John Thune

United States Senator

Posted: March 29th 2010

From KSFY News:

The headlines from papers dating back to the 1930's tell you that Harold Thune made an major impact on the local basketball scene.

That's why he, along with 18 other players, was inducted into South Dakota's inaugural class of the High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

Thune says, "it's a real honor to be considered for it and to be here today."

...

All of Thune's kids played basketball, so the stories abound. One of Harold's kids is Senator John Thune, who says "I think he's very honored by it and very appreciative that the people who put this all together found fit to include him in this first class and it a very exciting day obviously for him and for all of us."

As everyone gathered to share memories, look at photos from back in the day, and tell stories, talk turned to life lessons learned on and off the basketball court.

"Well in anything you do, the amount of work you put in determines a lot of the outcome. I grew up in the 30's right after the depression and the dust storms. You had to provide your own entertainment as cheaply as you could, so a lot of games were kids playing in the backyard with a hoop tied up on the garage."

In fact Harold Thune graduated from Murdo High School in 1937.

He went on to become a Gopher, playing at the University of Minnesota, where he made a similar splash. He went on to join the Air Force after graduating in 1941.

Harold Thune turned 90 in December but still holds court.

In his speech, he talked about making it to the state "B" championship in 1937 and losing to Doland, and the fact that one of his sons "went and married a girl from Doland."

And what family interaction is complete without a little ribbing? "You can still lace em up, can't you Dad?," asks his son the senator.

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John Thune

United States Senator

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