PHS Celebrities
This two-time South Dakota Governor & current member of the U.S. Senate from South Dakota graduated from Pierre High School.
Who is U.S. Senator Mike Rounds? U.S. Senator Mike Rounds graduated from T.F. Riggs High School in 1973. As a senior, Mike Rounds participated in cross country, track and intramural basketball.
In 1911, the University of Missouri's Athletic Director, Chester Brewer invited this group of people to come home to watch the annual University of Missouri vs. University of Kansas football game.
What are alumni? The University of Missouri is credited with starting the Homecoming tradition in 1911 when their AD invited the school's "alumni to come home." Homecoming took on the meaning: "alumni come home" from that day forward.
Juneau, Alaska; Dover, Delaware; Jefferson City, Missouri and Pierre, South Dakota share this in common.
What are state capitols not serviced by an interstate highway? Juneau, Dover, Jefferson City and Pierre are the only state capitols that you cannot get to on an interstate highway.
These two staff members were Homecoming King and Queen at their respective South Dakota high schools. (Hint: One loves taking care of people, while the other teaches in the science field).
Who are Mrs. Wiebe and Mr. Brandt?
Mrs. Wiebe was Homecoming Queen of Sully Buttes High School in 1988.
Mr. Brandt was Homecoming King of Avon High School in 1984.
Pierre High School plays this "feline" football team on Friday at Trautner Stadium for Homecoming 2021.
Who are the Huron Tigers? Go Govs!
This current member of the U.S. Congress from South Dakota was Editor-In-Chief of the Governor Newspaper.
Who is U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson? Apparently, Mr. Johnson was known around Riggs as somewhat of a class cutup and served as an announcer during the Homecoming Olympics as a senior. "I may not have been the best announcer but I sure was entertaining," Johnson said in the 1995 Gumbo.
While the University of Missouri is credited by the NCAA with having the first Homecoming event in 1911, the University of Illinois claims to have the longest running homecoming tradition only missing one year for this reason since they started in 1910.
What is 1918? The University of Illinois did not hold a Homecoming game in 1918 because the Spanish Influenza pandemic prevented people from gathering in large crowds. Stay safe and remember to wear your mask at the game this year!
In 2015, Monopoly released an 80th anniversary edition of their famous board game highlighting US cities. Pierre, SD beat out these four major cities to earn the coveted "Boardwalk" spot on the game board.
What are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston?
These two staff members are former student athletes (one was a cheerleader and one was a basketball player) and were a part of their schools' Homecoming Royalty. (Hint: One loves art while the other loves technology).
Who are Ms. Kokesh & Mrs. Olson?
Ms. Kokesh was a cheerleader and member of the Stanley County High School Homecoming Royalty in 1983. During Homecoming Week at SCHS, students dressed as hobos.
Mrs. Olson participated in basketball which was a fall sport when she was a senior in 1994. For Homecoming, she and her teammates were invited to ride on top of a fire truck during the Miller Homecoming Parade. As a part of the Miller Homecoming Royalty, she was required by MHS to wear a white dress.
The PHS Homecoming game starts at this time.
What is 7:00 p.m.?
This former PHS administrator and member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, was a South Dakota State Wrestling Champion as a junior and part of PHS Homecoming Royalty as a senior in 1974.
Who is Mike Stroup? Mr. Stroup has served as a Pierre School District Vice Principal, Principal, Athletic Director and a Wrestling, Cross Country & Golf Coach. He retired in 2013 and can now be found subbing at Riggs.
Not only is it credited with hosting the first Homecoming game, but since 1985 the University of Missouri has hosted this socially conscious event as a major part of their annual Homecoming celebration.
What is a blood drive? Every year since 1985, the University of Missouri has teamed up with the American Red Cross to collect life saving blood from students, faculty and alumni during Homecoming week. Now that's a homecoming tradition with heart!
On January 27, 1988 a sitting U.S. Vice President visited Pierre and stopped at Riggs High School to give a talk to students and staff.
Who is George H.W. Bush? George H.W. Bush came to Pierre in 1988 to campaign for the US Presidency. While here, he stopped at Riggs High School to talk to students and staff.
This staff member and PHS graduate was the very first "PHS Governor First Lady" in the fall of 1986 during her senior year. (Hint: She loves to help people get to know their school).
Who is Mrs. Johnson? Mrs. Johnson's senior class of 1987 was instrumental in changing the PHS Homecoming festivities from Minneshosho Days to Governor Homecoming Days. 1986 was the first time that the Homecoming candidates were crowned as Governor and First Lady.
This fun, free activity is open to all Riggs students (grades 9-12) & staff in the Riggs Main Gym after school dismissal at 12:30 on Friday.
What are the Homecoming Olympics? All Riggs students & staff are welcome to participate.
This internationally recognized and awarded National Geographic nature photographer graduated from Pierre High School in 2003.
Who is Joe Riis? Joe Riis took his first photography class as a sophomore at Riggs and kindled his love of nature photography by photographing birds at Capitol Lake. His beautiful book titled Yellowstone Migrations is available in the Riggs Library. It is not to be missed!
The first well-documented Powder Puff football game was played by female students at this South Dakota college due to a lack of available male student athletes who were off fighting in WWII.
What is Eastern State Teacher's College in Madison, SD? Due to a lack of male student athletes who were still overseas for WWII and still hoping to have a Homecoming football game, several female students got together to stage an exhibition game in September 1945. At halftime the players applied a fresh coat of makeup and became known as "Powder Puffs" in the media.
Two sitting US Presidents have visited Pierre, SD during their time in office.
Who are FDR and JFK? Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited Pierre on August 29, 1936 and spoke to a large crowd from the rear of his train. While here, he inspected the construction site of the Governor's Mansion. John F. Kennedy came to Pierre on August 17, 1962 to dedicate the newly built Oahe Dam.
This staff member's senior year Homecoming football game was stopped in the second quarter when the lights to his Michigan high school's stadium short circuited and wouldn't come back on! (Hint: He teaches in the science field).
Who is Mr. Steele? The Homecoming game was carried over and finished the next day at noon. Mr. Steele and his teammates won the game 14-0 with his team scoring all their points on Saturday afternoon. Now that is a senior Homecoming game to remember!
The theme of this dress up day is school colors.
What is Friday's green and white dress up day? Show your school spirit by dressing up in green and white on Friday!
This famous South Dakota Visual Artist and member of the Yanktoni Dakota Tribe served as an art teacher at Pierre High School from 1954-1958.
Who is Oscar Howe? Oscar Howe, a member of the Yanktonai Dakota Tribe, grew up in Crow Creek. He attended school at the Pierre Indian Learning Center (PILC) and taught art at both PILC and at Riggs. An original Oscar Howe painting can be found in the Riggs Library. Be sure to check it out!
How's this for a fun tradition? Every year at Homecoming, the ROTC Ranger Company at Virginia Tech run this prize object 100 miles around the campus.
What is the game day football? Called the "Game- Ball Run", this fun tradition allows students to touch the game ball for luck and helps the ROTC Rangers stay fit. According to BuzzFeed it is the 6th best national college homecoming tradition. The #1 best national college homecoming tradition according to BuzzFeed (2015): Hobo Days at SDSU!
From June to September 1989, the Pierre area hosted an A-list celebrity and was the site of a movie that won 7 Academy awards including one for best picture.
Who are Kevin Costner and Dances with Wolves? Kevin Costner was frequently sighted around town and many PHS students, staff and their families worked on the film as well!
These two staff members made Homecoming memories that will not be forgotten and involve a heart breaking loss on the football field and a canoe ride across a stage as Homecoming Royalty. (Hint: Think athletics and music).
Who are Mr. Bauck and Mr. Moser?
As a junior, Mr. Bauck attended the PHS Homecoming game as a fan. Pierre was beating Mitchell (12-10) until the final seconds of the game when Mitchell kicked a 52-yd field goal to win the game. The silence at Trautner Stadium was deafening.
As a senior at Yankton High School, Mr. Moser was involved in helping plan his school's homecoming events. The highlight of the week for him was being rowed across the stage in a canoe as a part of YHS Homecoming Royalty. Their Homecoming theme that year was: "Row To Victory!"
This activity takes place on the Riggs High School front steps promptly at 8 a.m. on Friday morning.
What is the Senior class picture? If you are a senior and you want to be immortalized in your class picture make sure you are on the front steps of Riggs High at 8 a.m. on Friday. The photographer waits for no one, so don't be late!