6/19/2014 Hersruds of Sturgis receives top award - Black Hills Pioneer: Local News

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Hersruds of Sturgis receives top award

By Jason Gross Black Hills Pioneer | Posted: Wednesday, June 18, 2014 11:30 am

STURGIS — The South Dakota Automobile Dealers

Association named David Hersrud the 2014 South

Dakota Franchised Dealer of the Year. The Hersruds

of Sturgis dealer received the honor at the

association’s annual convention June 4-6 in Rapid

City.

“It is an award for the business, not an individual

award,” Hersrud said. He called Hersruds “an

organization where the people care for, and about, the

customers.”

David Hersrud said the Dealer of the Year fraternity is

elite. “To be considered for it makes me proud of the

business,” he said.

A dealer receives this award only once; David is not

the first Hersrud so honored. His father Morris got

this award 31 years ago.

Basic award criteria includes actively participating in state or local dealer association affairs for at

least five years, keeping a constant presence in the dealership offices, and actively managing the

dealership.

David received the award after a nomination from his peers and a final vote from the three previous

award recipients.

“It was a tough decision,” said Mark McKie, the 2011 award recipient from McKie Ford Lincoln in

Rapid City. “The finalists all had good character and dedication, but David has a litany of community

service involvement.”

David’s grandfather Martin founded The Hersrud Company in 1910. It originally provided farm

equipment to Lemmon, and the surrounding area.

Hersruds later expanded sales to include automobiles. The family relocated the business to Sturgis in

1977 and purchased Belle Fourche’s GMC dealership in 1985.

“This award couldn’t have gone to someone more deserving than David,” said Cass Heimbaugh,

general manager at Hersruds Chevy, Buick, GMC in Belle Fourche. “He’s a great man to work with,

and his continued involvement in the community is inspiring.”

Hersruds of Sturgis receives top

award

Hersruds of Sturgis received the South

Dakota Automobile Dealers Association

Franchised Dealer of the Year award.

Courtesy photo

6/19/2014 Hersruds of Sturgis receives top award - Black Hills Pioneer: Local News

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David Hersrud listed customer focus as only one key to company success. “Being a good dealer is one

thing, but you have to go beyond that,” he said.

“It’s also about taking care of them before and after the sale. Community involvement is also

important.”

Hersrud family dealerships continue to support local, state, and national organizations. Groups

include Economic Development, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Humanities Council, Jaycees,

and more. David currently sits on the Sturgis City Council.

David Hersrud, 68, has served as dealer here for 37 years. “Things are different every single day,” he

said.

“I still get up in the morning and enjoy coming to work. I feel very fortunate.”

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