Town of the Week

Come with us to Winner; just listen in.

Winner, South Dakota
April 10, 1999

Gabbling gobblers and other game like to graze along the golf course greens in Winner, South Dakota. Winner is located in the farm and ranch country in the south-central part of the state. The town got its name when it was the winner in a struggle to establish a town-site along the right-of-way when the Chicago North Western moved west in 1909.

Winner became the seat of Tripp County, and is known nationally for its fine pheasant hunting. This pheasant population stems from release of a dozen Chinese ring-necked birds back in 1934. The town's historical society museum contains a restored homestead community, and can be visited free of charge summer weekday afternoons.

Winner's most famous resident was Frank Leahy, the former Notre Dame football coach, who was a high school Warrior. A lighted athletic field, developed from a cow pasture and gully in 1948, bears his name. This town of 4,000 has not one but two drive-in movie theaters, and its Grossenberg Implement Company is the largest John Deere dealer in the world. Its community playhouse is now 25 years old and going strong. Residents will be out in full dress tonight for the Fireman's Ball at the armory in our Town of the Week, Winner, South Dakota.