T F Riggs High School Alumni
Pierre, South Dakota (SD)
Recent Members
| Chrystal Schofield | 1990 |
| Katherine Dame | 1993 |
| Katie Kelley | 1986 |
| Lori Stahl | 1989 |
| Lynn Wendt | 1987 |
| Michael Poile | 1970 |
| Richard Allen Merkel Richard Allen Merkel | 1978 |
| Sara Pecks | 2012 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your T F Riggs High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Governors lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Bill Lillibridge
Class of 1964
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
"..in every clime and place..."
Class of 1964
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
"..in every clime and place..."
Brian Nelson
Class of 1975
Air Force, 4 Years
Also served three years in the SD Army National Guard
Class of 1975
Air Force, 4 Years
Also served three years in the SD Army National Guard
Charles H. Walker
Class of 1964
Army, 20+ Years
National Guard 26 years
147th Field Artillery
200 th Combat Engineers (Recon Diver for
19 years)
First Infantry Division
3rd Division Artillery, Kitzigen, Germany Larson Barracks 1968-1970
Communication Sergeant
Retired 1992 as SSGT.
Total Service 42 years 9 Months 22 Days
Class of 1964
Army, 20+ Years
National Guard 26 years
147th Field Artillery
200 th Combat Engineers (Recon Diver for
19 years)
First Infantry Division
3rd Division Artillery, Kitzigen, Germany Larson Barracks 1968-1970
Communication Sergeant
Retired 1992 as SSGT.
Total Service 42 years 9 Months 22 Days
Chris Dockter
Class of 2004
Navy, 4 Years
Served the Silent Service onboard USS Rhode Island Ballistic Missile Submarine
Class of 2004
Navy, 4 Years
Served the Silent Service onboard USS Rhode Island Ballistic Missile Submarine
Dan Ewert
Class of 1973
Air Force, 8 Years
Served as NCOIC of Surgical Services at Tyndall AFB in FL
Class of 1973
Air Force, 8 Years
Served as NCOIC of Surgical Services at Tyndall AFB in FL
David Thompson
Class of 1951
Marine Corps, 3 Years
Served in the Korean War 1952-1953
Class of 1951
Marine Corps, 3 Years
Served in the Korean War 1952-1953
Dennis W Germann
Class of 1964
Navy, 4 Years
1968-1972: AQ-F... radar technician for AWG 10 radar on the F4J Phantom. Stationed at Miramar NAS until posted to carrier USS Constellation CVA64. Ships company with one 9-month cruise West Pac.
Class of 1964
Navy, 4 Years
1968-1972: AQ-F... radar technician for AWG 10 radar on the F4J Phantom. Stationed at Miramar NAS until posted to carrier USS Constellation CVA64. Ships company with one 9-month cruise West Pac.
Ernie Williams
Class of 1977
Army, 18 Years
Ft. Knox, basic AIT 63N. Then to Ft. Lewis WA HHC 2/77 Armor. 1981 off to Wiesbaden FRG A1/70 Armor. Then to Ft. Polk LA, HHC 3/70 Armor. Break in service 9 months (civilians drove me nuts). Re-up off to Ft. Riley KS, reclassified to 54B/J (Recon). Ft McClellan AL, Chemical Corps school. Then back to Ft. Riley KS. Schools included TAMMS school, Motor Sgt. school, PLDC, BNCOA. Short stint in the SDANG until diagnosed with MS.
Class of 1977
Army, 18 Years
Ft. Knox, basic AIT 63N. Then to Ft. Lewis WA HHC 2/77 Armor. 1981 off to Wiesbaden FRG A1/70 Armor. Then to Ft. Polk LA, HHC 3/70 Armor. Break in service 9 months (civilians drove me nuts). Re-up off to Ft. Riley KS, reclassified to 54B/J (Recon). Ft McClellan AL, Chemical Corps school. Then back to Ft. Riley KS. Schools included TAMMS school, Motor Sgt. school, PLDC, BNCOA. Short stint in the SDANG until diagnosed with MS.
James L. Riggs
Class of 1955
Marine Corps, 15 Years
Jim was commissioned in 1957 and served two tours of duty in Viet Nam flying both the Crusader and Corsair, then Sikorsky helicopters. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and 19 other medals while serving in the USMC. Jim is now a Lt. Colonel, retired, and has recently been inducted into the South Dakota Combat Hall of Fame. Jim began flying in 1953 for Ice Flying Service in Pierre. After serving in the Marine Corps, he flew for United Airlines from 1971 through 1997. He continued to fly his own plane, a custom built Piper until 2008, when, at the age of 71, he retired after flying for 55 years. Jim lives in The Woodlands, Texas.
Class of 1955
Marine Corps, 15 Years
Jim was commissioned in 1957 and served two tours of duty in Viet Nam flying both the Crusader and Corsair, then Sikorsky helicopters. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and 19 other medals while serving in the USMC. Jim is now a Lt. Colonel, retired, and has recently been inducted into the South Dakota Combat Hall of Fame. Jim began flying in 1953 for Ice Flying Service in Pierre. After serving in the Marine Corps, he flew for United Airlines from 1971 through 1997. He continued to fly his own plane, a custom built Piper until 2008, when, at the age of 71, he retired after flying for 55 years. Jim lives in The Woodlands, Texas.
JERRY HENRICKSON
Class of 1959
Army, 4 Years
First two years at a Seattle defense missle base, then Fort Hood, Infantry!
Class of 1959
Army, 4 Years
First two years at a Seattle defense missle base, then Fort Hood, Infantry!
Jim Sparks
Class of 1959
National Guard, 20+ Years
Jim joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard in 1964 after graduating from Oklahoma University. Lost his deferrment, so signed up. Received a direct commission due to his two year of ROTC and an engineering degree, and attended WACO James Connally AFB Navigator training.
Graduated, and began flying with the Air Guard all over the world and loved it so stayed in....including transferring to Phoenix Air Guard when he moved to Phoenix to serve as City Traffic Engineer.
Ended up retiring as a Lt Col with over 4000 flying hours, having visited Korea multiple times and Vietnam multiple times, and Iraq once.
Class of 1959
National Guard, 20+ Years
Jim joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard in 1964 after graduating from Oklahoma University. Lost his deferrment, so signed up. Received a direct commission due to his two year of ROTC and an engineering degree, and attended WACO James Connally AFB Navigator training.
Graduated, and began flying with the Air Guard all over the world and loved it so stayed in....including transferring to Phoenix Air Guard when he moved to Phoenix to serve as City Traffic Engineer.
Ended up retiring as a Lt Col with over 4000 flying hours, having visited Korea multiple times and Vietnam multiple times, and Iraq once.
Kay Hins
Class of 1966
Army, 18 Years
United States Army Nurse Corps; Major (retired); served in Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio. Served United States Army active duty, United States Army Reserves, and United States Individual Army Reserves.
Class of 1966
Army, 18 Years
United States Army Nurse Corps; Major (retired); served in Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio. Served United States Army active duty, United States Army Reserves, and United States Individual Army Reserves.
Kay Hins
Class of 1966
Army, 9 Years
Major in the United States Arny Nurse Corps; later served in the Army Reserves and IRR.
Class of 1966
Army, 9 Years
Major in the United States Arny Nurse Corps; later served in the Army Reserves and IRR.
Louis Chamales
Class of 1969
Army, 8 Years
Airborne Ranger, 2nd Lt. platoon leader, 1st Lt. XO, Captain company commander.
Class of 1969
Army, 8 Years
Airborne Ranger, 2nd Lt. platoon leader, 1st Lt. XO, Captain company commander.
Marshall C. (“Marc”) Miller, Jr.
Class of 1972
Air Force, 23 Years
Enlisted in 1973; commissioned in 1978; F-111 Weapon Systems Officer 1980-92 (Operations Desert Shield/Storm); Project/Program Manager AF Seek Eagle Office1993-96; Detachment Commander AFROTC Det 420 (UMD) 1996-99.
Class of 1972
Air Force, 23 Years
Enlisted in 1973; commissioned in 1978; F-111 Weapon Systems Officer 1980-92 (Operations Desert Shield/Storm); Project/Program Manager AF Seek Eagle Office1993-96; Detachment Commander AFROTC Det 420 (UMD) 1996-99.
Patrick Quinney
Class of 1964
National Guard, 11 Years
Battery Commander, HQ and HQ Battery, 1st Btn., 265th Air Defense Artillery, FANG.
Class of 1964
National Guard, 11 Years
Battery Commander, HQ and HQ Battery, 1st Btn., 265th Air Defense Artillery, FANG.
Richard John Smith
Class of 1963
Army, 2 Years
Dick was drafted into the service in 1969 and then went into OCS and became a 1st Lt. and then went to Vietnam and was a forward artillery observer. While on duty he was continually sprayed with Agent Orange as he was performing his duty as a forward observer. When he came home he told his family that he would probably die of exposure to that spray and he did. He had health problems continually after leaving the service but his physicians couldn’t find anything wrong, until in late July 2007 he found six dollar sized lumps on his body. He went to Mayo in Rochester, Mn. and they diagnosed him with multi-system cancer and gave him a poor prognosis, Dick passed away in Nov. 2007. He will be missed by his wife, 4 children, his father, siblings, family and friends!
Class of 1963
Army, 2 Years
Dick was drafted into the service in 1969 and then went into OCS and became a 1st Lt. and then went to Vietnam and was a forward artillery observer. While on duty he was continually sprayed with Agent Orange as he was performing his duty as a forward observer. When he came home he told his family that he would probably die of exposure to that spray and he did. He had health problems continually after leaving the service but his physicians couldn’t find anything wrong, until in late July 2007 he found six dollar sized lumps on his body. He went to Mayo in Rochester, Mn. and they diagnosed him with multi-system cancer and gave him a poor prognosis, Dick passed away in Nov. 2007. He will be missed by his wife, 4 children, his father, siblings, family and friends!
Ron Boyd
Class of 1965
Navy, 27 Years
Enlisted in 1966, served honorably for 27 years, retired in 1993 with rank of Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9). Served as a crytologic technician. Stationed in San Diego CA, Pensacola FL, Sidi Yahia Morocco, Ft. Devens MA, Kamisaya Japan, Ft. Meade MD, Albany GA, USS Independence, Recon Attack Squadron 14, Rota Spain, USS Caron, Wahiawa HI, Misawa Japan, Winter Harbor ME. Two final tours in Misawa and Winter Harbor were as Command Master Chief. Following retirement returned to Pierre where I became very involved with the American Legion. Served as Pierre Post Commander, District Commander and then was hired as the State Adjutant for the South Dakota American Legion and moved to Watertown where the SD American Legion Headquarters is located. Served as State Adjutant and Legion's legislative lobbyist from 1999-2009. Moved to Maine to be closer to grandchildren.
Class of 1965
Navy, 27 Years
Enlisted in 1966, served honorably for 27 years, retired in 1993 with rank of Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9). Served as a crytologic technician. Stationed in San Diego CA, Pensacola FL, Sidi Yahia Morocco, Ft. Devens MA, Kamisaya Japan, Ft. Meade MD, Albany GA, USS Independence, Recon Attack Squadron 14, Rota Spain, USS Caron, Wahiawa HI, Misawa Japan, Winter Harbor ME. Two final tours in Misawa and Winter Harbor were as Command Master Chief. Following retirement returned to Pierre where I became very involved with the American Legion. Served as Pierre Post Commander, District Commander and then was hired as the State Adjutant for the South Dakota American Legion and moved to Watertown where the SD American Legion Headquarters is located. Served as State Adjutant and Legion's legislative lobbyist from 1999-2009. Moved to Maine to be closer to grandchildren.
Wayne Rieger
Class of 1974
Navy, 22 Years
P.O. First Class, Aviation Maintenance Administration
Class of 1974
Navy, 22 Years
P.O. First Class, Aviation Maintenance Administration
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from T F Riggs High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Governors.
School News
A Baby Boy
Some of you are aware and some of you are not, on October 19, 2010, God blessed me in having my 1st and only child. A l...
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Our T F Riggs High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our T F Riggs High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Pierre are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!