History of North Dakota Boys State

In the fall of 1934, the Illinois State American Legion Convention passed a resolution asking that a state civic leadership program, a "Boys State", be made a part of the Americanism program run by the American Legion. This idea began to expand in scope, and the idea was adopted by the National American Legion Convention the same year.

Meetings were held with State and District officers of many civic community clubs — such as the Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and other community-minded, patriotic organizations. 

Initially, the idea was the program would be developed and organized by a combination of these groups, but the community organizations believed the Legion was best situated to objectively organize and run this new project. The civic community organizations, through their local chapters, would instead support by sponsoring boys within their communities to attend Boys State. 

Thus, the relationship between local communities and the larger, state-wide program of Boys State was born, and has continued in each state to this day.

Adapted from an excerpt by David A. Wolf, Director Emeritus & Honorary Governor of North Dakota Boys State

The initial and continuing goal of North Dakota Boys State is to prepare young men to become the future leaders of their generation. These ideals are best expressed in this excerpt:

The strength of any nation is not measured by its armed forces alone. It lies in the character, the honor, the courage, the devotion, the intelligence, the loyalty and sincerity of its citizenship. 

A nation is as strong only as its citizenship is strong.

Citizenship with its various privileges carries with it corresponding duties and obligations.

A man becomes a good citizen only when he understands his government, when he recognizes his duties and his responsibilities to his government, when he participates in its problems, shares in its burdens, protects its good name and contributes to the richness of its life. 

At Boys State we try to establish that our government is  not  a relic of the past, it has  not  outrun its usefulness, and it should not  be replaced.

It is just as firm, just as fair and workable as the day it was founded, and all it needs is a clear understanding of its structure, and a desire, willingness and determination on the part of its citizens to preserve it. 

- W. Glen Rardin, Virginia Boys State Director 1955 - 1975

The first five North Dakota Boys State sessions were held at the State School of Science (now the North Dakota State College of Science) in Wahpeton, with the first being in June of 1938 with Mr. LeRoy Pease as the director. 

To prepare for the program, Director Pease (also the Richland County Superintendent of Schools), M. B. Zimmerman (Wahpeton Superintendent of Schools), G.W. Haverty (Assistant State Supervisor of Trades & Industrial Education at the Science School), John Peschel (Richland County Clerk of Court), and Frank Webb (Public Relations Officer at the University of North Dakota) drove to Springfield, Illinois, in 1937 to observe the organization and functions of Illinois Boys State which was in its third session.

A great deal of preparation was required to recruit the delegates and arrange for their housing and food; not to mention the entire week's worth of activities. 238 delegates attended the first North Dakota Boys State session. James Schwarzrock of Wahpeton became the first North Dakota Boys State Governor.

The founders and early developers (LeRoy Pease, M. B. Zimmerman, G. W. Haverty, John Peschel, Frank Webb) created the foundation of what the program was, and what it has become. Along the way, other notable alumni joined the staff of ND Boys state, including Arve Dahlen, Carl F. Seifken, Forrest Henderson and George Bertelson. Henderson and Bertelson were early governors who continued on the staff for many years. Les Pavek and Jim Ferguson were long-time Deans of Counselors. Pavek held important positions at the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University, insisting on selecting young men at both universities for the counseling staff. Ferguson had employment all over the country, but always returned to help run Boys State in the summer.

Boys State has also had strong ties to the Judicial Branch of North Dakota since it's inception. Chief Justice James Morris, of the North Dakota Supreme Court, started working with the first ND Boys State and swore in the ND Boys State elected officials from 1938 through 1965. He also assisted with several activites throughout the week. Chief Justice Ralph L. Erikstad, also of the ND Supreme Court, took over in 1966 and served Boys State well into the 1990s. District Judge Kirk Smith, a former Boys State Governor, also swore in NDBS elected officials if the Supreme Court Justices were unable, and was a long-time supporter of the program.

Another notable alumni, Marcus L. McDonald, served as the Director of Boys State from 1974 to 1991. Director McDonald, with the support of his wife Doris and their three children, transformed the North Dakota Boys State program in many positive ways. Director McDonald, who was employed as a Data Processing Manager, converted the program onto computers, which helped facilitate more meaningful experiences and activities for the delegates. He was instrumental in fostering the creation of the Disaster Emergency Management Simulation which has become an integral part of ND Boys State, and has even been adopted by other Boys State programs across the country. Although Marcus and Doris are no longer with us, a new American flag is raised at their family home each year prior to the beginning of Boys State as a sign of respect and recognition of their immense contribution to the program. This was enacted into legislation by the North Dakota Boys State Legislature following the death of Marcus, while Doris was still living in their home.

More recently the current Director of North Dakota Boys State, Neil Litton, celebrated a massive milestone in the 2025 session by being a part of the ND Boys State program for 50 years, originally a delegate in 1975. Director Litton has served in his current capacity since 1999 and shows no signs of stopping. During his time, he has created a culture of family amongst the staff and has driven each person to be their best. His civic engagement does not stop at Boys State. He is an active referee in several seasonal high schools sports, and is an active member with the Scouts of America. Neil truly is one of the best exemplars of civic and community engagement. 

Since 1938, there have only been 6 years when Boys State has not met: Once in 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic (although the following year the delegates from the cancelled 2020 session were invited to participate alongside the current years' delegates and elected their own Governor), once in 1957 when it was suddenly cancelled due to a devastating tornado in the region, and between 1943 and 1946 due to the outbreak of subsequent involvement of the United States in World War II. 

Adapted from an excerpt by David A. Wolf, Director Emeritus & Honorary Governor of North Dakota Boys State

2025 – Braden Li, Fargo

2024 – Rhett Lindell, Park River

2023 – Patrick Shen, Fargo

2022 – Hayden Frederickson, Minot

2021 – Ian Busche, Hazen

2020 – Granger Dick, Lisbon

2019 – Nikoli Schoenborn, Bottineau

2018 – Teddy Mayer, Mott

2017 – Raeef Rahman, West Fargo

2016 – Dawson Schefter, Langdon

2015 – Paul Moffet, Barney

2014 – Reed Johnson, Dickinson

2013 – Raymond Salata, Grand Forks

2012 – Aaron Weber, Wishek

2011 – Garret Fraser, Walhalla

2010 – Joseph Burgum, Fargo

2009 – David Stebbins, Bowman

2008 – Mitchell Smette, Granville

2007 – Luke Thompson, Fargo

2006 – Michael Traynor, Fargo

2005 – Dallas Hansen, Hunter

2004 – Sean Meberg, Park River

2003 – Adam Landstrom, Finley

2002 – William Louden, Lisbon

2001 – Jonathan Casper, Wahpeton

2000 – Thomas Beattie, Hettinger

1999 – Tyler Leben, Mandan

1998 – Kyle Althoff, Mooreton

1997 – Daniel Webber, Grand Forks

1996 – Sellano Simmons, Minot

1995 – Brady Storhaug, Lisbon

1994 – Kip Moen, Hettinger

1993 – Art Thompson, Washburn

1992 – Troy Stark, Minot

1991 – Radd Kulseth, Bowman

1990 – Jason Clement, Mandan

1989 – Gregory Tschider, Bismarck

1988 – Eric Ehlis, New England

1987 – Kenneth L. Clonston, Mandan

1986 – Adil Husain, Grand Forks

1985 – Jeff Gendreau, Dickinson

1984 – Arthur Rosenberg, Bismarck

1983 – Jorge Saavedra, Bismarck

1982 – Mike Mathias, Oakes

1981 – Bill Altringer, Dickinson

1980 – Mike Mohn, Grand Forks

1979 – Tom Hackenberg, Grand Forks

1978 – Dan Magill, Fargo

1977 – Tom Brigl, Mandan

1976 – Ken Weisenburger, New Rockford

1975 – Andrew McLean, Hillsboro

1974 – John Hoeven, Minot

1973 – Mike Williams, Fargo

1972 – Tim Grassel, Bismarck

1971 – Craig R. Campbell, Bismarck

1970 – Kenneth R. Olson, Fargo

1969 – John R. McLaughlin, Fargo

1968 – Paul W. Collins, Fargo

1967 – Tim C. McLaughlin, Fargo

1966 – J. Casey Ryan, Grand Forks

1965 – John Sandager, Fargo

1964 – Lynn Hartje, Cavalier

1963 – James Ramstad, Jamestown

1962 – Paul Presthus, Rugby

1961 – Stephen Mayer, Bismarck

1960 – George Welder, Bismarck

1959 – Robert Wefald, Minot

1958 – Andrew Fedders, Minot

1957 – Cancelled due to tornado

1956 – Donavon Evashenko, Velva

1955 – Pat Williams, Mandan

1954 – James Schiosser, Jamestown

1953 – Robert Langford, Bismarck

1952 – David Knutson, Fargo

1951 – Noel Fedje, Hoople

1950 – Dickinson Smith, Grand Forks

1949 – Stuart McDonald, Grand Forks

1948 – Don Davis, Minot

1947 – Kirk Smith, Cogswell

1943-46 – No Boys State due to World War II

1942 – E. G. Conlin Jr., Williston

1941 – Forrest Henderson, Grafton

1940 – George Swendiman, Grand Forks

1939 – George Bertelson, Steele

1938 – James Schwarzrock, Wahpeton

M.B. Zimmerman, Wahpeton (1896 - 1993)

David A. Wolf, Fargo (1918 - 1996)

Marcus McDonald, Fargo (1926 - 2006)

1938 to 1956 – LeRoy Pease

1957 to 1969 – M.B. Zimmerman

1970 to 1973 – David A. Wolf

1974 to 1991 – Marcus L. McDonald

1992 to 1998 – Joe Yenkosky

1999 to Present – Neil Litton