“Nothing Gets Me Down”
Words and music by Kat Baum
with Mr. Bokker’s Class
©2022 Kat Baum
Born on the East Side of the Missouri River
To Richard and May Donovan
They taught him it was easier to be kind
A boy in the middle of 10……… Ohhhhhhh
Clair had to keep up with three older brothers
His father brought home horses for them to break
Instilled with the same strong will that he still holds like thirst
The little boy broke his horse first
If you ask him his secret to life he will tell you
It takes less muscles to smile than to frown Oh…..Oh
I don’t let nothing, nothin, get me down
Though beautiful Vicki caught his eye in high school
It wasn’t til’ college that they fell in love
Together they brought two sons and a daughter into the world
A perfect mother and wife who had to leave too soon
Chorus
You don’t need, a, pat on the back
No…. you don’t need, a bag full of money
Oh no….you don’t need your name in the paper
To be somebody………Just be somebody
After 40 good years constructing buildings in Spearfish
Clair plans to travel the world and snorkel all the seas
Enjoy his eight grandchildren and spend time with his mother
And if it sounds like fun, he’s gonna do it on a whim
Chorus
Clair was born in 1955 in Miller South Dakota to Richard and Mae Donovan. He was the middle child between 10 brothers and sisters. Growing up there was only 1 bathroom in the house, so you can only imagine the fights over the bathroom that took place. Some of his favorite and proudest memories were breaking horses and winning the 50-yard dash in his elementary days. With his blazing speed, Clair participated in several sports including baseball and cross country. A broken arm put a stop to his baseball career, but is did not slow him down. In high school, he looked up to his biology teacher who was also the wrestling coach. One day he decided it would be fun to go bass fishing in his teacher’s large aquarium in the classroom. He ended up catching a bass which flew across the room and hit one of his girl classmates.
Clair graduated high school in 1973 and went off to college at BHSU to become a teacher. During college he got a construction job and found out that construction was what he wanted to do with his life. He also found the love of his life, Vicky, who was a high school friend of his. They had 3 children together. Clair is proud of his children Shawn, Luke, and Sarah. When they were growing up, they knew their dad meant business if he ever stuck his finger in their chest. He always taught them right from wrong. Vicky left this world too soon in 2003.
Clair has lived in Spearfish for 50 years and is a pillar of the community. He lives by the motto: Be nice to everyone and always wear a smile. He loves traveling (he has been to 40 states), golfing, four- wheeling, skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, eating steak, and being with his grandchildren. Clair plans on retiring this December. He has been in the construction business since 1982. One of his most memorable jobs was building the Newman Center at Black Hills State University. St. Lucia, Cabo, and an ice sculpting festival are on his list of places he plans to go. Or, he may just take off on a whim and do something fun. Clair encourages everyone to volunteer, help out, and treat everyone right.
We are honored to recognize Clair Donovan for the difference he has made in our community.