KOA CEO Jim Rogers, left, stands with Sharon and Richard Cutler, president of the Recreation Adventures Company, which owns 10 Kampgrounds of America properties in North America. Richard Cutler was honored Monday with the Darrell Booth Lifetime Achievement Award by KOA.
Cutler Receives First KOA Lifetime Achievement Award
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (November 7, 2011) - Recreation Adventures Company President Richard Cutler was honored Monday, November 7 with the first Kampgrounds of America Darrell Booth Lifetime Achievement Award during KOA's annual International Convention at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Cutler, a native of Wessington Springs, South Dakota, and a founder of the Cutler and Donahoe Law Firm in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, owns and operates 10 KOA campgrounds in North America, more than any other single franchisee. He has been instrumental in making the KOA campground system the largest and best system of family campgrounds in North America, and he and his management team have played integral parts in several of KOA's industry leading programs.
The Darrell Booth Lifetime Achievement Award was created this year to honor those who dedicate a large part of their lives to the advancement of the KOA system in particular, but also to the camping lifestyle in in North America. Booth, who died in 1980, was the first president of Kampgrounds of America. He was hand-selected by KOA founder Dave Drum shortly after the company was created in 1962. Booth oversaw the rapid growth of the KOA system during the 1960s and 1970s. His leadership and foresight allowed Kampgrounds of America to grow and prosper even during harsh economic times.
"Richard Cutler epitomizes all that Darrell Booth stood for during his career with KOA," said Kampgrounds of America Inc. CEO Jim Rogers Monday. "Its because of people like Darrell Booth and Richard Cutler that a company like KOA can look eagerly ahead to our next 50 years."
Rich Cutler graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Dakota in 1963, where he majored in history, served as Cadet Colonel for the ROTC unit, and was a member of the championship track team. He went on to graduate summa cum laude from USD's School of Law in 1965.
Following law school, Rich served in the JAG Corps and attained the rank of Major, spending his last three years assigned to the United States Embassy in Bonn, Germany. Rich is fluent in German. After leaving active duty, Rich returned to South Dakota and began practicing with Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith in Sioux Falls.
In 1997, Rich left the firm and joined his son, Kent, and Brian Donahoe, to establish Cutler & Donahoe. Rich takes great pride in the fact that his family has practiced law in South Dakota since 1906, beginning with his grandfather.
In addition to practicing law, Rich has been active in starting and operating cable television companies. Rich's civic interests include serving as Chairman of the Sioux Falls United Way Campaign 1993, Board Chair of the National Music Museum, and co-chair of USD's Campaign South Dakota. He also serves on the Board of the South Dakota Community Foundation and other boards. Rich is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and past Chair of the Real Estate and Probate Section of the State Bar of South Dakota.
*content provided by Kampgrounds of America, Inc.