Former University of Sioux Falls professor, state legislator and Sioux Falls city councilman Kermit Staggersdied Wednesday night. A man who server with Staggers in Pierre, Frank Kloucek, pays his respects:
Kermit Staggers was a true gentleman with a kind heart and kind disposition. He stood against unfair and unjustified tax increases, fought against corruption and disagreed with others on issues cordially and professionally. It was an honor to serve with him in the South Dakota Senate and be invited by him to be a guest speaker at two of his University of Sioux Falls college classes. He tried to help the working class mainstream people of South Dakota. He tried to do what was right for Sioux Falls and South Dakota. He was a strong Republican but he almost always put people over party. Kermit Staggers, you and what you stood for will be greatly missed. He loved his wife June and children very much and put family first. I saw firsthand what a people’s politician was really like and learned a lot from him. Kermit, you will be missed [Frank Kloucek, in memory of Kermit Staggers, 2019.11.28].
I was honored to know him for almost 15 years. I always appreciated his wisdom on topics, I did not always agree, in fact Kermit and I would often joke about how different we were in political views, but he always looked at what was best for the constituent and what was best for transparency. I often think about how different SF would be right now if he would have beat that SOB in the mayoral contest.
grudznick
Mr. E, I too imagine what your town would be like if Other People’s Man Mike didn’t focus the entire city’s attention on Mike for so many years. Think of the progressive steps forward the city could have taken with a Republican like Mr. Staggers running the shows, and how the cultural flame of secrecy could have been stomped out when it was but an ember.
grud, Think of the progressive steps forward the city could have taken with a decent human being like Mr. Staggers running the shows. Party had no bearing on the strong feelings so many in Sioux Falls felt for Kermit.
Rod Hall
Frank, you were lucky to serve with Kermit. I served with some great Republicans: Henry Poppen and Don Bierle.
Cathy B
I recall that in the legislature, Sen.Staggers was a strong supporter of untaxing groceries. I think a fitting tribute would be to get that tax off, starting in this upcoming session by changing the “Partridge amendment” from a tenth of a percent off the general rate into a whole percent cut for groceries.
Debbo
Yes, Cathy B. An excellent tribute.
clara hart
Professor, State Senator, and City Councilman Kermit Staggers was a man of integrity. If he was your friend he was loyal to you to the end. I had the honor to meet Dr. Staggers in the Falls of 1995 when I enrolled in his Government Class at USF. Contrary to what I had heard from a few people, he became my friend and our families became friends since then. My late husband, Jon came to respect and enjoyed his company. For a few of you who knew Jon, he was a straight shooter, he had no tolerance for anyone who was not a progressive. I worked heard on him to see a person not his/her political affiliation. Dr. Staggers was one of the few people that Jon accepted in his circle. I watched him working and arguing on the Senate floor he was always a gentleman and was respectful to everyone. While taking his class he took us to listen to Russel Means speak at the downtown Holiday Inn. At the end of Mr. Means’s presentation, we lined up to shake hands with the speaker. Needless to say, Dr. Staggers was genuine, curious and respectful of Mr. Means. I have so much to say about Dr. Staggers because of what he gifted us as his former students, community member, and friend. He was always a gentleman whose strong traits and qualities were to listen and got the job done. He did not place politics as a barrier between him and his student, members of his constituency either in Pierre or Sioux Falls. The city of Sioux Falls and the state has lost a very important member of our community whose life examples are worth emulating. Rest In Power, my friend!.
Bruce Staggers
We all lost a great one, as the oldest in our family Kerm was a tremendous role model…. Love Ya Always Bro
That’s very nice. I didn’t know Mr. Staggers, and I’ve a feeling that is my loss.
I was honored to know him for almost 15 years. I always appreciated his wisdom on topics, I did not always agree, in fact Kermit and I would often joke about how different we were in political views, but he always looked at what was best for the constituent and what was best for transparency. I often think about how different SF would be right now if he would have beat that SOB in the mayoral contest.
Mr. E, I too imagine what your town would be like if Other People’s Man Mike didn’t focus the entire city’s attention on Mike for so many years. Think of the progressive steps forward the city could have taken with a Republican like Mr. Staggers running the shows, and how the cultural flame of secrecy could have been stomped out when it was but an ember.
grud, Think of the progressive steps forward the city could have taken with a decent human being like Mr. Staggers running the shows. Party had no bearing on the strong feelings so many in Sioux Falls felt for Kermit.
Frank, you were lucky to serve with Kermit. I served with some great Republicans: Henry Poppen and Don Bierle.
I recall that in the legislature, Sen.Staggers was a strong supporter of untaxing groceries. I think a fitting tribute would be to get that tax off, starting in this upcoming session by changing the “Partridge amendment” from a tenth of a percent off the general rate into a whole percent cut for groceries.
Yes, Cathy B. An excellent tribute.
Professor, State Senator, and City Councilman Kermit Staggers was a man of integrity. If he was your friend he was loyal to you to the end. I had the honor to meet Dr. Staggers in the Falls of 1995 when I enrolled in his Government Class at USF. Contrary to what I had heard from a few people, he became my friend and our families became friends since then. My late husband, Jon came to respect and enjoyed his company. For a few of you who knew Jon, he was a straight shooter, he had no tolerance for anyone who was not a progressive. I worked heard on him to see a person not his/her political affiliation. Dr. Staggers was one of the few people that Jon accepted in his circle. I watched him working and arguing on the Senate floor he was always a gentleman and was respectful to everyone. While taking his class he took us to listen to Russel Means speak at the downtown Holiday Inn. At the end of Mr. Means’s presentation, we lined up to shake hands with the speaker. Needless to say, Dr. Staggers was genuine, curious and respectful of Mr. Means. I have so much to say about Dr. Staggers because of what he gifted us as his former students, community member, and friend. He was always a gentleman whose strong traits and qualities were to listen and got the job done. He did not place politics as a barrier between him and his student, members of his constituency either in Pierre or Sioux Falls. The city of Sioux Falls and the state has lost a very important member of our community whose life examples are worth emulating. Rest In Power, my friend!.
We all lost a great one, as the oldest in our family Kerm was a tremendous role model…. Love Ya Always Bro