Ben Reifel: Service
A Career of Service
Ben Reifel’s career consisted of many years of faithful service, especially for American Indians. Because of his service, and the Department of the Interior’s Distinguished Service à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã in 1961 for his exceptional career in the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Boy Scouts
Ben Reifel was active in Boy Scouts for many years. He served as president of Boy Scouts of America’s Pheasant Council, was a member of the executive committee of the North Central Region and served as chairman of an Indian Advisory committee. He also served as a member of the National American Indian Relationships Committee.
Honorary Degree
After his retirement in 1970, Reifel was honored by several South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã colleges and universities.
He received honorary doctorates from:
- South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University
- University of South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã
- Northern State College
Other honors
A dormitory at Reifel’s alma mater named a dormitory in his honor.
The Cedar Pass Visitor Center at the Badlands National Park in western South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã was renamed the Ben Reifel Visitor Center in 1990.
A Sioux Falls middle school is currently being built and will be called the Ben Reifel Middle School.
