Peru, Nebraska- Keith Bystrom presented “My Retirement Adventure Following the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail” to Peru State on Thursday, November 2. The social science faculty and Phi Alpha Theta hosted this event.

Keith Bystrom speaking with modern milestones along the Lewis and Clark Trail behind him.

Keith Bystrom speaking with modern milestones along the Lewis and Clark Trail behind him.

Bystrom spoke about his decision to follow the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail after his retirement. The trail begins with the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in St. Louis, Missouri, and ends at the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Fort Clatsop, Oregon.

Dr. Justin Pfeifer, assistant professor of history, writes, “Mr. Bystrom's presentation about the Lewis and Clark trail displayed his passion for history and knowledge of Nebraska."

"He carefully documented every step of his journey with scores of pictures and research, showing the audience many of the interesting sites along the Missouri River connected with our nation's past."

Dr. Justin Pfeiffer and Keith Bystrom

Dr. Justin Pfeiffer and Keith Bystrom Bystrom writes, " highlighted the important points of interest along the Lewis and Clark Trail through photographic images taken during 2017."

"I traveled by motor vehicle along the expedition route of the Corps of Discovery from the confluence of the Missouri River with the Mississippi River, near St. Louis, all the way to the Pacific Ocean coast, near Seaside, Oregon. Specific reference was focused on Lewis and Clark sites along the border between Iowa and Nebraska and interesting facts regarding their journey."

Bystrom was born and raised in North Platte, Nebraska and he graduated from University of Nebraska - Lincoln in 1972 with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is also a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center with a Juris Doctor in 1975.

Bystrom started practicing law in North Platte as a Lincoln County Public Defender in 1975. He taught law at the University of Oklahoma Law Center from 1979 until 2000 in areas of Clinical Education, Trial Advocacy Techniques, Interviewing and Counseling, Negotiation and Criminal Law. He also served in law school administration as Associate Dean and Acting Dean.

Bystrom was then the attorney in the General Counsel's Office at Iowa State University from 2000 until his retirement in 2016 after 41 years of practicing and teaching law.

He is married to Dianne Bystrom PhD, Director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University. They have two grown children - Christopher and Elizabeth.

For more information on the presentation, contact Justin Pfeifer at jpfeifer@peru.edu.

Keith Bystrom in front of the End of the (Lewis and Clark) Trail Monument at the Pacific Ocean in Seaside, Oregon

Keith Bystrom in front of the End of the (Lewis and Clark) Trail Monument at the Pacific Ocean in Seaside, Oregon.

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