Robert Danny "Dan" Dryden (July 12, 1944 – August 30, 2016) was an American politician. He was a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, and represented District 34 from January 11, 2011, until his death.

Early life and education

Born in Hot Springs, South Dakota, Dryden grew up on a ranch in

Oelrichs, South Dakota Oelrichs (Lakota language, Lakota: ''šuŋkpȟáwaksa''; "Severed Horse Head") is a town in Fall River County, South Dakota, Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 117 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. His ...

. Dryden went to school in Olerichs, South Dakota. Dryden graduated from Black Hills State University with a bachelor's degree and then graduated from

South Dakota State University South Dakota State University is a public land-grant research university in Brookings, South Dakota. Founded in 1881, it is the state's largest and most comprehensive university and the oldest continually-operating university in South Dakota. The ...

with a master's degree. Dryden worked for the Rapid City Area School district as the financial officer. Dryden also taught courses in public administration and instruction law at the South Dakota State University.

Elections

*2012 Dryden and incumbent Republican Representative

David Lust David Ellwood Lust (March 22, 1968 – July 23, 2021) was an American politician who served as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives representing District 34 from January 2007 until January 2015 and again from September 2016 unti ...

were unopposed for the June 5, 2012 Republican Primary; in the four-way November 6, 2012 General election incumbent Republican Representative David Lust took the first seat and Dryden took the second seat with 6,145 votes (34.18%) ahead of returning 2010 Democratic nominee John Willman and Independent candidate Mike Reardon. *2010 When incumbent Republican Representative

Ed McLaughlin Ed McLaughlin is the current director of athletics for Virginia Commonwealth University. He previously served as athletic director for Niagara University from 2006 to 2012, and as an assistant athletic director at American University and Merrimac ...

was term limited and left the Legislature leaving a District 34 seat open, Dryden ran in the three-way June 8, 2010 Republican Primary and placed second with 1,432 votes (31.43%); in the four-way November 2, 2010 General election incumbent Republican Representative David Lust took the first seat and Dryden took the second seat with 5,638 votes (34.56%) ahead of Democratic nominees Devin Oliver and John Willman.

Death

Dryden died of cancer on August 30, 2016, while still in office.

References

External links

Official page
at the South Dakota Legislature * 1944 births 2016 deaths People from Hot Springs, South Dakota Politicians from Rapid City, South Dakota Black Hills State University alumni South Dakota State University alumni South Dakota State University faculty Republican Party members of the South Dakota House of Representatives 21st-century American legislators {{SouthDakota-politician-stub