DONALD PREISTER

Class of 1965
​Inducted in 1998

Donald was inducted into the SHSAA Hall of Fame in 1998.

State Senator Donald Preister says that "South High afforded me the opportunity to know people of differing ethnic heritages, religious beliefs and ideas.  It was as much an education in social diversity as it was in academic endeavors.  Learning about and working with diverse people was a good foundation for life."  First elected to the Nebraska legislature in 1992, Senator Preister has been an active voice for his South Omaha constituency. 

The founder of Joy Creations Greeting Card Company, Senator Preister has also been an active member of the Omaha business community.  He is past president of the South Omaha Optimists, and a member of the South Omaha Neighborhood Association and South Omaha Business Association Boards.  This community and social activist is a Chairman of the South Omaha Environmental Task Force and on the board of Voices for Children. 

He is recognized as an Outstanding Young Man of America by the Jayceeds and was a former Optimist of the Year.  He is a recipient of the Bronze Star from the United State Army and the Service Cross from the Republic of South Vietnam.  Senator Preister has maintained a regimen of service and hard work and continual work in such diverse organizations as The Nature Conservancy, Veterans for Peace, Sierra Club, The Aububon Society and the Croatian Cultural Society.