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.""Burgum presents 50th Rough Rider Award to SCHEELS chairman emeritus Steve D. Scheel in Fargo", North Dakota Office of the Governor
It has been awarded 50 times to 52 North Dakotans since its establishment in 1961 under Governor William L. Guy.
Recipients +NameRationaleDate of AwardLawrence WelkCareer as an entertainerAugust 28, 1961Dorothy StickneyCareer as an actressNovember 2, 1961Ivan DmitriCareer as an artistApril 13, 1962Roger MarisCareer as an athleteJanuary 4, 1964Eric SevareidCareer as a journalistApril 17, 1964General Harold K. JohnsonMilitary service, 24th Chief of Staff of the U. S. ArmyApril 23, 1965Dr. Anne H. CarlsenCareer as an educatorSeptember 9, 1966Edward K. ThompsonCareer as a journalistApril 19, 1968Dr. Robert Henry BahmerCareer as an archivist, 4th Archivist of the United StatesJuly 28, 1970Louis L'AmourCareer as an authorMay 26, 1972Bertin C. GambleCareer as an entrepreneurOctober 20, 1972Casper OimoenCareer as an athleteFebruary 12, 1973Peggy LeeCareer as an entertainerMay 23, 1975Harold SchaferCareer as an entrepreneurJuly 4, 1975Era Bell ThompsonCareer as a journalistAugust 14, 1976Dr. Leon Orris JacobsonCareer as a physicianOctober 1, 1976Elizabeth BodineHumanitarian activitiesJuly 27, 1979Phyllis FrelichCareer as an actressApril 27, 1981Clifford "Fido" PurpurCareer as an athleteMay 16, 1981General David C. JonesMilitary service, 9th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffMay 21, 1982Ronald N. DaviesCareer as a juristJune 11, 1987Phil JacksonCareer as an athlete and coachJuly 30, 1992Larry WoiwodeCareer as an authorOctober 23, 1992Angie DickinsonCareer as an actressDecember 2, 1992Reverend Richard C. HalversonCareer as a clergyman, 60th Chaplain of the U. S. SenateMarch 26, 1994Brynhild HauglandCareer as a legislatorMarch 20, 1995Admirial William A. OwensMilitary service, 3rd Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffJanuary 29, 1996Carl Ben EielsonCareer as an aviatorAugust 26, 1997Warren ChristopherCareer as a public servantJune 20, 1998Bobby VeeCareer as an entertainerJune 20, 1999Chester "Chet" ReitenCareer as an entrepreneurOctober 8, 2002Thomas J. CliffordCareer as an educatorNovember 23, 2002Sister Thomas WelderCareer as an educatorMay 1, 2004Harry J. PearceCareer as a businessmanAugust 11, 2004William C. MarcilCareer as a businessmanMay 18, 2006Woodrow W. KeebleMilitary service, Medal of Honor recipientJuly 23, 2009Doug BurgumCareer as an entrepreneur and philanthropistNovember 20, 2009Ronald D. OffuttCareer as an entrepreneur and philanthropistSeptember 15, 2011Louise ErdrichCareer as an authorApril 19, 2013Herman SternCareer as a businessman, activist, and humanitarianMarch 13, 2004Gerald W. VandeWalleCareer as a jurist, 43rd Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme CourtJanuary 7, 2014John D. OdegardCareer in aviation and educationOctober 15, 2015Eugene DahlCareer as a businessman and entrepreneurOctober 28, 2016Clint HillCareer as a U. S. Secret Service agentOctober 5, 2018Monique Lamoureux and Jocelyne LamoureuxCareers as athletes, Olympic gold medalistsJuly 14, 2021Dr. Merton B. UtgaardCareer as an educator, founder of International Music CampJuly 29, 2022Virgil HillCareer as an athleteOctober 30, 2023James BuchliCareer as an aviator and astronautJuly 30, 2024Steve D. ScheelCareer as an entrepreneur and philanthropistNovember 26, 2024Troy Steiner and Terry SteinerCareers as athletes and coachesOctober 1, 2026
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