Tom Regan Collection

Tom Regan was born on January 19, 1950, at Saint Joseph Hospital in Deadwood, South Dakota, and was raised in the Northern Black Hills. He attended Black Hills State College from 1968 through 1971 before being drafted into the Army. In 1974 Regan returned to BHSU to study sociology and business with minors in music, literature, and allied arts.

Regan began his career with Homestake as a part-time student laborer in November 1969. He began working full-time night shifts as a miner, in 1970, while also attending school during the day. After returning from Turkey, where he was stationed during the Vietnam War, Regan held several positions at Homestake, including Raise Bore Machine Operator and Drill Foreman Relief Supervisor. In the 1980s and 1990s, he worked as Special Projects Planner and Coordinator, Mine Services Planner, and Mine Optimization Planner. He was Underground and Surface Haulage Foreman from 1998-2000. Regan was a Mine Rescue team member and contest participant from 1974-2003, and many items in his collection were generated from these activities.

From 2000 to 2007, Regan owned his own safety consultant business, Goldserver, Inc., which allowed him to consult for Homestake and Barrick Mining Company. He was the Homestake Mine Closure Foreman from December 2000 to June of 2003 and then Safety Manager and Mine Rescue Coordinator through 2005. After the closure of Homestake, Regan continued his work with the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) at Sanford Underground Research Facility, where he has held a number of safety positions.

Regan retired from full-time work with the SDSTA in November of 2012 but continues temporary work as a trainer and emergency response consultant with Sanford Underground Research Facility at Homestake.