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 Contact Us 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 July 2022, 47 North Dakotans have received the award. Their portraits are on display in the lower level of the Capitol building, including the latest recipient, Dr. Merton Utgaard.
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 |
The Rough Rider Award Artists
- Ann Linton Hodge
- Emmett Morgan
- Vern Skaug
