I had three interviews for teaching positions out of the dozen or so applications I sent out after I graduated from college in 1982. One was in Annandale, Minnesota. I really wanted that job. Two things denied me the position. First, they weren’t really looking for a teacher. Actually, their main focus was looking to replace a coach; their Gary Munsen of Track. Second, when I was at that interview, I had my legs crossed and I was nervous. My crossed leg bounced a bit and unbeknownst to me the sole of my shoe had come loose and was flapping. It seemed to say, “Don’t hire this guy” and they didn’t.
The second interview was in Benttendorf, Iowa. They wanted to hire me, but the position was teaching five different things and coaching four different sports, so I turned them down. The third interview was in Mitchell during Rodeo Week. I was offered the position, full-time Social Studies and Debate Coach. I accepted.
When I arrived in Mitchell, I was told that the Tennis Coach, Ed Olson, had been named the new Principal of Litchfield Elementary (which was located on the site of the current Gertie Belle Rogers) and since administrators didn’t coach, at least not back then, the debate assignment went back to the old debate coach, and I was now the new tennis coach. I had played tennis recreationally, never competitively and certainly never coached it. The date was August 1, 1982 and the first day of practice was August 8th. Ed came to my rescue.
First, Ed left me a great team. We had a couple of ESD Champions my first year for which I got the credit but was really a legacy of Ed’s coaching and he gave me pointers on what drills to run and how to coach. I couldn’t have gotten through the year without him. I got out of tennis and into debate as fast as I could. It took me two years and Ed was there for me the second year of tennis as well.
Ed Olson is the reason I had a legislative career. It never occurred to me that a teacher could be in the legislature. Ed petitioned the School Board for his successful run for the House (later the Senate) which paved the way for me to do the same thing in the Senate and eventually the House.
We served in the Legislature together for a time, first Ed in the House and I in the Senate and later visa versa. I learned how to be a legislator from Ed. First, he listened to everyone respectfully no matter how goofy or crazy their idea or input. Second, he knew his stuff and had his facts straight. Third, he was efficient as well as eloquent and effective. Ed was the model legislator. As the Chair of the House Education Committee, he sponsored and moved important legislation through his committee while treating the public with courtesy and deference.
Ed had a marvelous affinity for people and names. He knew everyone and by their name. It wasn’t just a “Mel, hi how are you” kind of thing, Ed knew people. He knew their families and pets. His interest was genuine, and he was generous with his time and attention. I never quite mastered that skill but it wasn’t for lack of trying.
Ed had humor, charm and grace – not to mention good looks which is why the confusion of the two of us by the public was always something of a quandary for me. Superficially, I got it. We were both tall, relatively slim, wore glasses, had dark hair (his darker and fuller than mine), both educators and former tennis coaches, both from Mitchell and both in the legislature. However, he was senior to me in age and experience as well as being a Republican with power in the Legislature. I was younger, newer to the process and a back bench Democrat and at that time without any institutional influence. It baffled him as well.
Eventually, we gave up the “He’s Starsky, I’m Hutch” routine and just accepted it. Ed’s triumphs became mine and mine his. His alleged screw-ups were also ascribed to me and visa versa. The good associations outnumbered the bad, for both of us. Many thought we were brothers. One man approached me with a “good idea” that wouldn’t allow brothers in the Legislature. I pointed out that both Mike and Tim Rounds were in the Legislature (Mike was a State Senator before he went on to be Governor and US Senator while his brother Tim was in the House at that time). The man with the “good idea” face fell. He said, “I was trying to get rid of you Olson brothers.” I replied that Ed and I were not related. He scoffed; I could tell he thought I was lying. Oh well, I don’t have a brother, but I would have been proud to have had Ed as my older brother.
We worked together trying to keep politics political without being partisan with the MainStream South Dakota project. When Ed and I were in the Legislature together everything was political of course but rarely were things partisan. You had East River v. West River, large schools v. small schools, urban v. rural issues, Sioux Falls v. the rest of the State etc. but very little authentic “Republican v. Democrat” straight party line issues. Then you had to be respectful and courteous because your “enemy” on the issue of the moment would be your partner and ally on the next item on the agenda. Ed taught be how to oppose, fight for a cause and to do so in a way that wouldn’t leave bitterness or rancor behind.
MainStream South Dakota sought to bolster the moderates of both parties so that compromise and dialogue, two musts in successful legislation could thrive. We ultimately failed in that effort, but we gave it our best shot. Even then the “purists” on the fringes of both parties were exerting their influence with reckless disregard of the impact it had on good legislation and the process of effective governance.
Injustice made Ed angry. Harm to children, in whatever form, was beyond the pale to Ed. He was a man of integrity, compassion, humor and action. Ed was one of those people who didn’t whine about or simply identify a problem, he tried to do something to solve it in ways that were inclusive of differing viewpoints and to everyone’s general mutual satisfaction. There weren’t many like Ed to begin with and now there is one less.
I will miss him, rest in peace my friend.