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Richard F. KneipRichard Francis Kneip (January 7, 1933–March 9, 1987) was the governor of the U.S. state of South Dakota from 1971 until 1978. He was a member of the Democratic Party. When Richard F. Kneip was elected governor of South Dakota, he was only the fourth governor elected from the Democratic Party since statehood. Known to the state's voters as "Dick", Kneip gained popularity through his "people to people" campaigns. At the time he first took office, he was also the youngest governor the state had elected. Kneip and his wife, Nancy, moved into the governor's mansion, along with their eight sons. Kneip's first term was noted for major reform efforts. He successfully overhauled the organization of state government by creating a cabinet system. Kneip was re-elected in 1972, and became the last governor of South Dakota to serve a two-year term. He twice served two-year terms and then was elected to a final four-year term in 1974. At the start of Kneip's second term in 1973, the state gained national attention because of a standoff between Native American activists and government agents at Wounded Knee. Kneip resigned on July 24, 1978, a few months before the expiration of his third term. He had been selected by President Jimmy Carter to become the United States ambassador to Singapore. Kneip sought to return to the governor's mansion in 1986, but he lost his party's nomination in the state Democratic Party primary that June. Although he had pondered yet another attempt at returning to public life, Kneip was diagnosed with cancer in early 1987. He died on March 9, at the age of 54. Kneip, Richard F.
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