George Manolis, age 79, of 1440 Ohio Ave. SW, Huron, SD, died Monday, September 29, 2008, at the Huron Regional Medical Center.
His memorial mass will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 3, at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish. His committal service will be held prior to the mass at 10:15 a.m. Friday, October 3, at Riverside Cemetery with Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council.
Visitation will be Thursday from 4-8 p.m. at the Welter Funeral Home.
Memorials may be directed to the Huron Regional Medical Center Foundation.
Manolis, a respected attorney and community leader, was a senior partner at the Huron law firm of Churchill, Manolis, Freeman, Kludt, Shelton and Burns where he practiced law for more than 50 years, and was involved in some of the states most complex cases with major corporate clients. He was known for his confident presence in front of judges and the city commission, his contagious laugh and his resounding whistle in the halls of the courthouse. He loved to be at his office, and he cherished his many long-lasting client relationships and friendships made throughout his career. Manolis, a graduate of Huron College and the University of South Dakota where he received a Law Degree in 1956, was a member of the Beadle County, South Dakota Bar, American Bar, South Dakota Trial Lawyers and Trial Lawyers of America associations.
Manolis parents Nick and Katherine Manolis emigrated from Greece, and settled in Huron, where they opened the Northside Grocery. George was born on May 14, 1929. He learned the value of hard work and integrity at a young age working in the family store from the time he was a small child, and following his fathers death, traveling home every weekend from law school in Vermillion to help his mother maintain the business. Prior to attending law school, Manolis proudly served in the U.S. Army while stationed in Korea during the Korean War.
Manolis work ethic and compassion carried over into many parts of his life as he served his community as Huron City Attorney, president of the Huron Area Chamber of Commerce, Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge of Huron, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of Greater Huron Development Corporation, acting as their attorney for many years. He was the attorney for the Huron Regional Medical Center and was actively involved as they built HRMCs new hospital.
He also played a key role in helping Huron University work through a troubled financial period when the school was on the verge of extinction. His efforts to bring people together and help turnaround the school were recognized when he was awarded the 1991 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Throughout his career, he served on numerous governance bodies, including as vice president and director for the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, South Dakota Cement Commission and South Dakota State Fair Foundation Board. He also served on the boards of many financial institutions, including Chairman of the Board and director for the First State Bank of Braham, Minnesota, and F&M Bank of Sacred Heart, Minnesota, director of Big Stone State Bank, Dakota State Bank of Milbank, Security State Bank of Doland, F&M Bank of Huron, the Green Tree Financial Services Bank of South Dakota and was an advisory board member of Marquette Bank.
As much as Manolis contributed to the community, he said the community has in turn been good to his family. He would often state that, I was fortunate to have a good legal practice in Huron, but that it wasnt necessarily my skill. Rather, I was just lucky to be at the right place at the right time and with the right clients.
A caring and devoted family man, Manolis is survived by his loving wife, Pat of Huron; and their daughter, Joan of Minneapolis, MN; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by the many friends, associates and clients whose lives he touched in a positive way and who are eternally grateful for his acquaintance.
Manolis is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Tena Nelson and nephew Carib Nelson.