Today is the 30th anniversary of a tragedy in South Dakota – the plane crash that killed Governor George Mickelson and seven others. The group was returning to Pierre from Cincinnati on April 19, 1993, when their state airplane crashed and burned in eastern Iowa after developing engine trouble. The 52-year old Mickelson and economic development specialists from the state and city of Sioux Falls had met with officials of John Morrell and Company.

Also killed were:
* Roland Dolly, 37, commissioner of the state Office of Economic Development
* Ron Reed, 52, Pierre, director of the state Office of Energy Policy
* Angus Anson, 38, Sioux Falls, general manager, Northern States Power, South Dakota region
* David Bikeland, 54, Sioux Falls, president and chief executive, First Bank of South Dakota
* Roger Hainje, 45, Sioux Falls, president, Sioux Falls Development Foundation
* Ron Becker, 52, Pierre, state’s chief pilot
* David Hansen, 45, state pilot

The crash occurred nine miles south of Dubuque, Iowa. Lt. Gov Walter Dale Miller became governor after Mickelson’s death.