MITCHELL — Brad Tennant is stuck in the past. In popular terms, that phrase can be a dismissive way to tell someone they are old fashioned or unwilling to adopt a modern way of life. That they are unable or unwilling to let go of past successes or failures.
ADVERTISEMENT But in a way, Tennant appears perfectly happy where he's at. The former, longtime college history professor spent more than four decades reading, writing and teaching the history of South Dakota and the Northern Plains. And the recent Mitchell transplant was recently recognized for that work when he was named the 2024 recipient of the Herb Blakely Award from the West River History Conference.
“Yeah, I was surprised,” Tennant said. “It's something that I'm just at a loss of words as far as being a recipient. Because you look at some of the other people who have received it as the years have gone by, and I think, 'Wow, I don't feel worthy of being on the same list of a lot of those individuals.
' But it's nice that other people thought differently.” The award is given to a regional historian making outstanding contributions to local and regional history. He was presented with the award at the West River History Conference in Hill City earlier this month.
Tennant’s own history goes back to growing up in Gettysburg, where he developed an interest in local and area history. He attended Northern State for both his bachelor’s and master’s degree, where he studied secondary education and social science.
