Richard F. Kneip
Encyclopedia
Richard Francis "Dick" Kneip (January 7, 1933 – March 9, 1987) was the 25th Governor
of the U.S. state
of South Dakota
from 1971 until 1978. He was a member of the Democratic Party
and the first Catholic
Governor of South Dakota.
, to Berniece and Frank Kneip, who lived in Elkton, South Dakota
.He was of Luxembourgish ancestry. He attended South Dakota State University
and St. John’s University
. He served in the U.S. Air Force and then owned a wholesale dairy equipment distributorship in Salem, South Dakota
. He served in the South Dakota Legislature
as a State Senator from 1965 to 1971.
When Richard F. Kneip was elected governor of South Dakota in 1970, defeating the Republican
incumbent Frank Farrar
, he was only the fourth governor elected from the Democratic Party since statehood. Known to the state's voters as "Dick", Kneip gained popularity through his "people to people" campaigns. Kneip memorably launched his 1970 campaign for governor with radio ads asking "What is a Kneip?".
At the time he first took office, Dick Kneip became the youngest governor the state had elected. Kneip and his wife, Nancy, moved into the governor's mansion, along with their eight sons.
Kneip's first term was noted for major reform efforts. He successfully overhauled the organization of state government by creating a cabinet system. Kneip was re-elected in 1972, and became the last governor of South Dakota to serve a two-year term. He twice served two-year terms and then was elected to a final four-year term in 1974. This made Kneip the first governor to be elected three times.
At the start of Kneip's second term in 1973, the state gained national attention because of a standoff between Native American
activists and government agents at Wounded Knee
.
Kneip appeared on the November 19, 1977 episode of Saturday Night Live
as one of the five finalists in the show's "Anyone Can Host" contest, which was won by Miskel Spillman
.
Kneip resigned as governor on July 24, 1978, a few months before the expiration of his third term. He had been selected by President
Jimmy Carter
to become the United States ambassador to Singapore
.
Kneip sought to return to the governor's mansion in 1986, but he narrowly lost his party's nomination in the state Democratic Party primary to nominee Lars Herseth that June. Although he had pondered yet another attempt at returning to public life, Kneip was diagnosed with cancer in early 1987. He died in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
, on March 9, 1987 at the age of 54. He was buried in St. Michael Cemetery in Sioux Falls.
In 1997, U.S. Highway 14 from Brookings
to Elkton
, was officially designated as the Richard Kneip Memorial Highway.
Governor of South Dakota
The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. They are elected to a four year term on even years when there is no Presidential election. The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican elected in 2010....
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
from 1971 until 1978. He was a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and the first Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Governor of South Dakota.
Biography
Kneip was born on January 7, 1933, in Tyler, MinnesotaTyler, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,218 people, 532 households, and 338 families residing in the city. The population density was 632.8 people per square mile . There were 577 housing units at an average density of 299.8 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 97.78% White, 0.49%...
, to Berniece and Frank Kneip, who lived in Elkton, South Dakota
Elkton, South Dakota
Elkton is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 736 at the 2010 census. Some of Elkton's population also have Minnesota addresses since the city is located so close the state line.-Geography:...
.He was of Luxembourgish ancestry. He attended South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
and St. John’s University
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
The College of Saint Benedict , for women, and Saint John's University , for men, are partnered liberal arts colleges respectively located in St. Joseph and Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Students attend classes and activities together, and have access to the resources of both campuses...
. He served in the U.S. Air Force and then owned a wholesale dairy equipment distributorship in Salem, South Dakota
Salem, South Dakota
Salem is a city in and the county seat of McCook County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,347 at the 2010 census. The current mayor is Kennth Scott, a long-time resident. Salem at one time was called Melas...
. He served in the South Dakota Legislature
South Dakota Legislature
The South Dakota State Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of South Dakota. It is a bicameral legislative body, consisting of the South Dakota Senate, which has 35 members, and the South Dakota House of Representatives, which has 70 members...
as a State Senator from 1965 to 1971.
When Richard F. Kneip was elected governor of South Dakota in 1970, defeating the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent Frank Farrar
Frank Farrar
Frank Leroy Farrar was an American politician and the 24th Governor of South Dakota. A Republican from Britton, he served as the state's attorney general from 1963 to 1969, and as governor from 1969 to 1971. After leaving office, he chaired several holding companies and became the owner of...
, he was only the fourth governor elected from the Democratic Party since statehood. Known to the state's voters as "Dick", Kneip gained popularity through his "people to people" campaigns. Kneip memorably launched his 1970 campaign for governor with radio ads asking "What is a Kneip?".
At the time he first took office, Dick Kneip became the youngest governor the state had elected. Kneip and his wife, Nancy, moved into the governor's mansion, along with their eight sons.
Kneip's first term was noted for major reform efforts. He successfully overhauled the organization of state government by creating a cabinet system. Kneip was re-elected in 1972, and became the last governor of South Dakota to serve a two-year term. He twice served two-year terms and then was elected to a final four-year term in 1974. This made Kneip the first governor to be elected three times.
At the start of Kneip's second term in 1973, the state gained national attention because of a standoff between Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
activists and government agents at Wounded Knee
Wounded Knee, South Dakota
Wounded Knee is a census-designated place in Shannon County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 382 at the 2010 census....
.
Kneip appeared on the November 19, 1977 episode of Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
as one of the five finalists in the show's "Anyone Can Host" contest, which was won by Miskel Spillman
Miskel Spillman
Miskel Spillman was the winner of the first and only "Anyone Can Host" contest on NBC's late-night variety series Saturday Night Live, and hosted the December 17, 1977, broadcast of the show.-Role in SNL history:...
.
Kneip resigned as governor on July 24, 1978, a few months before the expiration of his third term. He had been selected by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
to become the United States ambassador to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Kneip sought to return to the governor's mansion in 1986, but he narrowly lost his party's nomination in the state Democratic Party primary to nominee Lars Herseth that June. Although he had pondered yet another attempt at returning to public life, Kneip was diagnosed with cancer in early 1987. He died in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
, on March 9, 1987 at the age of 54. He was buried in St. Michael Cemetery in Sioux Falls.
In 1997, U.S. Highway 14 from Brookings
Brookings, South Dakota
Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is the fourth largest city in South Dakota, with a population of 22,056 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brookings County, and home to South Dakota State University, the largest institution of higher...
to Elkton
Elkton, South Dakota
Elkton is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 736 at the 2010 census. Some of Elkton's population also have Minnesota addresses since the city is located so close the state line.-Geography:...
, was officially designated as the Richard Kneip Memorial Highway.