The Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award is an award presented by the governor of the state of North Dakota to prominent North Dakotans. The award "recognizes present and former North Dakotans who have been influenced by the state in achieving national recognition in their fields of endeavor, thereby reflecting credit and honor upon North Dakota and its citizens."[1]

It has been awarded to 50 North Dakotans since its establishment in 1961 under Governor William L. Guy.[2]

Recipients

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Name Rationale Date of Award
Lawrence Welk Career as an entertainer August 28, 1961
Dorothy Stickney Career as an actress November 2, 1961
Ivan Dmitri Career as an artist April 13, 1962
Roger Maris Career as an athlete January 4, 1964
Eric Sevareid Career as a journalist April 17, 1964
General Harold K. Johnson Military service, 24th Chief of Staff of the U. S. Army April 23, 1965
Dr. Anne H. Carlsen Career as an educator September 9, 1966
Edward K. Thompson Career as a journalist April 19, 1968
Dr. Robert Henry Bahmer Career as an archivist, 4th Archivist of the United States July 28, 1970
Louis L'Amour Career as an author May 26, 1972
Bertin C. Gamble Career as an entrepreneur October 20, 1972
Casper Oimoen Career as an athlete February 12, 1973
Peggy Lee Career as an entertainer May 23, 1975
Harold Schafer Career as an entrepreneur July 4, 1975
Era Bell Thompson Career as a journalist August 14, 1976
Dr. Leon Orris Jacobson Career as a physician October 1, 1976
Elizabeth Bodine Humanitarian activities July 27, 1979
Phyllis Frelich Career as an actress April 27, 1981
Clifford "Fido" Purpur Career as an athlete May 16, 1981
General David C. Jones Military service, 9th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff May 21, 1982
Ronald N. Davies Career as a jurist June 11, 1987
Phil Jackson Career as an athlete and coach July 30, 1992
Larry Woiwode Career as an author October 23, 1992
Angie Dickinson Career as an actress December 2, 1992
Reverend Richard C. Halverson Career as a clergyman, 60th Chaplain of the U. S. Senate March 26, 1994
Brynhild Haugland Career as a legislator March 20, 1995
Admirial William A. Owens Military service, 3rd Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff January 29, 1996
Carl Ben Eielson Career as an aviator August 26, 1997
Warren Christopher Career as a public servant June 20, 1998
Bobby Vee Career as an entertainer June 20, 1999
Chester "Chet" Reiten Career as an entrepreneur October 8, 2002
Thomas J. Clifford Career as an educator November 23, 2002
Sister Thomas Welder Career as an educator May 1, 2004
Harry J. Pearce Career as a businessman August 11, 2004
William C. Marcil Career as a businessman May 18, 2006
Woodrow W. Keeble Military service, Medal of Honor recipient July 23, 2009
Doug Burgum Career as an entrepreneur and philanthropist November 20, 2009
Ronald D. Offutt Career as an entrepreneur and philanthropist September 15, 2011
Louise Erdrich Career as an author April 19, 2013
Herman Stern Career as a businessman, activist, and humanitarian March 13, 2004
Gerald W. VandeWalle Career as a jurist, 43rd Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court January 7, 2014
John D. Odegard Career in aviation and education October 15, 2015
Eugene Dahl Career as a businessman and entrepreneur October 28, 2016
Clint Hill Career as a U. S. Secret Service agent October 5, 2018
Monique Lamoureux and Jocelyne Lamoureux Careers as athletes, Olympic gold medalists July 14, 2021
Dr. Merton B. Utgaard Career as an educator, founder of International Music Camp July 29, 2022
Virgil Hill Career as an athlete October 30, 2023
James Buchli Career as an aviator and astronaut July 30, 2024
Steve D. Scheel Career as an entrepreneur and philanthropist November 26, 2024[3]

Sources

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  1. ^ "Burgum presents 50th Rough Rider Award to SCHEELS chairman emeritus Steve D. Scheel in Fargo", North Dakota Office of the Governor
  2. ^ "Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award". North Dakota Office of the Governor. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  3. ^ Hjelmstad, Gretchen (2024-11-26). "Steve Scheel honored with Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award". www.valleynewslive.com. Retrieved 2024-11-26.