Soukup, Benjamin J., jr.

Born deaf in South Dakota; attended hearing local public schools and then graduated South Dakota School for the Deaf 1969; spent one year at Gallaudet College beginning age 17 but then dropped out to attend local colleges in SD. Also attended University of Northern Colorado and Cornell University, but apparently never completed any college degrees. Honorary doctorate from Gallaudet University 2000. Employed for a time at a meat-packing plant. Founding chief executive officer, 1975- , for Communication Services for the Deaf in Sioux Falls, SD, the nation's largest private nonprofit organization run by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Unsuccessful candidate for the South Dakota state legislature 1982; registered lobbyist in SD since the mid-1980s. Vice president 1990-1993 and president 1993-1998 of the National Association of the Deaf.