Famous People From South Dakota

A multi-faceted personality, Brock Lesnar has had successful careers in the field of wrestling, mixed martial arts, and football. Best known for his wrestling career, Brock is widely considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers ever. Brock, who has had an equally successful MMA career, is the only person in history to hold a WWE world championship and UFC championship.

Nineteenth-century Lakota war lord Crazy Horse, of the Oglala subtribe, is remembered as a legendary hero who fought against white encroachment of Native American territories. He was part of the Black Hills War and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He died fighting at Camp Robinson, in modern-day Nebraska.

Professional racer, TV personality and metal fabricator, Jessi Combs, is remembered for setting a women's land speed class record (four wheels) in 2013. She was known as "the fastest woman on four wheels.” As a TV presenter, she co-hosted over 90 episodes of the Spike TV show, Xtreme 4x4. She died in a car crash while racing in 2019. 

Shayna Baszler is an American WWE wrestler and former WWE women's tag team champion. Before signing with WWE, Baszler was a mixed martial artist. She served as an important spokesperson in a movement, which was initiated to create an athletic commission for combat sports in South Dakota. A multi-talented personality, Shayna Baszler is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician.

The 38th vice president of the USA, Hubert Humphrey was an early skeptic of the Vietnam War; however, he had no choice but to support the war effort as President Lyndon B. Johnson wanted the war to go on. Thanks to his popularity, several buildings have been named after Humphrey. He has also been portrayed by actors like Bradley Whitford.

Historian George McGovern had been the U.S. senator from South Dakota. He held important positions related to food, agriculture, and nutrition, too, and was named a World Food Prize laureate for his efforts in reducing world hunger. He had also advocated for the end of the Vietnam War.

Mamie Van Doren is an American former model, singer, and actress. Van Doren achieved popularity during the 1950s and is best known for her performance in the 1957 American teen film Untamed Youth. In 2005, she was honored with a Golden Palm Star. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Tomi Lahren is an American TV host-turned-conservative political commentator. Tomi Lahren, who currently hosts a talk show on Fox Nation, has made controversial comments in the past, attracting criticisms and support from all over America. She supports women's empowerment, abortion rights, and LGBT rights.

American lobbyist and Democratic Party politician Tom Daschle has been a US Senator from South Dakota. He has also been a 3-time Senate Minority Leader and a 2-time Senate Majority Leader. He now works for The Daschle Group, which serves as the public policy advisory of Baker Donelson.