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]
| 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] |