Dale Jorgenson

Modern-era Rodeo

Inducted 2002

Dale Jorgenson was born on August 19, 1936, to Carl and Helen (Dodge) Jorgenson. He grew up on a ranch southeast of Watford City and began his rodeo career competing in high school and amateur rodeos.

After graduating from high school, Dale attended Dickinson State College and competed on the rodeo team. In 1958, he finished third in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association bull riding standings.

Dale’s first North Dakota Rodeo Association championship came in 1957, as bareback riding champion and the all-around champion. He continued competing, earning 4 bareback riding , two steer wrestling, one saddle bronc riding and seven all-around NDRA championships from 1957-1975.

Besides competing, Dale also served the NDRA as an event director, committee board director and president from 1972-1975 and in 1989. He also served on the North Dakota High School Rodeo Association board for many years.
Many people in rodeo circles remember Jorgenson’s top steer wrestling horse. He was generous with the use of his top steer wrestling horse, a palomino gelding named Trouble, and the horse carried many cowboys to the pay window.

Dale married Barbara Thomas on June 30, 1958, and they have three children. Although Dale was always busy with ranching and rodeoing, he took time to help younger cowboys and cowgirls, many of them going on to state championships.

Dale passed away in 2017.