Gary Bieganski has long tenure as state college trustee

If the calendar is rolled back further, there’s still only one exception. Edwin Crites, a prominent Chadron lawyer, had been on the board 22 years before he died in 1953. Prior to that, Harry Reisch, a Chadron banker, was a member of what was then the Nebraska State Board of Education, which oversaw the state colleges in their early years, served 15 years before Crites took his place in 1931.

But otherwise no one, from North Platte and on west, has served more than 12 years. Only two did that. Chadron furniture store owner Henry Freed was on the board 1960-72 and Larry Teahon, who was the Chadron city manager when he was initially appointed and served two terms early this century.

Bieganski’s tenure began in 2006 and continued through 2022. A resolution was passed by the other trustees late in 2022 after he had decided not to accept another appointment to the board stating Bieganski had “distinguished himself with his deep passion for education, and his expertise and leadership have been invaluable to the System during his tenure.”

“I miss the association with the people because they are outstanding. I miss being involved in the planning and decision-making that takes place and then seeing the fruition of those efforts, whether it involves new programs or facilities,” Bieganski said. “And, I really enjoyed attending the commencements, shaking hands with all the graduates and being able to wish them well.”

Among those who have appreciated Bieganski’s contribution to the state college system is Chadron State’s president Dr. Randy Rhine, who, this spring announced his retirement.

“One of the most enjoyable aspects of my time as president at Chadron State was the opportunity to interact with the members of the Board of Trustees for the Nebraska State College System. In particular, I have enjoyed the time I have been able to spend with Gary Bieganski. Gary is an alum of Chadron State and cares deeply about his alma mater, Wayne State, Peru State and the mission of the State Colleges. Gary is a great listener and his support over the years has helped me navigate many challenges as president. I am forever in his debt,” Rhine said.

Bieganski’s association with Chadron State College goes back much further than his 16 years on the Board of Trustees.

He and his parents, Ed and Fern Bieganski, and his sister, Maria, moved to Chadron in 1959 after his father retired from more than 20 years in the Army.

It took him eight years to earn his degree. Bieganski remembers that while he was working, he took just one Thursday night class each of three semesters. In 1966, he married Donna Jean Rickenbach.

Gary spent most of 1968 serving as the hired man on the Rickenbach ranch because he wanted to learn about ranching. He says he learned a lot but decided not to make it his career. Finally, in May 1969, Bieganski earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics.

By then, he had established the reputation of being well-organized, even-tempered, and task-oriented. He wanted anything he was involved with to be worthwhile. He was immediately hired by Chadron State as the first director of the Adult and Continuing Education Department that the college established.

It was founded, in part, to take advantage of the numerous federal grants that were being offered through the Great Society programs that the Johnson Administration had established. It expanded the college’s outreach and provided new opportunities for the public.

Bieganski vividly remembers many of the developments. Before long, Chadron State was offering non-credit once-a-week night classes in dozens of areas ranging from cake decorating to welding. It also promoted a General Education Development (GED) program to help adults who had not graduated from high school obtain an equivalent diploma.

Substantial funding also became available to provide training for law enforcement personnel and judges. A regional medical program also was established to provide training required for nurse’s aides at hospitals and personnel who worked at the new nursing homes.

It was Bieganski’s involvement in setting up healthcare training that piqued his interest in hospital administration. In 1973 he left the college to become administrator of the West Holt Memorial Hospital at Atkinson, Nebraska. He filled that position five years before moving to the McCook Community Hospital, where he served an almost unprecedented 30 years before retiring in 2006.

In those three decades, the McCook hospital grew from 45,000 square feet with about 130 employees and an annual gross revenue of $2 million to one that covered 176,000 square feet, employed 240 people, and had a gross revenue of $37.5 million.

During his tenure in McCook, Bieganski served on many boards and committees. He was a diplomat for the American College of Healthcare Executives, chairman of the Mid-America Hospital Alliance, on the board of Midland Health Resources, was the hospital administration representative on the Nebraska Board of Health for 12 years, and was on the Nebraska Hospital Association board 15 years.