Robert Luger

Leaders of Ranch & Rodeo

Inducted 2020

Born September 1, 1946, to Raymond “Butch” Luger and Thelma Lucy Luger in Fort Yates, ND, Robert was riding horseback at a very early age. He went to St Bernard’s Mission School.

Robert went to Fort Yates High School where he was on the state champion track team and played on the undefeated football team.

Robert went to college at Wahpeton State School of Science. He was on the state champion boxing team in 1965 and 1966, was individual runner up champion in 1965, and state champ in 1966. He graduated with an accounting degree.

Robert was drafted into the United States Army on November 11, 1966. He went to basic training at Fort Polk, LA, and went 7 miles down the road in a cattle truck to advanced infantry training. He received orders to go to the central highlands of Vietnam with 7 guys from ND and MN, all going to the First Cavalry. He arrived home on May 1, 1968.

Robert’s dad had a stroke in 1973 and Robert was thrown into running the ranch. Raising cattle and horses for over 70 years, the ranch also had Herefords, Angus, Charolais, Limousin, Shorthorns, Longhorns, Salers, buffalo, Brahma, Cohorts and Red Angus, with an Angus or Hereford Angus base. Robert also raised running horses or a combination of running and cow horse one of which made it to the NFR – voted best heading horse of the year 2 times. The ranch also raised numerous state champion horses, calf roping, barrel racing, bull dogging and team roping horses.

Robert’s rodeo career started when he was out of the service. Dale Little Soldier became the superintendent in Yates and helped Robert get into bulldogging. Robert rode bareback, and bulldogged for several years. When Robert asked for a bronc saddle, his dad said, “Stay home and put up hay. You’ll make a lot more money.”

Robert says, “Richard Bahm, Bob Hagel, Marvel Hall, Cody Thorton and Tootles Barnes helped me the most. Had lots of fun and unforgettable experiences.”