Local broadcaster to do book signing at Treasure Chest
By Carrie Moritz, Gazette
Once a broadcaster, always a broadcaster, but long-time KELO-AM sports personality Mike Henriksen has recently moved off the airwaves and onto the printed page. Henriksen is the author of "First Person: Legendary SD Sports Stories Vol. 2", which was released in September. He will be at The Treasure Chest on Saturday during Hometown Christmas and doing an author signing.
"If sports has taught me anything, it's get out too soon instead of too late," Henriksen said. He spent 46 years in radio, using his strong, sonorous voice to announce sports play-by-plays and discussing local, statewide, and national sports.
The Nebraska native would say he found his niche early in life- at age 9, he wanted to continue in sports, but realized he "wasn't good enough for them" and was trying to find a way to stay in the game.
"Growing up, I wanted to be the voice of the Cornhuskers," he said with a laugh. "But you have kids and want stability."
Opportunities in college- first Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, then Augustana College in Sioux Falls- helped him learn and hone the broadcasting skills he would need for his future career. Working at KELO radio allowed him that stability, but also kept him in his niche, even if it wasn't full-time sports broadcasting until 2001.
"I was very blessed to get on radio right away [at Dana College]," Henriksen said. In fact, he pointed out, the cover of the book is the sports stands on the Dana College campus, as an homage to where he got his start.
"First Person" is a book with transcribed interviews from his career. He loves being able to transfer those in-person interviews to the page, as that way, they are preserved into the future.
"When you do a radio show, sometimes [those interviews] kinda get lost in the mix," he pointed out. Despite being able to send the family a copy, he wanted that history to be remembered and passed on.
One of the interviews in the book is with Lolly Forseth, a well-known Sioux Falls gymnastics coach and judge who was around at the beginning of Title IX.
"She explained what she went through" and what Title IX did for women's sports, Henriksen said.
The book also contains plenty of references to Garretson, as one of the interviews is with Garretson High School literature teacher Tim Hughes. Henriksen's wife, Deb, was the language arts teacher at Garretson Middle School for a few years, and they lived in Dell Rapids for 27 years before they moved to Harrisburg, so Henriksen is well-acquainted with the area.
Henriksen loves history, and loves the emotional hook that a story provides. While sports scores and play-by-plays might be the main core of sports broadcasting, his favorite part was bringing in the story surrounding the athletes or teams.
He often surprised folks with his knowledge on their family history, especially once they learned he didn't move to the state until 1978, his third year of college. But the best part about a state such as South Dakota, he said, is that he didn't have trouble finding the local angles, and he knew people would care.
In a larger state, that sort of familial history gets lost. "It's a small enough state that names are recognizable."
Now, those interviews have been committed to the printed page, and the stories will be introduced to a new and wider audience.
"This book isn't just for sports aficionados," Henriksen pointed out. While sports fans will enjoy it, so will the average reader.
The book's synopsis reads, "Learn about the early days of the women's rights movement, race relations, travel methods, old facilities and so much more."
Not all the stories are from interviews. Henriksen noted that one chapter is written by Carl Piersen of Mitchell, who is also an accomplished writer. Piersen was the first athlete in South Dakota called for goal-tending on a free throw. Henriksen wanted to include it because Piersen "told his own story so well."
"First Person: Legendary SD Sports Stories Vol. 2" is available for purchase on SportsMaxRadio.com.
“First Person: Legendary SD Sports Stories Vol. 1," however, is sold out, and isn't likely to be brought back into print. Another book, co-written with Cindy Bahe entitled "Genuine Journeys of Life," is available instead.
The website links to his former sports show, "Calling All Sports," that he did with KDLT's Mark Ovenden. Ovenden has continued the show, and Henriksen said he does still fill in for Mark from time to time.
Currently, he is enjoying his retirement, spending time volunteering with grassroots donation efforts and working a few part-time jobs along with writing.
He's still enjoying sports with two children and his five grandchildren, who participate in sports by playing, watching, and coaching.
"First Person: Legendary SD Sports Stories Vol. 2" will also be available at the Treasure Chest, where Henriksen will be holding a book signing from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 10.
