Dakota Days' Royalty ~ Miss and Mr. Dakota

The tradition of Dakota Days was established by University President Robert Slagle in 1914. First known as South Dakota Day, the Nov. 24, 1914 issue of The Volante proclaimed, "It is the first time that anything of the sort has ever been staged here. By all who witnessed it, it was pronouced a howling success." President Slagle brought the idea of Dakota Day with him from Brookings, where he had been instrumental in launching Hobo Day. Student Association President H.C. Mundt took up the proposition and organized the first Dakota Day Nov. 20, 1914. Fern Wassem '17 of Harrisburg was elected Miss Dakota by a student vote and rode the parade in a car decorated with red and white bunting. The honor of Mr. Dakota was added to the the Dakota Day tradition in 1986 with Karlton Adam '87 of Pierre being the first to bear that title.