Thomas Daschle: “this day marks the retirement of a legend in broadcast journalism in South Dakota. Steve Hemmingsen, who has faithfully…”

“this day marks the retirement of a legend in broadcast journalism in South Dakota. Steve Hemmingsen, who has faithfully delivered news to living rooms in my home state for over twenty-five years, will give his last regular broadcast tonight. There's an old story about Calvin Coolidge, told shortly after he left the White House. He was filling out a standard form, which asked for standard information. Line 1 asked for his name and address. Line 2 asked for his ``Occupation'', for which he answered ``Retired''. Line 3 was titled ``Remarks.'' Mr. Coolidge responded ``Glad of it.'' I hope that Steve Hemmingsen will share that sentiment: glad to be retired from the rigors of his job--but never fully removed from his audience, the thousands of people who have relied on him for their news for more than two decades. Steve grew up just across the border in Minnesota, and after graduating from high school, he landed his first job in broadcasting at the ``Polka Station of the Nation'' in New Ulm. Later, he studied at the Brown Institute and was hired by KELO-TV in 1969. He has been a fixture there and on our nightly news ever since. It has been estimated that since Steve began working the 6:00 and 10:00 pm news at KELO, he has delivered about eighteen thousand newscasts.”