SDSU awards four presidential medallions

South Dakota State University President Barry Dunn bestowed SDSU Presidential Medallions upon four individuals, including one posthumously, Sept. 7 for their contributions to the university. 

The recipients were: 

• Tom Manzer, the former longtime voice of SDSU football 
• Keith Jensen, an SDSU alum and former alumni director who is often recognized as SDSU’s No. 1 fan 
• Kathy Larsen, longtime seamstress and volunteer who’s helped manage uniforms, costumes, mascots and flags for SDSU groups for decades 
• the late Robert Bartling, a longtime Brookings businessman, athlete and athletics supporter, and Briggs Library’s volunteer Prairie Striders librarian 

The SDSU Presidential Medallion is bestowed on very select individuals who have significantly contributed toward the advancement and benefit of South Dakota State University. The medallion presentations were made at halftime at SDSU football’s home opener against Incarnate Word. 

“For a public university to achieve high levels of excellence, it requires the dedicated commitment of many hands and many hearts. Your personal labors have been singular, generous and significant in the progress of South Dakota State University. It is therefore, with sincere thanks, that we recognize you with the highest symbol of the university’s great esteem and deep appreciation,” the presidential citations say. 

Tom Manzer 

For 44 years, Manzer was the voice of SDSU football. 

Manzer first saw himself behind the microphone in 1979, and he was there addressing Jackrabbits football games until 2023, when he retired. 

For almost 270 contests, Manzer was the public address announcer in both Coughlin-Alumni Stadium and Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. 

Manzer is known for his iconic voice when welcoming The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band into the stadium. He also had perfect timing to welcome The Pride back onto the field during halftime. For some of the years, Manzer was blessed to witness his son lead The Pride drumline. 

His grandson spotted for Manzer during football games from the PA booth while he was a high school student — Manzer would spot the offense, and his grandson would spot the defense.

In 1979, Manzer announced for the Jackrabbits, who went 9-3 and reached their first and only NCAA Division II playoffs. Now, Manzer can say he finished his career announcing for the back-to-back FCS Champions. 

Keith Jensen 

Jensen, a Lake Preston native, graduated from SDSU in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in journalism. He returned to Brookings in 1971 to become SDSU’s first alumni director. 

After frequent office moves, Jensen was a key piece to the standalone Alumni Association headquarters proposal and was responsible for raising $250,000 to fund Tompkins Alumni Center. It was dedicated on June 2, 1976. 

Jensen transformed the association’s limited-circulation newsletter into a publication that every alumnus receives three times a year. He also started a lobbying program for South Dakota’s public higher education and an alumni travel program. 

Leaving SDSU in 1980, Jensen served as South Dakota Newspaper Association general manager for 15 years. 

Sometimes recognized as the “No. 1 Jackrabbits Fan,” Jensen has had SDSU season tickets for 53 years. He may not make it to all the away games he would like, but he can be found at every home football game and quite a few basketball games. 

Jensen was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1988.

Kathy Larsen 

For decades, Larsen has been ensuring SDSU musicians have tip-top uniforms. 

Larsen got her start working on SDSU and Brookings theatre costumes and was eventually recruited to take over as uniform manager for The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band and SDSU’s various choir groups. 

She assists in ordering new uniforms, hems and tailors them to students, organizes dry cleaning, manages inventory and repairs the uniforms. Larsen oversees hundreds of uniforms from across the campus. 

Larsen has also dedicated her time and talents to Jackrabbits Athletics and the theatre department. Maintaining the mascot and designing and sewing some of SDSU’s flags and theatre costumes are just a few of the contributions she makes in these organizations. 

In 2023, she was nominated for the Spirit of Dakota Award that recognizes a South Dakota woman who has strong leadership and brings success into communities while showing courage, strength and love. 

Larsen gives her time to Ascension Lutheran Church, plays clarinet in the Brookings Area Community Band and leads and has cofounded various other community programs. 

Robert Bartling 

Bartling was born in Brookings in 1926, and that is where he spent most of his life until his death in February 2024. 

Bartling attended SDSU, lettering in basketball, football and track. His time at SDSU was cut short by World War II. After serving for one year, Bartling resumed his academic career at the University of Minnesota and St. Louis College of Mortuary Science. 

Returning to Brookings in 1952 with his wife, Bartling led and was a member of multiple organizations. In 1969, the Prairie Striders Library was established; it contained 636 volumes of books, roughly 5,000 periodicals and newsletters, and the results of 16 annual races. The collection was moved twice before finding its home in SDSU’s Briggs Library in 2015. Bartling volunteered countless hours in Briggs Library as the Prairie Striders librarian and converting wrestling and track and field articles into card files. 

He enjoyed running and biking and competed in races until his passing. He was also known for his service to customers while operating various businesses, including his shoe store, which was South Dakota’s first Nike reseller. 

Bartling was a longtime season ticket holder for various SDSU athletic teams.