Hall of Fame: Dick & Alma Gors

For more than 60 years, Dick and Alma Gors have made their home in Tea.

The Gorses, who were inducted into the school district’s Hall of Fame during homecoming week, have seen the town grow from 130 people to the more than 8,000 people today.

Alma grew up south of Tea and graduated from Lennox in 1958 so Tea has been her home almost all of her life. Dick grew up in Hooker. The two married in 1961 and lived in Sioux Falls for about a year before moving to Tea. 

Dick farmed most of his life. The couple had five children and when the youngest started school, Alma went to work a the school in foodservice. They have been involved with the Lennox district and then the Tea Area school district.

“We’ve been involved since the start. When we got married, the new school was built here in ’59 (the District Education Center). When Alma started serving food, she could walk. The kids could walk to school,” Dick said. “I was farming. Back when times got tough with farming, it was easier for me to drive out and the kids could walk to school and Alma could walk to work. We’ve been involved in that a long time.”

Alma worked for 30 years in foodservice. She spent the last five years as the foodservice supervisor and helped design the kitchen in the high school. Dick has driven bus for the past 11 years.

The couple has always been supportive of the school and supported school activities. Dick served on the committees to name the schools and they both pitched in when the Lennox and Tea Area districts split.

“Whenever somebody needed something with the school, we were ready to go. We didn’t get negative on anything,” Dick said.

At 86, Dick likes the routine of driving a bus route.

“I started driving school bus 10 years ago. I retired from farming and that was the furthest thing from my mind was driving school bus. I was approached and decided I’d try it,” he said.

He enjoys the kids on the bus. He does warn that you have to realize there will be some noise and you need to be patient.

In addition to the school district, the Gorses are involved with Trinity Lutheran Church, the museum and veterans memorial.

The couple was surprised to learn of their induction into the Hall of Fame. 

“It’s a great honor,” Alma said.

“We’re happy to be acknowledged. You never know who’s watching you. You’ve got to be careful. You don’t want to be putting anybody down. Treat people the way you want to be treated,” Dick said.

They like to help and say it’s nice to be wanted.

“We like to be involved. I can’t remember the last time we said no,” Dick said.