“This One’s for You”
Words and music by Andy Young & Tyler Bills
with Mrs. Reiner’s Class
©2023 Andy Young & Tyler Bills
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Long Island
Where his friends got into trouble
He made right choices
Went to military school where he hated waking up to a bugle
Kept a strict schedule and he marched to lunch
And had to study hard every night
Had T for trouble next to his name
But he never got into a fight
Moved to Mitchell in 60’s
To further his knowledge
Got a degree
Then went back east after college
We asked for advice, there was a common feature
Thank your parents and thank a teacher
Volunteer and help out when you can
Hard work is something that Myles understands
Do do do do do do do do do do doooo, do do do do do do do do do doooo
Thank you for all the nice things you do
Myles Kenned,y this one’s for you
1966 there was a war going on
He had a baby on the way
Myles was going to be a first-time father and the military let him stay
He got himself a job at Chase Bank
And he managed multiple locations
Missed the Midwest so in ‘69
He moved his family back across the nation
Rapid City with his wife by his side
Working at the bank, cashing in on a beautiful life
Chorus
He likes the Midwest for the open space
You can catch his volunteering all over the place
If he had one wish, he’d thanks his parents
Right to their face
Most important things by his side
are His kids his dogs and his beautiful wife
Thank you, Myles, for living such a generous life
Chorus
Myles Kennedy was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1941, and was raised in Long Island. He was the youngest of 3 children- having an older brother and older sister. His parents were very strict and wanted Myles to be successful and disciplined, so he was sent to military school in Virginia. Once he left military school, he went to back to public school where he graduated from Valley Stream Central High School in 1961.
When he was in high school, he participated in football and track with football being his favorite. Football is still his favorite sport, and he is a big supporter of all his favorite teams. During his senior year in high school, a recruiter from Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, South Dakota, offered Myles a chance to continue his education in college. So after graduating from high school, he accepted the chance to attend Dakota Wesleyan University and proudly graduated in with a degree in Business and History.
After college graduation, he went back home where he began work as a United Parcel Service driver. Not liking the long commutes with so many people on the roads, he was offered a chance to work at a bank. His dad had been a Vice President at Chase National Bank and was his biggest role model. He was glad to be able to follow in his footsteps.
On Oct 1, 1969, he was offered a position at a bank in Rapid City, and it was there that he met his beautiful wife, Jeanette. Myles moved up the banking ladder and was asked to run many banks from Rapid City to Spearfish, Watertown to Billings, even Minnesota, but the Black Hills always had a special place in his heart, so in 1996, Myles and his family moved back to Spearfish where they have been ever since.
When you ask Myles what his biggest regret has been, it was disappointing his parents by getting into trouble when he was in school. However, he took the discipline and hard work that came as a result of those hard times, and he has turned it into something positive.
Myles has been involved in several organizations in the community and believes that donating back is one of the most important things you can do. He has either volunteered or served on several community boards like the BHSU Foundation, Yellow Jacket Foundation, Feeding South Dakota, Hardrocker Club, Green and Gold Club, Central States Fair, Spearfish Chamber of Commerce, Spearfish Economic Development, Lions Club, Teen Court, Western Hills Humane Society, D.C Booth Society, the Spearfish Canyon Foundation, and Volunteers of America.
One of his most significant contributions has been the work he does for the South Dakota Special Olympics. He has been an active member of the Special Olympic Board of Directors for 23 years and has served as the Spearfish Chairman for 14 years. In 2016 he was awarded the Don Baker Award which is the highest honor given in South Dakota for Special Olympics.
Myles was inducted into the BHSU Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2003. He was also given the Friend of Spearfish Award and the Spirit of Spearfish by the Spearfish Chamber of Commerce. He also received Volunteer of the Year and the Distinguished Service Award for Ducks Unlimited. Finally, he was given a Proclamation by the City of Spearfish for his work in our community.
Although Myles has been retired for 25 years, he is still very active in several organizations and community events. He even gets up every day at 3:30 in the morning to get a workout in and goes back in the afternoon to get another one in. In between workouts, you can often see him on the golf course.
Even with all of his accomplishments and contributions to our community, what he holds closest to his heart is his family. He and his wife are the proud parents of a son and daughter. His son, Myles Jr., has taught him what it means to have unconditional love, and his daughter Cari has taught him what it means to have unconditional faith. His wife Jeanette is his rock, and they will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary this December.
Myles’s biggest piece of advice is to thank your parents and people who make a difference in your life. His parents had a profound impact on him, and even though he got into some trouble when he was younger, we know that they are proud of the person he has become. Thank YOU, Myles.