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Gordon Garnos Papers

Finding Aid

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Collection Summary

Identifier

MA 82

Title

Gordon Garnos Papers

Creator

Garnos, Gordon

Dates

1998-2016

Extent

1 linear foot (1 records center box)

Language

English

Repository

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Access note

This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. The materials in the Archives do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Preferred Citation

Name of item. Gordon Garnos Papers. MA 82. South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Abstract

Gordon Richard Garnos was born April 6, 1935, in Presho, South Dakota. He received a B.S. from the University of South Dakota and was in the United States Air Force (1954-1958). He worked for the Watertown [South Dakota] Public Opinion (1964-1966; 1968-2002) and retired in 2002 as its editor. After retirement, Garnos continued to write editorials and his column, “Seeing South Dakota,” was printed in over a dozen newspapers in South Dakota. The collection consists of editorials written by Gordon Garnos between 1998 and 2016, including those printed in the Watertown [South Dakota] Public Opinion and his column, “Seeing South Dakota.”

Biographical Note

Gordon Richard Garnos was born April 6, 1935, in Presho, South Dakota, to Carl and Louise (Schnert) Garnos. He joined the United States Air Force (1954-1958). He received a B.S. from the University of South Dakota in 1964. He accepted a position as a reporter for the Watertown [South Dakota] Public Opinion. He stayed there for over a year before becoming the Executive Vice President of the American Cancer Society of South Dakota. He was in this position for two years and returned to the Watertown Public Opinion in 1968. Garnos worked his way up at the paper holding various positions, including Area Editor and News Editor. In 1980, he became the Editor of the Watertown Public Opinion. He retired in 2002 from this position.

Although he was retired, Garnos continued to write. In 2002, he began to write a weekly opinion column “Seeing South Dakota.” Nearly a dozen newspapers in South Dakota ran his column. He continued to write the column until his passing 2016.

Gordon Garnos received numerous awards and honors not only for his professional work, but also work he did in the community. The Department of Journalism & Mass Communication at South Dakota State University named him a Lusk Fellow. He was inducted into South Dakota Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2007 and South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2010. Garnos was awarded multiple Golden Apple awards from the South Dakota Education Association. He was also named South Dakota Newsman of the year in 1981. Garnos was elected to the Watertown City Council in 2002 and served two terms.

Garnos married Elizabeth McFarlane in Chester, England on September 7, 1958. They had four children William, Heather Simmonds, Richard, and Christopher. Gordon Garnos died December 9, 2016.

Contents Note

The collection consists of editorials written by Gordon Garnos between 1998 and 2016. The editorials were printed in the Watertown [South Dakota] Public Opinion and his column, “Seeing South Dakota,” was syndicated in newspapers in South Dakota. Lists of the editorials are included in the folders.

Key Words

Editorials –- South Dakota

Journalists -- South Dakota

Watertown (S.D.) -- Newspapers

Watertown public opinion

Garnos, Gordon Richard

Container List

View container list on Open Prairie

Gordon Garnos Papers Container List. MA 82
BoxFolderDescriptionDate(s)
117Agriculture Columns from Seeing South Dakota columns by Gordon Garnos2002
11City and Area Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion1998
14City and Area Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion1999
17City and Area Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion2000
110City and Area Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion2001
113City and Area Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion2002
116Column Index Listings of Seeing South Dakota column by Gordon Garnos2002
129Columns by Gordon Garnos2006
137Columns by Gordon Garnos2014
125Columns by Gordon Garnos2002-2003
126Columns by Gordon Garnos2004
128Columns by Gordon Garnos2005
130Columns by Gordon Garnos2007
134Columns by Gordon Garnos2011
131Columns by Gordon Garnos in reverse chronological order2008
135Columns by Gordon Garnos in reverse chronological order2012
136Columns by Gordon Garnos in reverse chronological order2013
132Columns by Gordon Garnos in reverse chronological order; columns begin with April 3, 20092009
133Columns by Gordon Garnos in reverse chronological order; there is a gap between January 4 and March 12010
139Columns by Gordon Garnos; October 31, 2016 is the final column2016
138Columns by Gordon Garnos; there is a gap between January 19 and March 22015
118Economic Development Columns from Seeing South Dakota columns by Gordon Garnos2002
119Education Columns from Seeing South Dakota columns by Gordon Garnos2002
120Governor Columns from Seeing South Dakota columns by Gordon Garnos2002
121Legislature Columns from Seeing South Dakota columns by Gordon Garnos2002
122Local Interest Columns from Seeing South Dakota columns by Gordon Garnos2002
123National Columns from Seeing South Dakota columns by Gordon Garnos2002
16National Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion1999
19National Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion2000
112National Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion2001
13National Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion1998
115National Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion2002
140Obituary of Gordon Garnos and death notice email from Beth Garnos to subscribers to his column2016
124Politics Columns from Seeing South Dakota columns by Gordon Garnos2002
127Reverse chronological title list, including publication date, of weekly columns by Gordon Garnos2005-2007
18State Editorials from the "Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion2000
12State Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion1998
15State Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion1999
111State Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion2001
114State Editorials from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion2002

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. The materials in the Archives do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Researchers conducting extensive research are asked to make an advance appointment to access archival material. Please call or e-mail prior to visiting the collection and indicate as much detail as possible about a particular topic and intended use.

South Dakota State University supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted as a result of their fragile condition or by contractual agreements with donors.

Copyright note

Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different materials. Many of the documents and other historical materials in the Archives are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. There are other materials in the Archive carrying a copyright interest and must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted material.

Arranged and Described by

Ann Eichinger