Dick Padrnos, formerly of Lake Andes, was inducted into the South Dakota Basketball Hall of Fame on August 24th in Sioux Falls. Padrnos was a standout basketball player for the Lake Andes High School Eagles during the years of 1947 through 1951. He wore number 33 and was the team’s center. As an eighth grader, Padrnos was a starter on the varsity basketball team and started for the Eagles for five seasons. He led the team in scoring his freshmen through senior year and would score 250-300 points per season. During his senior year, Padrnos averaged 23 points per game with his highest scoring game against Armour where he scored 40 points. He helped lead the Eagles to their first state basketball tournament in 1951, where they finished in 3rd place. The Eagles ended that season with a 30-1 win-loss record.

Lake Andes’ first game in the state tournament was against Flandreau. It was a close game with the Eagles pulling out a 5351 victory against the Fliers. In the semi-final round, Harrold dominated Lake Andes ending in a loss for the Eagles with the final score being 51 to 40. In the third and final game of the tournament, the Lake Andes Eagles took on a tough Ethan Rustlers team. It was a very close game from the start with both teams evenly matched and neither team getting more than a five-point lead at any point in the game. The Eagles won with a buzzer beater by Padrnos with the ball going through the hoop as the buzzer signaling the end of the game sounded. The game ended with a 56-55 victory for the Eagles and a 3rd place finish overall.

Not only was Padrnos a basketball standout, but he also was a talented athlete in several other sports including football, track and baseball. He was the quarterback for the football team. Padrnos’ senior year of football the team went undefeated and won the state championship title in the 6-man class. Padrnos decided to continue playing basketball after he graduated from Lake Andes High School. He enrolled at the University of South Dakota at Vermillion to both play basketball and major in pre-med. Unfortunately, he ultimately had to give up playing basketball for the Coyotes as his pre-med courses were not over until evenings and practice started early afternoons for the team. He had played a forward position on the team.

During the years that Padrnos played varsity basketball, he was coached by a familiar face, his brother, George Padrnos. George was Dick’s older brother and even though they were siblings, as a coach, George was fair to the team and his players, including Padrnos. When asked what he enjoyed about playing basketball, Padrnos said that basketball is a great sport that he was good at as well as he enjoyed being a part of a successful team. He was not known for any special moves or plays but was successful at all aspects of the game. Like any good player, Padrnos needed a good group of teammates in order to be successful on the court. Starting members of the team in addition to Padrnos were Wayne Stedronsky, Bob Brooks, Maurice Nielson and Don Tomic. Even after they all left Lake Andes, and started careers and families of their own, Padrnos stayed in touch with Bob, Maurice and Wayne.

There are several criteria that are needed in order to be eligible for nomination and selection for the South Dakota Basketball Hall of Fame as well as different criteria for different time periods. Padrnos fell into the criteria pre 1955 category. One criterion that is needed no matter what category a player falls into is that a candidate must be out of high school for at least 15 years to even be considered eligible. Other criteria include playing on a State Tournament team; playing in a National Tournament; was a starter on a SDHSBHOF Team of Excellence; season and career statistics that set school records/ conference records/Top 10 State High School Records; averages for points, rebounds, steals, assists, field goals, free throws; and single game highs.

Playing basketball taught Padrnos important life skills that he could use off the court. He learned how to get along with others; the importance of teamwork; following through on commitments; fortitude; and discipline. These skills became an integral part of the great foundation for Padrnos’ life. Basketball continued to play a role in Padrnos’ life, when he formed and coached a junior high girls’ basketball team at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School in Boulder, CO. He coached the team for 16 years. Dick Padrnos was born in Geddes and raised in Lake Andes. His life and career led him to Boulder, CO, where he and his wife, Donna, currently live. The couple have six children and many grandchildren. When Padrnos was inducted into the hall of fame, he was joined by his wife, all six of their children and ten of the couple’s nieces and nephews. It was a very special occasion for the family to have everyone get together to honor Padrnos in his home state of South Dakota, where he had not been back to in quite some time.

The ceremony held for the 2024 inductees had over 350 people in attendance and honored 14 new inductees to the South Dakota Basketball Hall of Fame. With the class of 2024 inductees, the total number of members of the SD Basketball Hall of Fame is 212. Padrnos is very proud to be a part of those 212 members.

Congratulations Dick on the well deserved honor of being inducted into the SD Basketball Hall of Fame!