Bruce Oberlander (Term 1989 - 1995)

Bruce Oberlander was born September 17, 1947 in Eureka, South Dakota. In 1950, his parents relocated to Lead, South Dakota where his father had taken a job with the Homestake Mining Company.  In1965 Bruce graduated from Lead High School and attended and graduated from South Dakota State University with a B.S. (1970) and M.S. (1971) in Printing Management. During a brief tenure working in St. Louis following graduation, he married Deadwood native Mary Ann Akrop. They moved back to Deadwood in early 1972, and after employment with two local businesses, he started his own printing firm, Dakota Graphics, which he and Mary Ann operated in Deadwood for over 38 years. Bruce was elected to a Deadwood City Commission seat in 1987, and then Mayor in 1989, the same year legalized gaming started in Deadwood. Bruce served two consecutive three year terms as mayor (1989-1995). In 2001 he was appointed to a one year city commission seat by newly elected Mayor Francis Toscana to finish his three year commission term. Toscana subsequently appointed him to two additional six month terms to fill seats vacated by resignations, for a total of ten years service in city government. As of 2021, Bruce and Mary Ann are retired and still live in Deadwood.