springs, SD. Between his own recordings and those produced in Nashville, TN, Evans created 18 studio albums throughout his lifetime. During his interview with Anderson, Evans credited his overall success to his humble beginnings, listening to his guitar-strumming father and gospel-singing mother. From playing for spare change to being

She was one of Charlie's Angels, portrayed Grace Kelly in Princess Grace , and most recently played Robert Shapiro's wife in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Cheryl Ladd is arguably South Dakota's most famous female celebrity. What you may not know is that she was once Cheryl Stoppelmoor, a talented youngster born and raised in Huron. Chuck Anderson, a native Huronian himself, naturally had to find out how the town contributed to her success. On July 8th, 1995, he got that chance. Cheryl was planning to visit Huron for a special commemoration, but instead had to prepare for a trip to Europe to promote her new show, One West Waikiki. Chuck understood and thanked her for trying. He immediately jumped into questioning, asking what her favorite productions were. She had a particular one in mind. Chuck segued into the gamechanging role of Cheryl's career: Kris Munroe in Charlie's Angels . How did she get it? She was daunted by the idea of replacing starlet Farrah Fawcett,

On July 16, 1994, Chuck Anderson visited Pierre to attend an event called "South Dakotans in WWII." It took place at the newly minted Soldiers and Sailors World War Memorial Building , and Chuck got to take a tour. He met George Summerside, the Veterans Education Program Representative for the State Office inside the building where the Robinson Museum and State Historical Society used to be. George begins to describe the layout of the memorial. He then shows Chuck where South Dakota's Congressional Medal of Honor recipients will be recognized. George made sure to note that there are only three Medals of Honor, one for each branch of service. The Marines (Chuck's branch) and Coast Guard fall under US Navy jurisdiction, so one medal encompasses them all. Chuck responded in jest. George comes back to the medals and says just over 3,000 soldiers, out of the millions who served, have received the noble prize. He names the eight South Dakotans who will be honored. Brigadier General Charles

The Great Flood of 1993 hit the American Midwest from May to September, running along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and extending into nine states. Naturally, South Dakota was in its path. Chuck Anderson traveled to the southeast corner of the state, a particularly affected region. He stopped in Montrose, a town of roughly 420 people seated northwest of Sioux Falls, that fell partially underwater. There, he met John Griffith and his father, Bill, who were in the process of repairing a damaged basement where a wall caved in. Bill added that the situation was further complicated by waist-deep mud, but he knew his family's situation was not the worst. John heard stories of fish finding their way into people's homes. In Montrose, Chuck saw wet furniture sitting out in front yards and stacked on trucks, as though the community were having a yard sale of damaged goods. He stumbled upon another recovering family. Pam made a poignant observation about her elderly parents' situation,

In Chuck Anderson's first interview with Baxter Black, the duo had a strong rapport. So, Chuck had to visit Baxter again. This time, it was in Baxter's home in Brighton, CO. The two men picked up right where they left off, which was basically when Chuck lost control over the interview and Baxter switched roles. Baxter welcomed Chuck to his home, apologizing for a "missing wall" that he removes every summer. Chuck was so comfortable in his environment, he forgot to introduce himself until the second minute of the interview. The men were very observational comedians throughout the interview, first noticing Baxter's wife roaming around. Baxter introduced her to the listening audience, giving them a detailed image of her appearance, almost like a commentator telling the physical stats of an athlete. Chuck was stunned how Brighton made no mention of Baxter on its welcome sign. Baxter, in his mind, was an underrated celebrity. Baxter said the original sign which did mention his name was

When you're drafted into the military, you have a chance of being on the front lines. When you're on the front lines, there's a greater chance you're going to die. If you cheat death, you're lucky. Retired Brigadier General Ted Spaulding met these odds in the Philippines during World War II. He, unlike the thousands who perished there, made it back home. Chuck Anderson got to speak with him about his survival of the Bataan Death March. It all started when a young Ted Spaulding became a Private First Class. The U.S. draft law was still in effect, but expected to expire later in the year due to America's general disinterest in joining World War II. Ted joined a battalion of National Guardsmen, which was short 15 lieutenants. He was chosen as a candidate for 2nd lieutenant and within ten days had the rank of a commissioned officer. In less than a year, Ted Spaulding had gone from being a low-ranking draftee to an officer leading a tank battalion across the Pacific - ready to defend the