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T he Trail of Governors expanded to a total of 25 statues by the
close of the year 2019. The life-size bronze statues of Govs.
Samuel H. Elrod, Archie Gubbrud and Dennis Daugaard
were added to the trail during the summer season.
An unveiling ceremony for these latest statues was held in the Capitol
Rotunda on Flag Day, June 14, with a large crowd. It was a special celebration
with newly elected Gov. Kristi Noem at the podium along with Gov. Dennis
Daugaard who left the Governor’s Office a few months earlier.
The Trail of Governors Foundation continues to raise funds and commission
artists for the statues. The foundation does not have an office, a phone or
staff. What it does have are volunteer board members, loyal advisory
members, and a close working relationship with the South Dakota
Community Foundation. The SDCF oversees the trail foundation’s funds.
Fundraising challenges have become more significant as governors nearer to
the beginning of statehood are commissioned without any or many family or
staff members still living.
The foundation nears the point at which all former governors are cast in
bronze, and that target is by fall of 2021. Thereafter, only governors leaving
the office will be the focus of the foundation’s efforts to raise funds for each
statue and organize an unveiling ceremony.
The trail is a feat considering its humble beginnings, from a sidewalk
conversation between two foundation board members, Leroy Foster and
Rick Jensen. That friendly chat led to a trail funded by private donors
contributing almost two million dollars.
A new event was added to the unveiling weekend in 2018, and that is the
Run with the Govs 4K run that takes place the Saturday morning following
the Friday unveiling. Those participating in the run along the trail route grew
from the inaugural event to 2019’s event, and the group organizing this event
FOUNDATION’S 2019 ANNUAL REPORT has hopes that the participant numbers will continue to grow.
As more governor statues are added to the trail, more South Dakota
history lessons are shared with South Dakotans and visitors. Each statue
reveals some details about that specific governor, from the era during which
Governor Dennis Daugaard – 32nd Governor of South Dakota they lived to their values and lifestyle.
M. Michael Rounds - 31st Governor of South Dakota