A wonderful coffee table book has been published by the South Dakota State Historical Society Press in advance of the 100^th Anniversary of our South Dakota State Capitol. The history was researched and written by Marshall Damgaard.

Our State Capitol is a treasure but in his own way so is Marshall. Marshall in the past almost 30 years has been generally behind the scenes.

Marshall loves South Dakota and he has served and touched our State in so many ways. Foremost Marshall is a gifted writer. He loves history and not only has a keen eye for observing but more importantly because of his knowledge of history understands the context and under current of the deeper story that is not as easily seen or understood.

Marshall a good and loyal friend spent many years working in State Government. He first went to work as an aide to Governor Bill Janklow where he worked on special projects in the Governor’s Office and what was then simply known as Tourism where he had a role as the Creative Director. Some of the more important projects he worked on and what brings special meaning and love to this book were the development of the modern Hilger’s Gulch and the redesign of the Capitol Grounds and Parking Lots at the Capitol Building.

Marshall also in the private sector was briefly associated with Lars Herseth but returned to State Government as the Executive Director of the Public Utilities Commission. Marshall a loyal Republican was hired by the Democrat controlled Commission of Jim Berg, Ken Stofferhan, and Laska Schoenfelder. Marshall also worked in the telecommunications industry before returning to work for Governor Janklow and then following him to Washington, DC when the Governor became our Congressman.

Tony Dean wrote of Marshall on his blog and it does sum up his outstanding capabilities.

“South Dakota State Capitol: The First Century” is a must have book for anyone who is interested in South Dakota history or who marvels at our beautiful State Capitol. Marshall very detailed history the Capitol Wars and how Pierre became the Permanent Capitol is a great read for all South Dakota History buffs. The description of the building’s construction, detail and use leaves out little that is known. The photographs that accompany the narrative are wonderful add in a synergistic way to the narrative.

Given the quality of the book, it is very inexpensively priced and those interested in South Dakota, her politics and her history should purchase this book.

Endbar – a former Republican National Committee Associate Edgar Welden who served as the National Committeeman from Alabama wrote the ultimate vanity book, called “Time Out – A Sports Fan’s Dream Year” where he took off an entire year from his family and his work to attend more than 250 sporting events including almost all of the major ones (Super Bowl, Final Four, World Series, The Masters, Iditarod, Stanley Cup, the Hawaiian Ironman Competition, Army Navy football game among others. He traveled to every state. Just to add to his adventure on side trips he toured all 50 State Capitols. In his book he ranked South Dakota’s Capitol in the top 5 as most beautiful.

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