Jim Hood

Board Member

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good"

–Samuel Johnson

Jim obtained his B.S. degree from Black Hills State University and his J.D. from the University of South Dakota School of Law. Some of his accomplishments include being awarded the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award by the SD Chamber of Commerce & Industry and being named a Distinguished Alumnus of Black Hills State University. He is also a recipient of the SDEA Friend of Education Award. Jim is a former SD legislator and Speaker of the House.

Jim joined DRSD as a Board Member in 2021. He currently serves on the Board’s By-laws Review Committee. He likes being a Board Member because he enjoys meeting new people and having the opportunity to serve others. 

Jim is married and has two adult children. He also has a 15-year-old Yorkie named Bella. In his free time, Jim enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, golf, pickleball, and playing his trumpet. He also enjoys “putzing around the yard” working on his flowers. Something interesting about Jim is that he was on the fire pit crew for Janet Guthrie the year she was the first female to race in the Indy 500.