By Con Marshall, Chadron State College
Dr. Rolland Dewing, a long-time Chadron State College professor and division chairman who also became well-known for his historical research and writing, died at the family home at Renton, Wash., on Saturday, Dec. 5, apparently due to heart failure. He was 86.
Dewing, his wife Delores and their four children moved to Chadron in 1969 after he was hired to teach history and become chairman of the Division of Social Science at the college. He was on the faculty 32 years and also was the division chairman the first 18 years. After retiring in 2001, the Dewings returned to Washington state where both had grown up.
Dewing was perhaps best known as the author of the 414-page book, “Wounded Knee: The Meaning and Significance of the Second Incident.” It was initially published in 1985 and was reprinted twice. He estimated he spent 2,000 hours in an eight-month time frame working on the book, after using the Freedom of Information Act to obtain some 28,000 pages of material from the federal government. The information filled 22 cardboard boxes.
He also read countless newspaper accounts, studied court documents and conducted many interviews of those who had participated in the 1973 incident at Wounded Knee that involved the American Indian Movement and the FBI.
From the book, Dewing spun off at least a dozen papers that he used to deliver talks at regional and national conferences and to write numerous articles that were printed in historical journals.
Soon after completing the Wounded Knee book, Dewing was the lead author in researching and writing Chadron’s centennial history that was published in 1986 when the community was celebrating its 100th anniversary. He also was the co-author of “A Pioneer’s Dream Come True,” a history of the Mirage Flats Irrigation Project, and wrote the Chadron Rotary Club’s history.
In addition, he was among the founders and participants of the Phi Alpha Theta History Fraternity’s weekly programs that took place for more than 25 years, serving as an outlet for numerous faculty, government officials and many others who had information to share.
Mrs. Dewing also was busy during the couple’s time in Chadron, teaching music in the elementary schools for 24 years.
Survivors include their children Bridget, Dean and Jim, all graduates of Chadron High, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Their daughter Amy died in 2002. Because of the coronavirus, a memorial service is being delayed until the spring of 2021.