The Bison Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2021

Leroy Hofer (1930-2021)

LeRoy Hofer moved his family from Rapid City to Hot Springs in1965.' Upon his arrival, LeRoy took a floundering National

Bank of South Dakota and turned it around in less than a year.

Once settled in Hot Springs, LeRoy got involved with community efforts. Spending time and money on improvements for the community. He was also influential in bettering the activities at Hot Springs High School.

He started the Quarterback Club which would meet every Saturday morning during the school year at the Char Chief restaurant.

All the coaches would speak of the activities from the previous week and upcoming events.

The Quarterback Club was essential in helping improve the quality of the Student Athletes by raising money for weight machines, pep buses, upgrades to equipment and uniforms.

The bank made interest free loans to help improve Hot Springs Athletes with the weight machine. Then created fundraising events, chili feeds, fishing tournaments to pay off the loan.

LeRoy also helped fund athletes attending summer camps. Once coach Larry Ireland was on board, LeRoy would always ask Larry, what do you need.

The bank also supported other clubs and school activities.

Whenever a coach or band director needed help, LeRoy never hesitated in giving.

LeRoy and the bank were such supporters of Hot Springs High School, hundreds of students reaped success. LeRoy joins his two sons Preston and Quinten who were inducted into the 2016 inaugural Hall of Fame.

James Kocer

Jim was a member of the 1964 undefeated football team.

Sports Lettered:

  • Football– All 4 years

  • Basketball– Sophomore, Junior and Senior years

  • Track– Sophomore and Junior year (ACL knee injury his Senior year in the last game of the Season)

  • Athlete of the Year his Senior year

Football:

  • Tailback-Single Wing Formation (Shotgun, direct snap to Tailback) Safety on Defense

  • Captain his Senior year

  • Black Hills All Conference Halfback– Junior and Senior years

  • Black Hills All Conference Scoring Title– Senior year (Missed by 1 pt Junior year)

  • All State Quarterback– Junior year

  • All State Halfback– Senior year

  • Full Scholarship– University of Wyoming (complete sever of ACL as a Fresh- man)

Basketball:

  • Captain– Senior year

  • Black Hills All Conference– Senior year

Track:

  • 220, 440, 880 Relay Team

Service , Awards and Activities:

  • National Honor Society– Senior year (Scholarship, Character, Leadership, Ser- vice)

  • Boys State– Junior year (American Legion– Patriotism, Honor, Loyalty, Leadership, Character, Kids, Community)

  • Student Council– Freshman, Sophomore and Junior years

  • H Club– All 4 years of High School

  • R.O.K. Literature Club– Senior year (Great works of ancient and modern authors)

  • Latin Club– Freshman year

Kathleen Schjodt

A graduate of the Class of 2006, Kathleen Schjodt joins the Hot Springs Bison Athletics Hall of Fame having excelled as a student and multi-sport athlete in basketball, volleyball, and track. Kathleen finished her high school basketball career with 1,211 total points, leading the Lady Bison to winning records her junior and senior years.  She was a five-year varsity letter winner, three-time team MVP, four-time All Black Hills Conference, and West River Tournament MVP as a senior.

On the volleyball court, Kathleen excelled as a middle hitter, helping to keep the impressive string of Hot Springs' State Tournament appearances going for four more years.  She was a four-year varsity letter winner, two-time team MVP, three-time All Black Hills Conference, and three-time All-State Team.

Working hard and succeeding on the court was important to Kathleen but excelling in the classroom was even more important.  Kathleen graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was class valedictorian.  She was a recipient of "Elite 15" awarded to the top 15 female athletes in South Dakota for their achievements in athletics, leadership, scholarship and community involvement. Kathleen was a four-year Black Hills Conference academic letter winner, academic All-State honoree, and awarded the Governor's Recognition of Academic Excellence.

Following graduation from Hot Springs High School, Kathleen attended the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and played basketball for the Falcons in the Mountain West Conference (Division I).  She was a top reserve as a junior, playing in every game, and became a full-time starter and team captain her senior year.

Kathleen majored in Aeronautical Engineering and graduated in the top 10% of the Class of 2010.  She was a four-time Mountain West Conference Scholar Athlete and two-time Academic All-Mountain West Conference recipient.

Kathleen went on to pursue a graduate degree in mechanical engineering from Rice University.  She served nearly 9 years in the United States Air Force working on satellites, flight-test programs, and aircraft production programs.  Kathleen is currently working for Blue Origin in the Seattle area as a Senior Project Manager on the orbital rocket  program, New  Glenn.