[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13812-13813]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                       KOTA RADIO OF SOUTH DAKOTA

 Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, today I recognize 
a broadcasting pioneer in my home state of South Dakota. KOTA Radio is 
celebrating its 75th anniversary this November and I would like to 
commend the great work of the Duhamel family in building KOTA into a 
well-respected and recognized broadcasting entity in western South 
Dakota and parts of Wyoming, Nebraska, and Montana.
  On November 26, 1936, Black Hills Broadcasting began radio operations 
as KOBH--Kall of the Black Hills--and began broadcasting from the 
penthouse of the Alex Johnson Hotel. The station became known as KOTA 
in 1945. Helen Duhamel purchased a minority interest in Black Hills 
Broadcasting in 1943, expanded her holdings in 1948, and by 1954 she 
had purchased all remaining common stock and Duhamel Enterprises was 
formed. She helped pave the way for women in South Dakota business and 
was one of the first women in the Nation to have such an integral role 
in the broadcasting business.
  Over the years, many members of the Duhamel family were intimately 
involved in the day-to-day operations of KOTA and Duhamel Enterprises. 
Helen continued to serve as president and general manager of the 
station until 1976, when her son William F. Duhamel took over both 
positions. Bill Duhamel has served amiably and with the highest degree 
of professionalism and dedication for the past 35 years and shows no 
signs of slowing down. Bill grew up at his mother's side around the 
station learning the broadcasting and journalism professions, and he 
passed on that passion to his daughter Helene, who serves as a 
television anchor at the station, and other family members over the 
years who have been integrally involved in the family businesses.
  As part of their celebration this year, Duhamel Enterprises has 
broadcast a daily reflection, going back to the same day in 1936 and 
providing listeners with recollections of local, state and national 
news items from that year. They are transferred in time and are 
reminded of local businesses, some that have long since shuttered while 
others remain vibrant and strong to this day. They are reminded of the 
cost of a gallon of milk or loaf of bread. The stories have rekindled 
great memories for listeners of all ages.
  KOTA and Duhamel Broadcasting has won numerous awards for their 
broadcasting and journalistic excellence over the years. The Duhamel 
family and their family of employees have been very involved as well in 
community activities, most notably the KOTA Care and Share Food Drive, 
which has been organizing massive food and monetary donation drives to 
help feed the area's hungry for the past 27 years.
  Over the years, Duhamel Enterprises has expanded broadcasting 
coverage to include the eastern half of Wyoming and the northwestern 
portion of Nebraska. The radio and broadcasting professionals at KOTA 
have been well-recognized and awarded for their excellence and many of 
the KOTA broadcasters were journalistic pioneers who helped foster and 
produce styles of news gathering and presentation styles envied by many 
young broadcasters.
  I congratulate KOTA Radio and Duhamel Enterprises as well as Bill 
Duhamel, members of the Duhamel

[[Page 13813]]

family and their broadcasting family on the occasion of the station's 
75th anniversary, as well as their numerous contributions to the Rapid 
City and Black Hills communities through journalistic and broadcasting 
excellence as well as their community presence.

                          ____________________