University of South Dakota Athletics

Richard "Dick" Berry, originally of Rapid City, earned a reputation as one of the best defensive players in Coyote football history. A two sport standout (football and basketball), Berry, who starred for USD from 1935-39, earned all-North Central Conference honors in football during the 1938 championship season. Former Coyote head football coach Harry Gamage said of Berry: "His defense was out of this world. During that 1938 season, there wasn't one yard gained on his side of the line in the conference." That's one of the reasons why that 1938 team shutout five opponents and, in fact, allowed only two points in conference play. Berry was also a member of the Coyotes' 1939 NCC championship basketball team. After graduation, Berry went to work for the First National Bank of the Black Hills at Rapid City in June of 1940.