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NOMINATION SUBMITTED IN 2019ADDENDUM I SUBMITTED IN 2020 ADDENDUM II SUBMITTED IN 2021South Dakota Hall of Fame Nomination for Dorothy Stebbins Nepstad 2019Additional Support submitted by DeAnne Robinson and Former Lt. Governor Lowell HansenADDENDUM IJanuary 29, 2020Dorothy Nepstad was often called a trailblazer for women based on her own personal record of entering arenas that were dominated by men. Although she understood and worked to solve problems facing people all across South Dakota, she had a special sensitivity to the concerns and issues facing women and families.How did she become such a trailblazer? What characteristics did she have that gave her the depth of understanding of the problems and concerns of people? What gave her the insight to try to find solutions for those problems? How did a quiet leader become a trailblazer for women and a mentor to both men and women in politics? Perhaps first of all was her love for people from all walks of life coupled with a strong desire to serve. She put those two characteristics to work even at very young age. She was the sort of woman who gave 100% to community organizations she joined, whether church, social, governmental, or political. As a state legislator, she sponsored or co-sponsored many bills to benefit young people and to enhance medical services, another mark of her leadership.?? She was immensely proud of her work with Lowell Hansen, the future Lt. Governor, on a high-priority bill to reform child abuse laws. During the last four years in the House of Representatives, she served as Chair of the House Health and Welfare Committee, an almost unheard of position for women in the 1970’s. It was an expression of respect and confidence by her male colleagues in her leadership and in her word. And in the process, she set the tone and became a role model for the women who followed. She worked to make life better for others, to make South Dakota a great place to live. She lived the problems facing women, even at the age of 13 when she had assume a different kind of leadership role as a co-parent with her sister when her mother passed away and her father left the family of five to take care of themselves. As a mother, she was in tune with the hardships women faced to keep their families together, sometimes against all odds. As a county and state officer, she was well aware of the inequities women contended with in the market place and in the position they held in society. As a community activist, she knew that local government was an important partner in solving the issues facing the people and institutions of South Dakota. As a trailblazer, one has to know oneself well, and she certainly did. She knew her own mind. When a new issue arose, she did her homework. But, she always listened to others, whether a colleague with a different approach to a problem or a constituent with a pressing concern. For example, she was opposed to welfare in principle but not in practice, especially when listening to the testimony of individual women during legislative hearings. She listened, learned, and grew. She was, however, not afraid to take a position on controversial, tough issues. She often said, “You must make decisions. You can’t pass.”On the other hand, she was acutely aware of the need to compromise in order to solve problems. She respected the views of others. She once said, as so many others have before and since, that the business of politics is compromise. Bismarck stated it eloquently: “Politics is the art of the possible, the Attainable – the Art of the Next Best.” She understood politics. She did her homework and was prepared to tackle problems. She listened. And she got things done! That was her life. She served with intelligence and humanity as she “pursued excellence and contributed to the life we enjoy in South Dakota.” _____________________________________________________________________________ADDENDUM II TO THE NOMINATION OF DOROTHY STEBBINS NEPSTAD (1903-1997) TO THE SOUTH DAKOTA HALL OF FAME SUBMITTED ON FEBRUARY 1, 2021HOW HER WORK AND LIFE IMPACTED THE LIVES OF HER FELLOW SOUTH DAKOTANS WITH A FOCUS ON HER LEGISLATIVE CAREER IN THE SOUTH DAKOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1969 THROUGH 1978.Her dedication to her role and work as a State Legislator in the House of Representatives for 10 years, and as Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee for four years, changed the lives of the people of South Dakota. The ten-year mark was rare for any legislator let alone for a woman. * When she arrived in the House of Representatives in 1969, she was one of only two women serving and this time she was not the youngest – as she had been when she was elected to county office at the age of 23 - but one of the oldest - 65 years of age when most people are thinking of retirement. In another way, she was still a trailblazer, this time for senior citizens, both men and women. She continued to serve to the age of 75. HER IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF SOUTH DAKOTANSWhen legislators returned to Pierre in 1975 for the 50th Session, there were only 11 women in the entire Legislature. Yet, one woman, Dorothy Nepstad, became Chair of the House Health and Welfare Committee (as it was then called), and held that position for the next three Sessions. That a woman was selected to chair one of 13 standing committee was indeed a rarity in those days and an honor for either a man or a woman and could be viewed as a testament to the high regard that her fellow legislators held for her abilities. Indeed, she was given the highest mark for legislative effectiveness in the House of Representatives in a survey conducted by the Pierre Chamber of Commerce in 1973, her second term in office.Her leadership, her knowledge of the people of South Dakota acquired through years of service to local governments, committees, and boards combined to bring greater service as a legislator to the people of South Dakota. She put that experience to work as a member of the House Local Government Committee. She also served on the House Tax Committee where she often expressed her opposition to new taxes, except if conditions warranted an increase to meet educational needs. All legislators have influence in their home states by virtue of their position, but as Chair of a standing committee, Dorothy’s leadership and impact on South Dakota was enhanced. During her ten years of service in the House of Representatives she sponsored or co-sponsored a large number of bills that covered many walks of life, from safety upgrades for boilers to governmental fiscal responsibility. But among those bills that she was especially proud of introducing were the following:To provide financial assistance and dialysis services to kidney patients through a partnership with the Minnesota Regional Kidney Disease Program, thus improving and saving the lives of renal patients who had no alternative for treatment in SD at the timeTo provide financial assistance to kidney patients for treatment and education programs once dialysis centers were established in South Dakota To revise and expand child abuse reporting laws, thus helping to prevent the tragedies of child abuse To recognize chiropractors as members of the medical establishment, thus acknowledging the valuable role they played in providing medical services to South DakotansTo update and improve licensing procedures for nurses and practical nurses, thus expanding the availability of medical services in South DakotasTo reduce the amount of inheritance tax due to the state from lineal beneficiariesTo require the attachment of fiscal notes to bills introduced into the legislatureShe was a strong and vocal supporter of the following legislation, some of which as Chair, she shepherded through the House Health and Welfare Committee:A pilot program in 1972 to provide incentives to doctors and nurses to practice in rural South DakotaThe Tuition Equalization Act, a grant program for students entering independent South Dakota collegesThe Youth Services Act that provided an alternative, more humane way to deal with young people who broke the lawThe establishment of mental health centers across the stateDevelopment of medical malpractice legislation1972 revisions to The Home Rule Constitutional Amendment of 1962 to allow counties or combinations of counties and municipalities to adopt such charters and to simplify the process Sunset law calling for the periodic review of the effectiveness of all state agencies. As reported by a SD newspaper, she declared that “the people of South Dakota are being governed to death.” Her rationale was that with the addition of 40 new agencies in recent years, a review was necessary to eliminate duplication and wasteful spending. In 1978 advocated legislative action on water issues as a chief concern for South Dakota. Conversely, she was she was not hesitant to voice her opposition to legislation that would change the fabric of lives for young people in the State:Fought against move to transfer young offenders to the State Hospital in Yankton from the Plankinton Reform School Fought against efforts by the SD Human Rights Commission to eliminate Girls State and Boys State programs, which the Commission deemed illegal due to sex segregation Fought against efforts to establish a state income tax Opposed efforts to increase taxes: “Since being in the Legislature, I have been continually concerned about preventing an increase of taxes at all levels.” However, she also believed that increases to elementary and secondary education were necessary and could be accomplished through cost cutting with the savings allocated to the schools Daily Republic 1977. She felt that such aid could also be achieved by the broadening of the sales tax. Daily Republic November 3, 1978. In summation, Dorothy Nepstad was an effective, influential, and knowledgeable State Legislator whose work improved the lives of the people of South Dakota. She was an approachable, pleasant woman, one generous with her time and counsel. Mary Edelen, a highly regarded, nine-term legislator from the 13th Legislative District, said, “Dorothy Nepstad was a true mentor to me when I first entered the SD House of Representatives in January, 1973 at the age of 29. Dorothy immediately took me under her wing and taught me how to be a good legislator.” Statewide Special Committees:Advisory Board on the Status of Women CommissionGovernor’s Rural Health ConferenceSeven-Member State Indian Negotiating Team as a House of Representatives member Legislative Medical Malpractice CommitteeSouth Dakota Local Government Study CommissionLocal Government Legislative CommitteeLegislative Medical Malpractice CommitteeElection Laws CommitteeSpecial Recognition – Letters of AppreciationDakota Wesleyan UniversitySouth Dakota State UniversityChiropractors Association of South DakotaMethodist Hospital – Mitchell, SDRegional Kidney Disease ProgramSouth Dakota State Nurses AssociationSouth Dakota State Medical AssociationNational Republican Congressional Committee1981 Business and Professional Woman of the Year – Mitchell*In the years since Dorothy Nepstad’s service in the House of Representatives, the number of women has increased tremendously. Still, she is one of 28 women who have served 10 years or longer. The sections above that outline her support or opposition are direct quotes or paraphrases from newspaper articles or interviews. Submitted by DeAnne Robinson204 3rd Street West, Unit 204Bradenton, Florida 34205dnrob@941-447-8134 ................
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