Denver Jorgenson

Modern-era Rodeo

Inducted 2017

Denver Carl Jorgenson was born on September 14, 1951 in Williston, ND. He moved to Cook, MN for a time before returning to North Dakota for college and work. He worked on his brother Dale’s ranch and for Gerry Linseth at Grassy Butte, ND.

Jorgenson competed in bareback, steer wrestling, saddle bronc and bull riding from 1969 through 1986. He was a member of several rodeo teams during his career, including the NDRA and RRA. Jorgenson served on the Board of Directors of the NDRA and as a Trustee of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.

He participated in the Valley City Winter Show in Deadwood, SD, the Effie MN North Star Rodeo, MN High School Rodeo (All-Around and Saddle Bronc winner in 1970; 2nd place in Bareback, Steer Wrestling and Bronc Riding), Dickinson State Rodeo Team, the RRA, and was in the finals in the NARC in Spokane, WA (1982) and El Paso, TX (1986). In 1970, he received the 1st Jack Weekes Memorial Rodeo Scholarship. In 1973, he won the All-Around and Steer Wrestling and came in 2nd in Saddle Bronc at the Standing Rock Centennial Rodeo. He was awarded the Scott Gore Memorial Trophy and the Frank Crimmins Jr. Memorial All-Around Trophy in years 1973-1975. Jorgenson won numerous other prestigious awards, including the most bareback championships won in NDRA history at the time, having won bareback in 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1976. He won the NDRA All-Around in 1973, ’74, ’75 and ’76; Steer Wrestling in 1973 and Saddle Bronc in 1975.

Jorgenson began a career in highway construction in Dickinson in 1970, working with various contractors through the years. From 1987 to present, he has been a superintendent with the Northern Improvement Company. A required move to Oklahoma put rodeo on hold for several years. But he returned to North Dakota in 1991, working with the Power Plant Division of NIC. Jorgenson currently resides in Bismarck, ND.