Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award | North Dakota Office of the Governor

Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award | North Dakota Office of the Governor
Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award
An honorary rank of Colonel in the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Riders was established during the 1961 Dakota Territory Centennial. The award recognizes North Dakotans who have been influenced by this state in achieving national recognition in their fields of endeavor, thereby reflecting credit and honor upon North Dakota and its citizens.
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. As a young man, he spent several years in the North Dakota Badlands. Roosevelt said if it had not been for his experiences in North Dakota, he never would have been President of the United States.
Roosevelt vigorously championed the conservation of America's scenic, natural and historical resources. In recognition of his valuable contributions toward conservation,
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
was established in 1947 in the North Dakota Badlands that Roosevelt loved.
North Dakotans can be nominated for consideration through the
Rough Rider Nomination page
on the North Dakota Governor's website
or by mailing or delivering nomination materials to the Governor's Office. Nominations should include the nominee's name, a description of the reason for nomination and contact information for the individual or individuals submitting the nomination.
Recipients of the award are chosen by the Governor, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and the Director of the State Historical Society.
As of November 2024, 50 North Dakotans have received the award. Their portraits are on display in the lower level of the Capitol building. The latest recipient, Steve D. Scheel, will have his portrait displayed in the coming weeks.
Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award Winners
Award Recipient
Presented
Lawrence Welk, Entertainer
August 28, 1961
Dorothy Stickney, Actress
November 2, 1961
Ivan Dmitri, Artist
April 13, 1962
Roger Maris, Athlete
January 4, 1964
Eric Sevareid, Journalist
April 17, 1964
Gen. Harold K. Johnson, Military Service
April 23, 1965
Dr. Anne H. Carlsen, Educator
September 9, 1966
Edward K. Thompson, Journalist
April 19, 1968
Dr. Robert Henry Bahmer, Archiving
July 28, 1970
Louis L'Amour, Author
May 26, 1972
Bertin C. Gamble, Entrepreneur
October 20, 1972
Casper Oimoen, Athlete
February 12, 1973
Peggy Lee, Entertainer
May 23, 1975
Harold Schafer, Entrepreneur
July 4, 1975
Era Bell Thompson, Journalist
August 14, 1976
Dr. Leon Orris Jacobson, Physician
October 1, 1976
Elizabeth Bodine, Humanitarian
July 27, 1979
Phyllis Frelich, Actress
April 27, 1981
Cliff "Fido" Purpur, Athlete
May 16, 1981
Gen. David C. Jones, Military Service
May 21, 1982
Ronald N. Davies, Judge
June 11, 1987
Phil Jackson, Athlete
July 30, 1992
Larry Woiwode, Author
October 23, 1992
Angie Dickinson, Actress
December 2, 1992
Rev. Richard C. Halverson, Minister
March 26, 1994
Brynhild Haugland, Legislator
March 20, 1995
Admiral William A. Owens, Military Service
January 29, 1996
Carl Ben Eielson, Pioneer Aviator
August 26, 1997
Warren Christopher, Public Service
June 20, 1998
Bobby Vee, Entertainer
June 20, 1999
Chester "Chet" Reiten, Entrepreneur
October 8, 2002
Thomas J. Clifford, Entrepreneur
November 23, 2002
Sister Thomas Welder, Educator
May 1, 2004
Harry J. Pearce, Business Leader
August 11, 2004
William C. Marcil, Business Leader
May 18, 2006
Master Sergeant Woodrow Wilson Keeble, Military Service
July 23, 2008
Doug Burgum, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
November 20, 2009
Ronald D. Offutt, Agribusiness Leader and Philanthropist
September 15, 2011
Louise Erdrich, Author
April 19, 2013
Herman Stern, Business Leader and Humanitarian
March 13, 2014
Gerald W. VandeWalle, Elected Official
January 7, 2015
John D. Odegard, Aviation Pioneer and Leader
October 15, 2015
Eugene Dahl, Business Leader and Entrepreneur
October 28, 2016
Clint Hill, U.S. Secret Service Agent and Author
November 19, 2018
Monique and Jocelyne Lamoureux, Olympic Gold Medalists
July 14, 2021
Dr. Merton Utgaard, Founder of the International Music Camp
July 29, 2022
Virgil Hill, Five-Time Boxing World Champion Boxer
October 30, 2023
James Buchli, NASA Astronaut
July 30, 2024
Steve D. Scheel, Board chairman emeritus of retailer SCHEELS
November 25, 2024
Terry and Troy Steiner, national champion wrestlers and legendary coaches
Date TBA
The Rough Rider Award Artists
Ann Linton Hodge
Emmett Morgan
Vern Skaug