Stories
Behind the Why is the University of South Dakota Foundation & Alumni Association's Q&A series that takes a deeper dive into the donors and stories that make up our Coyote community. This week's donor is Janet Harding of Peoria, Arizona. Lifetime supporter of USD and the opportunities it facilitates, Janet continues to support the Clair O. Harding Memorial Endowment, founded in memory of her late husband, Clair Harding. Read on to understand the "why" behind her support and what role USD has played in her life.
Janet Harding
Tell me about your connection to USD.
It seemed inevitable I would attend the University of South Dakota, as my mother, aunt, cousin and sister had all graduated from there. My sister, Barbara Wangsness, was three years ahead of me, and I had visited her and followed USD activities via The Volante, The Wet Hen and KUSD, where she had a program.
So, it was natural for me to follow suit. I switched majors several times before settling on Journalism with Dr. Trotzig, which inspired me to participate at KUSD, The Wet Hen and The Volante (of which Al Neuharth was the editor).
What was the inspiration behind starting the Clair O. Harding Memorial Endowment?
The inspiration for the fund came from the bonds of friendship shared by the men at the Delta Tau Delta house pre-World War II. Those bonds had endured life before the war, during and after, far into retirement from their careers. It was in Arizona that Clair spearheaded a reunion for these "vintage" Delts and it became a yearly weekend affair as Delts, and their wives, came from all over the country to reminisce and fellowship. The weekends of golf, dining and dancing quickly turned into something more.
When Clair died in 1992 at the age of 70, his friends established the Clair O. Harding Memorial Endowment in his honor - Harry Klostergaard, Hap Preston, Ross Babcock, Norm Bartholow, Jim DeGeest, Bob Erickson, Ralph Laird, Tom Lucy, Bob Miller, Duane Reaney, Bob Richards and Sed Stuart to name a few. I have continued funding it as a meaningful tribute to Clair and to USD. We were both proud of the university and its accomplishments, and had given regularly to the Farber Fund, as Doc was a close friend of ours.
Why is philanthropy and giving back to USD important to you?
For several reasons. USD started it all. When my sister was crowned as Dakota Day Queen in 1946, it was Clair who drove her in the parade in the only convertible on campus - that's when I first met him, during his time back on campus to complete his law degree. Meeting him was a wonderful example of how relationships forged at USD were strong and important, similar to this endowment.
It's comforting to know Clair's name will still be remembered, and we both believed in showing gratitude in practical ways for all we had been given at USD. It was time to "pay it forward".
What do you want students and future alumni to know?
My hope is that recipients of this endowment can know that the man whose name it bears was a man of integrity and honor, and deep loyalty to the ones he loved - a loyalty that was active, not passive. It's that active loyalty that leads so many to pay it forward, whether through their time or treasure. I hope students and future alumni do the same.