[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   TRIBUTE TO KAY RIORDAN STEUERWALD

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to Kay Riordan 
Steuerwald, who passed away earlier this week in Rapid City after a 
lengthy battle with cancer. South Dakota has lost an outstanding 
citizen.
  Kay was one of South Dakota's premier leaders in the tourism industry 
for many years. To her many friends in South Dakota and throughout the 
Nation, Kay's name always will be associated with Mount Rushmore. As 
president of the Mount Rushmore Mountain Co., Inc., Kay ran a first-
rate, visitor-friendly concession operation at our Nation's shrine to 
democracy for 42 years until 1993. She attributed her success to an 
emphasis on good service and reasonable prices.
  Kay also was a leader on the national level in tourism and national 
park concession circles. In the early 1980's, I recommended Kay's 
appointment to the U.S. Senate National Travel and Tourism Advisory 
Council. Through her position on that council and her leadership in 
numerous other organizations, Kay was an outspoken advocate for the 
tourism industry, which has tremendous economic impact in all States.
  Kay provided an excellent role model for women seeking to become 
small business owners. This is a reflection of her business acumen and 
her adherence to the work ethic. She succeeded as a businesswoman 
during a period when for many years business was traditionally 
considered a man's world. Her first job was in the South Dakota 
Transportation Department in Pierre during the administration of 
Democratic Gov. Tom Berry in the 1930's. Her career as a business owner 
began with her purchase of a coffeeshop and subsequently a hotel in 
Martin, SD. In 1941, she left Martin to become manager of the State 
Game Lodge in Custer State Park. Ten years later, she began operating 
the concession at Mount Rushmore.
  Over the years, Kay touched the lives either directly or indirectly 
of literally millions of visitors to Mount Rushmore. Countless 
individuals have fond memories of a wonderful dinner--topped off by a 
piece of the Mountain Co.'s famous strawberry pie--in the Buffalo 
Dining Room gazing out the windows at the priceless view of our four 
great Presidents on Mount Rushmore.
  Kay was very active in many organizations and community activities. 
Too numerous to mention all of them, her civic involvement included the 
National Park Concessionaires, National Federation of Independent 
Businesses, South Dakota Tourism Advisory Board, National Park 
Foundation, South Dakota Historical Society, American Council of the 
Arts, South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center, South Dakota 4-H 
Foundation, and executive board of A Christian Ministry in the National 
Parks.
  Having led a life full of accomplishments, Kay also received numerous 
awards over the years. She was one of the few women ever to be named an 
Honorary Park Ranger by the National Park Service. She was the first 
woman to receive the South Dakotan of the Year Distinguished Service 
Award from the University of South Dakota and was named South Dakota 
Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration 
in 1980. May 5, 1982, was designated as Kay Riordan Day by Gov. Bill 
Janklow. In 1985, Kay received South Dakota's prestigious Ben Black Elk 
Award for Tourism.
  In addition to her philanthropic contributions to numerous civic 
projects, Kay also helped many people privately on an individual basis. 
She frequently took young people under her wings and assisted them with 
furthering their education or getting started in business. Kay was a 
strong patron of the arts, particularly for native American artists.
  Those of us who knew Kay can recall our own special encounters with 
her. I recall Kay's gracious hospitality when my wife, Harriet, and I 
spent our honeymoon in the Black Hills in the early 1980's. Kay always 
made visitors feel welcome whenever they stopped by her business or her 
second-story office with the beautiful view of Mount Rushmore. Many 
lessons can be learned from Kay's perseverance in the business world, 
her strongly held personal convictions, and her courageous struggle 
with cancer these past few years.
  South Dakota has lost a true pioneer. In business, in her community, 
and in her heart, Kay was a trailblazer. Harriet and I extend our 
sympathies to her husband, Charlie; her nephew, Jack; and all her 
family and friends.


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