Rounds: Janklow's Influence Felt Across The State

PIERRE, SD - Bill Janklow's influence is being felt across the state, but especially in Pierre. His influence at the capitol is still felt today.

KELOLAND News' Ben Dunsmoor was live in Pierre Thursday evening to speak with former Governor Mike Rounds, who took over for Janklow. He was governor when Bill Janklow was involved in a car crash that killed a motorcyclist.

"I mean you lose a man and Bill Jankow felt that. He said, 'Yeah, I will live with that for the rest of my life. I took a life.' He said, 'I can't ever get that back.' And I told him that we understood that. And we knew that it was something that had occurred. At the same time, those who had worked with him before were still willing to work with him. And we wished him the best, knowing that this would never go away," Rounds said.

Round remembers Janklow as a very humble man.

"I remember asking him one time when are you going to put your picture on the wall?  And he said, 'Oh I'm not going to do that.' I said, 'Well why not?' And he said, 'It's not necessary. For history it's not necessary.'

To hear more of Rounds' answers click on the video player below.