Robert Danny "Dan" Dryden (July 12, 1944 – August 30, 2016) was an American politician. He was a Republican member of the

South Dakota House of Representatives The South Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Dakota Legislature. It consists of 70 members, two from each legislative district. Two of the state's 35 legislative districts, Districts 26 and 28, are each subdivided ...

, and represented District 34 from January 11, 2011, until his death.

Early life and education

Born in

Hot Springs, South Dakota Hot Springs (Lakota: ''mni kȟáta''; "hot water") is a city in and the county seat of Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 3,395. In addition, neighboring Oglala Lakota County contracts ...

, Dryden grew up on a ranch in

Oelrichs, South Dakota Oelrichs (Lakota language, Lakota: ''šuŋkpȟáwaksa''; "Severed Horse Head") is a town in Fall River County, South Dakota, Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 117 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Hi ...

. Dryden went to school in Olerichs, South Dakota. Dryden graduated from

Black Hills State University Black Hills State University (BHSU) is a public university in Spearfish, South Dakota, United States. Close to 4,000 students attend classes at its campus in Spearfish, with a satellite campus in Rapid City which is shared with South Dakota Sta ...

with a bachelor's degree and then graduated from

South Dakota State University South Dakota State University (SDSU or SD State) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Brookings, South Dakota, United States. Founded in 1881, it is the state's largest university and is the sec ...

with a master's degree. Dryden worked for the Rapid City Area School district as the financial officer. Dryden also taught courses in public administration and instruction law at the South Dakota State University.

Elections

*2012 Dryden and incumbent Republican Representative David Lust were unopposed for the June 5, 2012 Republican Primary; in the four-way November 6, 2012 General election incumbent Republican Representative David Lust took the first seat and Dryden took the second seat with 6,145 votes (34.18%) ahead of returning 2010 Democratic nominee John Willman and

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

candidate Mike Reardon. *2010 When incumbent Republican Representative Ed McLaughlin was

term limit A term limit is a legal restriction on the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method of curbing the potential for monopoly, w ...

ed and left the Legislature leaving a District 34 seat open, Dryden ran in the three-way June 8, 2010 Republican Primary and placed second with 1,432 votes (31.43%); in the four-way November 2, 2010 General election incumbent Republican Representative David Lust took the first seat and Dryden took the second seat with 5,638 votes (34.56%) ahead of Democratic nominees Devin Oliver and John Willman.

Death

Dryden died of cancer on August 30, 2016, while still in office.

References

External links

Official page
at the

South Dakota Legislature The South Dakota 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 7 ...

* 1944 births 2016 deaths People from Hot Springs, South Dakota Politicians from Rapid City, South Dakota Black Hills State University alumni South Dakota State University alumni South Dakota State University faculty Republican Party members of the South Dakota House of Representatives 21st-century members of the South Dakota Legislature {{SouthDakota-politician-stub