BROOKINGS – It was an enormous honor for Pat Fishback to be named the recipient of the “Mary McClure Bibby Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission last month.

Not only because it was the first time the award was bestowed, but because she knew Bibby.

“This award is all about Mary McClure Bibby, and as she was a dear friend it is a special honor for me to have received it,” Fishback said in her acceptance speech.

The Bibby Award recognizes an individual who has championed historic preservation, planning or public policy in the city of Brookings, according to the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission.

In her acceptance speech, Fishback praised Bibby’s “unpretentious, fun loving style” but noted she could work hard, too.

“When preservation problems surfaced, Mary was not one to look around for someone to blame. She worked instead to figure out how to work together to fix the problem. That is perhaps the most important lesson we should learn from her,” Fishback said.

Fishback also thanked her husband, Bob, saying, “We believe in investing in our hometown.”

Fishback ended by looking back and forward.

“I know that Mary McClure Bibby would be pleased that this award was established. I am honored to receive it. I think we could all be thinking about next year and about individuals who’ve contributed efforts on public policy, planning or preservation. Think about it and then nominate them for Mary’s award,” she said.

Mary Bibby

Born in Milbank, Mary Anne Burges earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota and a master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

She was very involved in civic work as a teacher, school board member, in church and Eastern Star while living in Redfield with her husband, Mike McClure, and daughter, Kelly.

Mary was elected to the South Dakota Senate in 1975. She became the first woman to become president pro tempore in 1979, serving in that position through 1989. She was also the first woman elected chair of the National Council of State Governments. She resigned from the South Dakota Senate to become special assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs under President George H.W. Bush in Washington, D.C.

After McClure’s death, she married John Bibby, a former state senator and Brookings businessman, and moved to Brookings, where she continued her strong community involvement, serving on the Brookings Preservation Commission.

Mary Bibby died July 2, 2016.

“Mary was a transformative member of the Historic Preservation Commission from 2004 until her death in 2016,” according to a press release from the BHPC. “Mary was actively involved in historic preservation behind the scenes on a variety of fronts. Individuals receiving this award are recognized as champions of historic preservation, planning or public policy in the City of Brookings. The Mayor’s Awards Reception was Mary’s idea to celebrate the hard work of the winners and ‘have a party.’”

Pat Fishback

“Pat Fishback’s name is synonymous with historic preservation in Brookings. Pat has championed historic preservation through planning, public policy, education and advocacy. Pat is an advocate, a practitioner, a political ally, a mentor and a force in historic preservation,” said Mayor Keith Corbett.

Fishback served on the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission from 1994 to 2003 and as its chair for six years, according to a release from the BHPC. During her tenure, Fishback worked on or led the effort on numerous policy, advocacy and educational endeavors that helped preserve, promote and develop the historical resources of the city and shape its heritage.

During her tenure, one of Fishback’s key projects was to identify Brookings’ historic resources to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s official list of historic places worthy of preservation. This resulted in the creation of the University Residential Historic District with 248 homes, the Sexauer Seed District’s 10 buildings, and Central District expansion to include the Central Elementary and the former Brookings High School/Middle School, according to the release.

Working with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Fishback led the three-year effort to create a new Historic Preservation Ordinance for the City of Brookings, which was adopted by the City Council in 2003. It became the “model” ordinance used by other historic preservation commissions in the state, according to the release.

In 2000, Fishback received the “Preservationist of the Year” award from the Historic South Dakota Foundation for her work and commitment to preservation efforts in the Brookings community, and specifically for the former Brookings Middle School. The school, built in 1921, was at one time considered for demolition. Her leadership for historic designation and grant applications saved the school and ultimately its adaptive reuse for offices and residential use, according to the release.

Her passion and active involvement in historic preservation did not end after leaving the Commission, according to the release.

“Pat has also demonstrated her commitment to historic preservation in her personal projects, winning individual Mayor’s Awards for overall restoration of the ‘Historic Lockhardt House’ at 1001 Sixth Ave. (2013), new construction at 423 Eighth St. (2015), and most recently the overall renovation of 610 Third St. (2016).”

An ancient Chinese proverb states, “The strength of a nation is derived from the integrity of its homes.”

“Pat Fishback’s personal commitment has helped save critical historic structures that now shape the heritage of the Brookings community. She has demonstrated a lifelong passion, backed by her actions, to make Brookings livable for current generations and generations to come,” said the release.