Office of the Secretary

700 E. Broadway Ave

Pierre, SD 57501

Phone: 605/773-3265

FAX: 605/773-3921

Web site: www.sddot.com

For Immediate Release: Friday, October 23, 2009

Contact: Kristi Sandal, 605.773.7179

South Dakota Transportation Hall of Honor to Induct Two New Members

Pierre, S.D. – David L. Huft, Program Manager for the Office of Research with the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) and James (Jim) Keyes, former Executive Vice President of the Associated General Contractors of South Dakota (AGC), have been selected for induction to the South Dakota Transportation Hall of Honor for 2009.

The purpose of the Transportation Hall of Honor is to give recognition to those persons who have made a lasting, valuable, and/or unique contribution to South Dakota’s air, highway or rail transportation system.

Since 1972, there have been 73 inductees into the South Dakota Transportation Hall of Honor.

Dave Huft began his career with the SDDOT in 1968 as a seasonal employee before becoming full-time in 1972. He has been recognized and rewarded nationally and internationally for his innovation in the field of transportation research.  Dave has improved the quality of SDDOT’s research through his vision and knowledge of the transportation industry. Most recently, he has been involved in the development of Safe Travel USA and 511, as well as a multi-state research project to develop a system to provide safer roads and improved efficiency for maintenance of state highways during winter storm events.

Jim Keyes has been a driving force for the construction industry since 1976. He served as Assistant Executive Director and Executive Vice President during his 30 years with AGC until his retirement in 2006. Jim was passionate about creating a better image of the contracting industry with his quiet, yet effective leadership. His honesty and integrity earned him the trust of legislators and he is well known for his efforts to defend the highway trust fund. Before retirement, Jim helped establish a Construction Management Degree at South Dakota State University and the AGC Scholarship Foundation.

A banquet in honor of Dave and Jim will be held during the summer of 2010.

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