South Dakota legislation · 101st Legislature (2026)
South Dakota HC8012: recognizing Captain Royce Williams for his exemplary military service and bravery in combat.
Status: Introduced, February 17, 2026
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, February 20, 2026:
2026 House Commemoration 8012 - SD Legislature recognizing Captain Royce Williams for his exemplary military service and bravery in combat. South Dakota Legislature House Commemoration 8012 Introduced by: Representatives Goodwin, Baxter, Emery, Massie, Muckey, and Van Diepen and Senators Duhamel, Howard, Otten, Perry, Reed, and Zikmund A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION recognizing Captain Royce Williams for his exemplary military service and bravery in combat. WHEREAS, Royce Williams was raised on a farm near Wilmot, South Dakota, during the Great Depression, and he grew up embodying the values of hard work, courage, and leadership; and WHEREAS, Royce Williams earned a commission in the United States Navy, became a naval aviator, and was assigned to fly the F9F Panther while on combat duty off the coast of North Korea in November of 1952; and WHEREAS, Lieutenant Junior Grade Williams was on combat air patrol with a group of three other pilots on 18 November, 1952, when seven Soviet MiG-15s approaching the US fleet engaged the fighters; and WHEREAS, three of the pilots were ordered to return to the USS Oriskany, but the Soviet MiG-15s had already fired upon Williams, who was engaged in aerial combat for the next thirty-five minutes, which is believed to be the longest dogfight in US Navy history, and Williams shot down four enemy aircraft and damaged two others before …
Sponsors
- Timothy Goodwin (R, HD-030) · primary sponsor
- Heather Baxter (R, HD-034)
- Helene Duhamel (R, SD-032)
- Eric Emery (D, HD-026)
- Taffy Howard (R, 34)
- Curt Massie (R, HD-033)
- Erik Muckey (D, HD-015)
- Ernie Otten (R, SD-006)
- Carl Perry (R, 03)
- Tim Reed (R, 07)
- Kevin Van Diepen (R, HD-022)
- Larry Zikmund (R, 14)
Latest actions
- : Commemorations
Common questions
- What is HC8012?
- HC8012 is a bill in the South Dakota Legislature (101st Legislature (2026)): recognizing Captain Royce Williams for his exemplary military service and bravery in combat.
- What is the status of HC8012?
- Introduced as of February 17, 2026. Latest action: Commemorations (February 17, 2026).
- Who sponsored HC8012?
- Timothy Goodwin (R, HD-030), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HC8012?
- On the South Dakota Legislature website: https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/27311
Source: official South Dakota record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.