Rough Rider Award ceremony set for Scheel
The governor's office has scheduled a ceremony later this month to award the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award to Steve D. Scheel, board chairman emeritus of the Fargo-based sporting goods store Scheels.
Gov. Doug Burgum earlier this month announced Scheel as the 50th member of the North Dakota Hall of Fame. The formal induction ceremony will be at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the Scheels store at 1551 45th St. S. in Fargo. Space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis; those planning to attend are asked to RSVP at scheels.com/roughriderawards . The ceremony also will be livestreamed on the Governor's Office website, at www.governor.nd.gov .
Under Scheel's leadership, the employee-owned Scheels company grew to more than 13,000 associates and 34 stores in 16 states. He also expanded the company's tradition of being a philanthropic partner to nonprofits, charities and communities. He is now board chairman emeritus.
The Rough Rider Award recognizes current and former North Dakotans who have been influenced by the state in achieving national prominence. Entertainer Lawrence Welk was the first recipient, in 1961. Some past recipients include former NBA player and basketball coach Phil Jackson, baseball legend Roger Maris, Western author Louis L'Amour, singer and actress Peggy Lee, newsman Eric Sevareid and world champion boxer Virgil Hill. Burgum himself is in the hall — the former software executive was inducted by then-Gov. John Hoeven in 2009.
Roosevelt ranched and hunted in the western North Dakota Badlands as a young man in the 1880s before becoming the nation's 26th president. He led the Rough Riders Cavalry during the Spanish-American War in 1898 before moving on to the White House three years later.
More information on the hall is at bit.ly/3KChobo .
