Thomas Daschle: “Today, I'd like to recognize someone whose name you won't see in the headlines, but who is truly extraordinary in every…”

“Today, I'd like to recognize someone whose name you won't see in the headlines, but who is truly extraordinary in every sense of the word. Earlier this year, my good friend Dr. Herb Cheever, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at South Dakota State University (SDSU), announced that he would retire. Dr. Cheever grew up in Brookings, South Dakota and received his undergraduate degree from SDSU. After earning his doctorate from the University of Iowa and teaching in Kansas and Wisconsin, Dr. Cheever returned to his alma mater. He and his wife Sydna raised three boys in Brookings--Jason, Michael and Gene--and Herb and Sydna have long been tireless advocates of the arts in our state. South Dakota State University is a wonderful school. Its reputation for academic excellence and cutting edge research is known across the country. Dr. Cheever is to be commended for the critical role he played in the development of the University, but he should also be recognized for his commitment to the things one can't measure by a standardized test. Dean Cheever is a passionate believer in the importance of public service.”