"Behind every great man is a great woman". In 1990 J.C. "Pappy" Hoel was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his efforts in creating the Sturgis Rally, however, there is no mention of his wife Pearl and how she hosted, cooked for, and fed the visitors camped in her back yard during those early years. Through the years Pearl became an accomplished story teller, reminiscing about the early years and about rallies not so long ago. Pearl has long ago lost track of the college degrees that she has assisted with through her story telling, always happy to share her knowledge with students seeking information on the history of the Sturgis Rally for a term paper, or researchers in need of history for a book they are writing or film they are making. Her kindness and generosity have taught generations of rally goers the true meaning of hospitality. Always the perfect hostess, Pearl Hoel is the First Lady of Sturgis.
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Sturgis Museum and Hall of Fame - Sturgis, South Dakota