Distinguished Engineer
Hometown: Brookings
Electrical Engineering ,
Robert F. Risch started his career as a field engineer with Sioux Valley Empire Electric Association in Colman and was later promoted to assistant manager. After four years there, he spent a year as engineer in charge of right-of-way acquisition and construction material coordination for the newly formed Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative. He then became general manager for the Northeast Nebraska Rural Public Power District for eight years. His next position was as chief engineer for the Tri-state Generation and Transmission Association in Denver. During the 17 years he was employed there, he was involved in directing the planning, construction and operation of transmission and power generation facilities. In 1979, Risch assumed the position of executive director of the Missouri Basin Systems Group. This organization was responsible for joint planning and operation of the power supply and transmission for its 300 electric utility members in the nine state Upper Missouri basin Risch held a professional engineering license in South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming and was a life member of IEEE. He was very active in the Gideons International and was state president in Colorado. His wife Roberta Coxe Risch was also a South Dakota native and a 1943 history graduate of South Dakota State College.