Rough Rider Award Explained

The Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award is an award presented by the governor of the state of North Dakota to prominent North Dakotans. It has been awarded to 49 North Dakotans since its establishment in 1961 under Governor William L. Guy.[1]

Recipients

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award . 2023-11-16 . North Dakota Office of the Governor . en.