Robert E. Rawlins

Was the first administrator of the state's high school activities association's Board of Control. As superintendent of schools at Pierre, Rawlins was secretary-treasurer of the Board in 1915. When the board took over running of the state basketball tourney in 1917, Rawlins was placed in charge. He instituted and enforced strict eligibility rules. Enforcement of those rules sometimes led to threats of bodily harm, but he never wavered in his administration of the program. Rawlins continued as the director of high school athletic events until R.M. Walseth was hired as a paid executive secretary in 1937. Rawlins remained as secretary-treasurer until his retirement from school work in 1948. Among his many honors was being elected president of the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations.