Who had South Dakota’s Best Year Ever?
Why, that’s easy!
Sioux Valley Hospital, now Sanford Health.
Sugar Daddy T. Denny Sanford announced in April that he was going to transfer $400 Million of credit card profits earned off of high interest rates and insidious credit card fees and give it over time to Sioux Valley. All they had to do was name everything not nailed down after T. Denny.
T. Denny has promised the money would be used to build children’s hospitals and clinics and research cures (except, of course, without the help of stem cells, which is illegal in South Dakota).
So far, it appears most of the money has gone for advertising trumpeting the donation—and for new signs.
But hopefully, the donation will be used as T. Denny has intended, which will create another boom in Sioux Falls’ medical industrial complex. That means high paying jobs for doctors, nurses, researchers, and support staff. That will mean more collateral businesses, more construction, more homes, and just plain more for Sioux Falls and the Sioux Empire.
Also, medical care—already excellent in Sioux Falls—will ratchet up another notch or two. And maybe, just maybe, there could be some big medical breakthroughs that come about.
And, Sioux Falls will be a Sanford company town. It used to be a John Morrell company town. Given the alternatives, I’ll take the doctors and researchers over the pig killers and packers in a heart beat. (But don’t get me wrong; I love pork loin!)
So, congratulations, Sanford Health, nee, Sioux Valley Hospital! Thanks to T. Denny Robber-Barron, you had South Dakota’s Best Year Ever in 2007!
Others who almost had South Dakota’s Best Year Ever:
- Sen. Tim Johnson—2006 was his worst year ever but his miraculous recovery from an AVM and then his speech in Sioux Falls in August announcing he was “back” was both welcomed news regardless of your political affiliation—and inspiring.
- University of Sioux Falls football team—While they lost to playoff rival Carrol College in the NAIA Championship, they again had an excellent season—and played in a new house that Sanford helped to pay for.
- DUSEL—Thanks again to T. Denny, the Homestake Mine is getting a new lease on life as a major scientific facility.
Who will have South Dakota’s Best Week Ever in 2008? Only 368 days until we find out!
Above: Sign in front of main campus of Sanford Health System in Sioux Falls.
Below: T. Denny Robber-Barron Sugar-Daddy Sanford.
