Randell Beck

A VOICE OF WISDOM IN JOURNALISM

1953 • CATEGORY

PROFESSIONAL • RESIDING

SIOUX FALLS, SD • NOMINATED BY

JOHN "JACK" MARSH

SD HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE: CLASS OF 2020 Tall, smart, and hair-over-his-ears daring, Ned Valentine came home after college to take over as editor of the small Kansas newspaper that the Valentine Family had owned for nearly a century.

In Clay Center, Kansas, Randell Beck’s hometown, the editor of the Dispatch was a big deal. As a kid who’d long dreamed of being a reporter, Randell understood that and instantly idolized Ned. He was too shy to walk into the Dispatch office – that was holy ground, he figured – so he did the next best thing. He hid outside, at the corner of the big front window, and he watched.

This is what Randell saw: A neighbor brought in news of her daughter’s wedding; the mayor came looking for the newspaper’s support to improve the zoo; and the coach of the football team dropped by to discuss the team’s upcoming season. “Ned and the Dispatch stood at the very center of life in our town. They were vital to the sense of community that made Clay Center a good place to live. It wasn’t news until it showed up in the pages of the Dispatch,” said Randell.

Randell knew then that he wanted to be a newspaperman like Ned. After college, and after serving six newspapers over 35 years, Randell has tried to emulate Ned.

Randell may have been hard-pressed to articulate that early in his career, but he came to embrace an ideal, implicit in our nation’s precious First Amendment to the Constitution, that good journalism can hold a mirror up to a place and its people, while challenging them to do better and to be better.

From the beginning, Randell was drawn to stories that sought to right a wrong.

Most newsrooms in those days included one or two reporters uniquely suited to take on sacred cows or tilt at windmills. Randell was one of those, convinced he was working as much for the public as his boss at the newspaper.

In Knoxville, Tennessee, for example, Randell’s reporting uncovered numerous safety flaws in what was then the nation’s most ambitious nuclear plant expansion. Most of those plants never opened.

A few years later, In Kansas City, along with a colleague, Randell traced responsibility for a series of fatal, natural gas explosions to the regional gas utility. The series, months in the making, led to major reforms.

And in South Dakota, under his leadership, relentless digging, and a lawsuit initiated by the Argus Leader, led to the state’s Supreme Court ordering the public release of nearly 300 pardons issued secretly by a former governor. That decision, nearly 20 years ago, changed history by limiting a governor’s power to grant and seal pardons.

Randell is proud of that work – and hundreds of similar examples. The chance to speak for the powerless has long had a powerful hold on him.

Looking back, he can say his commitment to serving the public interest – especially, as editor and publisher at the Argus Leader – and the people of South Dakota never wavered.

That calling, along with a desire to give back to his city and state, has continued into the stage of life people call retirement.

In surprising ways, his years at the Argus Leader have made it possible for him to help make his home, Sioux Falls, a better place for everyone who resides there.

With his friend Jack Marsh, Randell has helped build South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit journalism organization, into a powerful source of in-depth reporting.

Guided by his Christian faith, Randell has partnered with leaders like Rich Merkouris and Doug Morrison to help close the opportunity gap for hundreds of children. The Sioux Falls Hope Coalition helps place children in quality preschools, giving all children an equal shot at success.

For more than 20 years, Randell has served as a mentor to kids who needed a steady presence and encouraging words. The thousands of hours he has spent with Taran and Lonnie, Jaron and Braxton, Paul and Roberto – most facing challenges we cannot imagine – have made him, in his opinion, a better man. They’ve given Randell a priceless gift – to see life through their eyes.

More than 55 years ago, a shy kid saw himself through the window of a small-town newspaper office, and that was enough to change Randell Beck’s life forever.

“Thanks, Ned.” – Randell Beck

Spanning the state, South Dakotans from all walks of life create positive change, build up community and develop lasting legacies that inspire generations to come. It is our mission at the South Dakota Hall of Fame to showcase and celebrate these legacies through unique programming, with the goal of championing a culture of excellence.

Over the years, the SD Hall of Fame has expanded its reach and has grown a larger audience to inspire more South Dakotans than ever before. Along with diverse programming, we are thrilled to continue the tradition of hosting our annual Honors Ceremony weekend. This weekend is full of special events, highlighting the work of not just the newest inductees into the SD Hall of Fame, but celebrating inductees who have come before during the Anniversary Reunion. It is amazing to be able to see the lasting impact of an individual’s legacy through these events and programming.

In May 2022, the SD Hall of Fame welcomed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Laurie Becvar. Becvar comes to the SD Hall of Fame with over 20 years of executive leadership experience in nonprofit and for-profit organizations as well as in higher education. Most recently, Becvar served as President and COO of Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation and as leadership faculty with The Indian University of North America where she tripled development efforts, expanded enrollment, and led the operations of multiple departments. Becvar succeeds Greta Chapman, who retired after 8 years of service to the Hall.

The SD Hall of Fame is supported solely by the generosity of individuals who understand that together, we can have a profound impact on our state by championing a culture of excellence. We hope these stories bring insight and inspiration to all who hear them, and we are grateful for your support and attendance during this year’s Honors Ceremony.

MARCI BURDICK

BOARD CHAIR (2020-23) RAPID CITY, SD

LAURIE BECVAR

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Congratulations Paul Gnirk

Solving South Dakota’s Most Challenging Problems