ND Cowboy Hall of Fame - Archived Articles

Nominations being accepted

November 12, 2003

---NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2004 HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS---

The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Center of Western Heritage and Cultures: Native American, Ranching and Rodeo is now accepting nominations for the Hall of Fame Hall of Honorees for 2004. Fifty-seven individuals, four events, and three-famed rodeo bucking horses, and six ranches have been inducted in the past six years. In 2004, eight individuals, one rodeo animal, and one ranch will be inducted.

NDCHF Executive Director Darrell Dorgan says nominations will be accepted until January 16, 2004, in the following categories: Pre-1940 Ranching; Modern-era Ranching; Ranches; Pre-1940 Rodeo; Modern-era Rodeo, Rodeo Livestock; Leaders of Ranching and Rodeo; and the Western Entertainment and Arts Division. There will be two inductees from the Pre-1940 Ranching and Pre-1940 Rodeo Divisions and one each from the Modern-era Ranching, Modern-era Rodeo, Ranches, Rodeo Livestock, Leaders of Ranching and Rodeo, and Western Arts and Entertainment Divisions.

Nominations for the Hall of Fame Hall of Honorees are made through the group's 200 Trustees from across the state. Dorgan says, "If you have someone you want nominated for possible selection to the Hall of Fame, contact a local Trustee. They have the forms necessary to begin the information gathering process. Once nominations are made, they are screened by Trustees, and those selected will be put on the ballot. Ballots will be mailed to Trustees in May 2004 and the results announced in July. The ten selected to join the 70 current inductees will be formally inducted in ceremonies in Medora and Sentinel Butte on Saturday, August 7, and Sunday, August 8.

So far, the Hall of Fame has financial commitments of nearly $1.9 million and a building site in the city of Medora. Dorgan says, “Mida bonds to provide financing were approved by the City of Medora, and Wells Fargo Brokerage Services has agreed to finance $2.5 million of the bonds."

Hall of Fame officials are now accepting bids on the project, and it's hoped a contractor can be named by the end of the year. Plans call for construction to begin in March, and the 15,000-square-foot facility will open in Medora in the spring of 2005.

Fundraising for the project continues, and Dorgan says the Hall of Fame hopes to raise an additional $600,000 prior to the opening in 2005.

Dorgan notes, "We are now working with banks, foundations and a number of individuals in an effort to have all the money needed to pay for the project before it opens."

Work on the NDCHF began with a Dickinson organizational meeting six years ago. More than a thousand people from across the country have become charter and annual members. Contributions for the project may be sent to The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, 1110 College Drive #216, Bismarck, North Dakota 58501.

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