This past week, Huron attorney Rodney Freeman received an award for 50 years of membership in both the South Dakota and the North Dakota State Bar Associations.

The South Dakota award was given at a reception in Pierre on Wednesday evening, and the North Dakota award was given Thursday afternoon at a luncheon in Fargo.

Freeman graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1974, and he began practicing with the firm of Churchill, Manolis, and Freeman immediately after.

In the 50 years Freeman has spent with the firm, he’s practiced almost every kind of law from criminal defense to contracts, but he specializes in the field of school law. In addition to the legal work, he lectures around the state, providing instruction to school districts and other attorneys on the ins and outs of the law as it applies to schools. He represents over 90 school districts in the state as well as several colleges and tech schools. Freeman also specializes in the health care field and has represented Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) for 32 years.

In addition to his law career, Freeman has a long record of service to his state and community. He has served on the South Dakota State Water Board for 38 years, has been a long-standing board member of the Jan Manolis Family Safe Center, and has recently served as chairman of the South Dakota State Fair Foundation.