Founding Meeting of the SDTA

The following minutes are recorded from the notes of Lyle Koffler, who was the first Sec./Treas. of the SDTA.

Gerald Jacobson, Sioux Falls, SD, and Lyle Koffler, Groton, SD, met in George’s Restaurant in Huron, SD, Saturday afternoon May 19, 1962 for the purpose of organizing a South Dakota Trappers Association. Gerald Jacobson was set up as tentative president and Lyle Koffler as Exec. Sec./Treas. It was determined the first effort would be to get the names of active fur shippers to Powers Fur House in Ortonville, MN and to send them a form letter urging membership in the organization. Also an ad would be inserted in the Fur-Fish-Game magazine soliciting membership. Gerald Jacobson was to investigate the possibility of getting letterheads printed and look into the matter of having application blanks printed. Lyle Koffler was to secure a mailing list and take care of advertising. It was decided that an annual meeting would be held at the first possible date, at which time a constitution could be adapted and an election of officers could be held. Gerald and Lyle acknowledged the fact that the cost of organizing would be a direct out-of-pocket expense. The primary objective of the organization is to be the protection of trappers’ rights along with the promotion of friendly legislation, to increase the penalty of fur thieves and generally advance the cause of the South Dakota Trapper. As finances permit, it is hoped that a periodic publication can be issued.

Recorded by Lyle Koffler, Exec. Sec./Treas. May 19, 1962

Lyle Koffler was the first Secretary/Treasurer, Public Relations person and Editor of the SD Trapper magazine. This picture was taken during the 1964 Spring Convention in Huron.

History of the SDTA

The SDTA was organized in 1963. Gerald Jacobson and Lyle Koffler were the co-founders of the organization. The late Lou Powers sent the names and addresses of SD trappers that sold fur to him. This provided an important mailing list of trappers to start the solicitation for membership. Money was needed to pay for cover paper, printing, telephone calls, mailing fees and other expenses. The $1.00 membership dues failed to cover the beginning expenses. Therefore, much of the money came from out-of-pocket change by a few of the charter members. Lyle Koffler never looked at this as an expense, but rather a payment to something that gave him a yearly return in aesthetic satisfaction. 

The first SDTA convention was held in the Tam’s Hotel in Huron, SD.  Over 40 trappers attended, plus a good representation from the SD Game, Fish and Parks. Lyle was very pleased with the splendid cooperation from the GFP, as he felt they helped inject needed health into the new organization. 

Gerald Jacobson, the first President of the SDTA, is pictured during the 1964 Spring Convention in Huron.

The members at the first meeting elected Gerald Jacobson (Renner) as the first president and Lyle Koffler (Groton), Sec./Treas. The vice president was Bill Steller (Vermillion). Other directors were: Don Katz (Huron), Ron Walker (Arlington), Melvin Fluth (Emery), Lloyd Hanks (Watertown), and Robert Millage (Vermillion). A constitution was developed at this meeting and Lyle Koffler also nominated to be the first newsletter editor. Lyle later authored the first publication of the SDTA. It was called the SOUTH DAKOTA TRAPPER. Lyle later said that this job turned out to be a more difficult assignment then he had bargained for. But Lyle enjoyed such things as soliciting advertisements. Lyle said that the SDTA always got the proceeds from the first few days catch from his trapline, but he always received the fun and pleasure of the catch, not to include the excited anticipation leading up to it. Lyle said that the greatest benefit returned to him by being a cofounder of the SDTA was the great friends and people he met. Many other people played large parts in the early days of the SDTA. Some of the names that Lyle mentioned in a letter were: Opitz, Overend, Hanks, Stopplemoor, Fluth, Poppenga, Katz, Wheler, Stone, Ormseth and Hanson. Lyle Koffler said in a letter, “It pleases me greatly that these men and others since have kept my beloved SDTA alive and viable.”

Lyle Koffler lived his last few years in El Paso, TX where he passed away following a long, agonizing illness. Lyle Koffler never lost his spirit and his love for South Dakota, trapping and the South Dakota Trappers Association.

John Almquist

2003 photo of Gerald Jacobson with his dog “Skippy” in Sioux City, Iowa.

                                          HOME