Outstanding Public Service Award
The Distinguished Lifetime Service Award (formerly called the Outstanding Industry Servant Awards) is presented elected public officials who have a proven track record of supporting oil and gas development while ensuring all stakeholders are treated fairly and policies are followed. The recipient of this award is selected by a committee.
Past Honorees include:
- Rich Wardner, 2001
Senator, District 37 | Dickinson, ND
- Earl Rennerfeldt, 2001
Representative, District 1 | Williston, ND
- Robert Harms, 2002
Legal Counsel, North Dakota Governor’s Office
- Stan Lyson, 2003
Senator, District 1 | Williston, ND
- Frank Wald, 2003
Representative, District 37 | Dickinson, ND
- Senator John Hoeven, 2004
North Dakota Governor (2000-2011) | U.S. Senator (2012-present)
- Wes Norton, 2004
Former Director, North Dakota Industrial Commission Oil & Gas Division
- Job Service North Dakota, 2005
Williston, Minot, Dickinson & Bismarck Offices,
- David Drovdal, 2005
Representative, District 39 | Arnegard, ND
- Floyd (Jack) Wilborn, 2006
Former Assistant Director, NDIC Oil & Gas Division
- Kent Ellis, 2006
Bismarck Public Schools | Energy Career Awareness Partnership
- Connie Triplett, 2007
Senator, District 18 | Grand Forks, ND
- Glen Froseth, 2007
Representative, District 6 | Kenmare, ND
- Lynn Helms, 2008
Director, North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources
- David O’Connell, 2009
Senator, District 1 | Lansford, ND
- Rick Berg, 2009
Representative, District 45 | Fargo, ND
- Karlene Fine, 2010
NDIC Executive Director
- Bob Stenehjem, 2011 (honored posthumously)
Senator, District 30 | Bismarck, ND
- Ward Koeser, 2012
Mayor (1994-2014) | Williston, ND
- Todd Porter, 2013
Representative, District 34 | Mandan, ND
- Dave Hynek, 2014
Mountrail County Commissioner (14 years) | Stanley, ND
- Mike Hynek, 2014
Mayor (1996-2014) | Stanley, ND
- George Keiser, 2015
Representative, District 47 | Bismarck, ND
- Ken Hall, 2016
Tribal Councilman, North Segment, MHA Nation | New Town, ND
- Ron Rauschenberger, 2016
Chief of Staff, North Dakota Governor’s Office - Al Carlson, 2017
Representative, District 41 | Fargo, ND - Doug Goehring, 2018
North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner | Bismarck, ND - Senator Jessica Unruh, 2019
North Dakota State Senator | Beulah, ND