Ben Reifel
Ben Reifel was a notable American politician and educator from South Dakota, recognized for his significant contributions as a congressman and his dedication to public service. Born in Parmelee, South Dakota, to a German father and a Sioux mother, Reifel faced educational challenges early on, not completing the eighth grade until age sixteen due to his father's belief that he was needed on the family farm. Despite this, his determination led him to run away from home to pursue high school, reflecting his strong commitment to education. He eventually earned a Bachelor of Science degree from South Dakota State University in 1932 and went on to serve as a commissioned officer in the Army Reserves during World War II.
After the war, Reifel held several key positions within the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), including superintendency roles at various agencies, where he became known for his leadership as one of the first American Indians to hold such positions. His academic pursuits continued at Harvard University, where he earned a master's degree in public administration and later became one of the first American Indians to attain a Ph.D. in the field. In 1960, he transitioned from the BIA to politics, successfully winning a congressional seat as a Republican, where he served five terms. Reifel's legacy includes an honorary degree from the University of South Dakota, awarded upon his retirement in 1970, symbolizing his lifelong commitment to education and public service within the Native American community and beyond.
Ben Reifel
- Born: September 19, 1906
- Birthplace: Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota
- Died: January 2, 1990
- Place of death: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Category: Politician
Tribal affiliation: Rosebud Sioux
Significance: Reifel served five terms in Congress after several years in various capacities in the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Ben Reifel, who would become a congressman from South Dakota, was born in Parmelee, South Dakota. His father was German and his mother was a Sioux. Reifel did not pass the eighth grade until he was sixteen and did not go to high school. His father could “see no reason for it,” and he told Ben that he was needed on the farm. The young man read whatever he could find, and his passion for education grew. Finally the young man ran away from home, hiking 250 miles to enroll in high school.
Despite his late start in formal education, Reifel earned a B.S. degree from South Dakota State University in 1932. He joined the army reserves as a commissioned officer while in college and was called to duty in World War II. At the end of the war, he was appointed Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) superintendent at the Fort Berthold Agency, North Dakota.
Reifel returned to college at Harvard University for a masters in public administration and then became one of the first American Indians to earn a Ph.D., also at Harvard. When he returned to the Dakotas, he held several BIA posts including the superintendency at Pine Ridge, where he was the first head Indian agent of native blood. His career at the BIA culminated when he was appointed area director of the office in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
In 1960, Reifel retired from the BIA to run for Congress. He won on his first run for public office (as a Republican) and served five terms before retiring in 1970. On his retirement, Reifel, who had fought so hard to get a formal education, was awarded an honorary degree from the University of South Dakota.