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