Former Rapid City Mayor speaks to Madison Rotary Club about serving during 1972 flood

Nearly fifty years ago, a young man served as mayor of a city that experienced one of the deadliest floods in U.S. history.  Don Barnett was 29 when he was Mayor of Rapid City during the 1972 Rapid City flood, which claimed 238 lives. Barnett spoke about his experience and a book he has written about it during the Madison Rotary Club meeting on Monday. 

Barnett said that in his first year in office, Rapid City put together a taxation plan in order to build a new Civic Center and thought that the city was starting to flourish.  But then on June 9th, 1972, it all changed for the people of Rapid City.

Barnett talked about the outpouring of support that the city received after the flood.

Barnett also praised the City Council that he worked with in the time after the flood.  He said that they all agreed and voted together in support on any policy issues regarding the city’s recovery.  Barnett said that Rapid City’s Public Works Director, who’s nickname was “Swanny” helped them in determining what should happen to the area around the creek in the future. 

Barnett said that park area is currently five miles long and five blocks wide and includes rec trails and other amenities, but no homes are located there.  

Also during his presentation to the Rotary Club Monday, Barnett talked about his involvement in handling the American Indian Movement in Rapid City and getting the leaders to move out before any riots could happen in the city.  He described that time as the worst two weeks of his life, and said it was even worse than his work with the flood.  

For more information on Barnett’s book “Thorns & Roses, Rapid City in the 1970s”, contact him at [email protected].