The November 2005 Citizen of the Month is an exceptional individual who has volunteered hundreds of hours for the betterment of the community. We are very pleased to present this Citizen of the Month award to W. W. Walt Roetter.

Walt Roetter retired from the United States Air Force in 1991 after serving twenty-four years of active service. As a colonel, he served as Chief of Staff, 12th Air Division at Ellsworth AFB. During Walt’s distinguished career, he flew over 5,000 hours in 11 different aircraft, including 713 hours of combat time. Following his retirement, he became the Executive Director of the Rushmore Presidential Institute, an educational and public policy organization in Rapid City.

As a member of the Board of Directors, and as President of the Ellsworth Heritage Foundation overseeing the civilian side of the Air & Space Museum, he has devoted over ten years to this successful project. Under his leadership, the museum has become a destination for visitors and is now considered one of the top Air Force museum programs in its field.

Walt is a long-time member of Westside Kiwanis, served as Lt. Governor twice and as Region 4 Governor for South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. He has been a long-time supporter and participant of the Keep Rapid City Clean Committee and served as President of the Chapel Valley Water Board.

Jerry Freed, who nominated Walt for this recognition, notes that “Walt has donated hundreds of hours toward the betterment of Rapid City and is an individual who has truly made a difference in our community.”

Walt and his wife Susan, have three grown sons: Charles, Stephen, and Paul.