Notable Alumni of North Dakota Boys State

James Schwarzrock

NDBS Governor, 1938

After graduating from the University of North Dakota in 1941, Governor Schwartzrock served in the United States Army Air Corps in World War II, the predecessor to the US Air Force. 

During his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. He also was awarded the Air Medal 12 times for meritorious achievement in aerial flight. 

Governor Schwartzrock died in 2013 in Orlando, Florida.

Governor Schwartzrock seen here at Boys State 1938.

George Swendiman

NDBS Governor, 1940

Governor Swendiman was a medical doctor who attended Hahnemann University for Medical School and served in the United States Navy in World War II. When the Korean War broke out, Governor Swendiman joined the United States Air Force and acted as chief surgeon at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, California. He was a private practice surgeon in California and was later elected to the Grand Forks Central Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Governor Swendiman passed away in 2013 in Redding, California. 

Governor Swendimen seen here being sworn in as NDBS governor in 1940.

E.J. Conlin Jr. 

NDBS Governor, 1942

After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and from Harvard Business School, Governor Conlin served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. 

After returning home, he expanded his family’s furniture business from one store into a top 100 retailer, Conlin’s Furniture, who today does business in 5 states in the Midwest.

Governor Conlin passed away in 2022 at the age of 98.

Governor Conlin seen here being sworn in as NDBS governor in 1942.

L. Don Davis

NDBS Governor, 1948

Governor Davis attended college at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, and became a Jesuit monk. He studied theology in Rome, Italy, and was then ordained as priest in Vatican City. 

He later became a professor of history at several universities including Xavier, Gonzaga, and the Weston School of Theology and wrote several books about church history, including The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787): Their History and Theology and Church and State in Early Christianity. 

Governor Davis died in 2014 in Spokane, Washington.

Governor Davis seen here at Boys State 1948.

Dickinson Smith

NDBS Governor, 1950

Governor Smith spent 31 years as a officer in the United States Navy holding several postings, including as the Commander of the U.S. Naval Facility in Subic Bay, Philippines. He retiried as a full Rear Admiral after serving in the Office of Commander of Chief of the United States Pacific Forces.  

During his retirement from the Navy, Governor Smith became a Senior Vice President of Nuclear Power of Philadelphia Electric Company. He also participated in meetings of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Governor Smith seen here at Boys State 1950.

Noel Fedje

NDBS Governor, 1952

Governor Fedje received an appointment to study at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. After serving in the Army, he entered the financial industry, serving as the Fargo, ND branch manager of what is now RBC, a company who earned $57.34 billion in revenue in 2024. 

Governor Fedje sat on the Board of the State Bank of North Dakota, created the Noel and Judy Fedje Foundation, chaired the American Lutheran Church Board of Trustees and the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. 

Governor Fedje died in 2025.

Governor Fedje seen here at Boys State 1952.

James Ramstad

NDBS Governor, 1963

Governor Ramstad attended the University of Minnesota and received his law degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC. He served in the United States Army Reserve and as a legislative aide in the Minnesota House of Representatives. 

He was elected and served in the Minnesota State Senate from 1981 to 1990 and was then elected to the United States House of Representatives and served from 1991 to 2009.

Throughout his time in Congress, Governor Ramstad fought tirelessly to end discrimination against those suffering from mental health and addiction problems. He worked under both Republican and Democratic majorities to pass a Mental Health Parity Bill, which was eventually passed and signed into law in December, 2008. Governor Ramstad died in 2020, and at the time of his death, he was a resident fellow of the Harvard Institute of Politics and was leading a study groupt titled The Policy and Politics of Addiction.

Governor Ramstad seen here at Boys State 1963.

J. Casey Ryan

NDBS Governor, 1966

Governor Ryan attended Colorado College and received his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and his practice focused on endocrinology and internal medicine. Dr. Ryan was a Professor of Medicine at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and an Assistant Dean. 

He was the President of Altru Health Systems from 1997 to 2014 and retired from the practice of medicine to on the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education. 

Governor Ryan seen here at Boys State 1966.

Tim McLaughlin

NDBS Governor, 1967

Governor McLaughlin served as President of McLaughlin RV & Marine, who is a regional leader of retail recreational vehicles as an authorized dealer of MasterCraft, Moomba, Four Winns, Bayliner, Hurricane, among others. McLaughlin RV & Marine presently has showrooms in Fargo, Detroit Lakes, and Brainerd. 

Governor McLaughlin seen above at Boys State 1967.

Craig Campbell 

NDBS Governor, 1971

Governor Campbell attended undergraduate and law school at the University of North Dakota. He worked as a partner at the largest law firm in North Dakota focusing on complex civil litigation. He accepted positions at Noridian Healthcare Solutions serving in various roles, including Chief Administrative Officer, Interim President and CEO, and Chief Operating Officer. 

After Noridian, he served in a variety of executive roles in healthcare insurance companies in the Madison, Wisconsin area. Governor Campbell is considered an expert in international health policy and insurance strategy, having negotiated memorandums of understanding on behalf of the Blue Cross Associations of America with the Chinese Government. Governor Campbell retired in 2021.

Governor Campbell seen here at Boys State 1971.

John Hoeven

NDBS Governor, 1974

Governor Hoeven attended college at Dartmouth University and received his MBA from Northwestern University. He was the President and CEO of the Bank of North Dakota from 1993 to 2000, after which he was elected Governor of North Dakota. He served in this capacity until 2010. 

In 2010, Governor Hoeven was elected to the United States State, where he has served ever since.

He currently is the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and also serves on the Agriculture Committee and Energy and Natural Resources Committee. 

Governor Hoeven seen here at Boys State 1974.

Andrew McLean

NDBS Governor, 1975

Governor McLean received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of North Dakota.

He practiced as a psychiatrist in the states of Washington and North Dakota, and is currently the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. One of Dr. McLean’s areas of focus has been expanding the SMHS Psychiatry Residency Program and the Rural Psychiatry Program to better serve the rural areas of our country. 

He also holds the Neuropsychiatric Research Institute (NRI) Lee Christopherson Endowed Chair position, one of six endowed positions at SMHS and is an endowed chair of neuropsychiatric research. 

Governor McLean seen here being sworn in as NDBS Governor in 1975.

William Altringer

NDBS Governor, 1981

Governor Altringer received his medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine, where he also received the Upjohn Achievement Award for Academic Excellency. He practiced in the surgery department and served as Chief Resident at a hospital in suburban Chicago and later returned to North Dakota, where he has been a trauma surgeon in Bismarck since 1995. 

Governor Altringer is a specialist in thoracic and vascular surgery and is a Fellow Member of the American College of Surgeons. 

Governor Altringer seen above at Boys State 1981.

Jeffrey Gendreau

NDBS Governor, 1985

Governor Gendreau attended college at the University of North Dakota, where he received a degree in accounting and earned the Certified Public Accountant licensure. His career focused on auditing healthcare companies. He was a partner and the head of assurance practice of the Minneapolis Office of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, and previously served as a director of the international accounting firm Deloitte and Touche. 

Governor Gendreau was the longest serving Dean of Counselors in North Dakota Boys State history. He currently serves on the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District.

Governor Gendreau seen here at Boys State 2002, as Dean of Counselors.

Adil Husain

NDBS Governor, 1986

Governor Hussain received his medical degree and is a specialist in pediatric thoracic surgery. He holds leadership positions with the Congenital Heart Surgeons Society, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the American Association of Thoracic Surgery. He also currently serves as a Director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. 

In 2018, Governor Husain became Professor in the Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics as well as Section Chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He is also the Co-Director for the Heart Center at Primary Children's Hospital.

He currently practices primarily out of Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Governor Husain seen here at Boys State 1986.

Radd Kulseth

NDBS Governor, 1991

Governor Kulseth attend North Dakota State University and received his law degree from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. He was a partner in private practice in Minneapolis, until he was appointed as a Worker’s Compensation Judge by Governor Mark Dayton in 2018, where he continues to serve.

Governor Kulseth seen here at Boys State 1991.

Art Thompson

NDBS Governor, 1993

Governor Thompson received a degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a Master’s Degree from the University of Mary in Bismarck. He worked with Knife River Corporation, MDU Resources Group, and the North Dakota Concrete Council and was appointed by Governor Burgum as the Director of North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI) by Governor Doug Burgum in October, of 2022. 

Governor Thompson continues his service in Governor Armstrong’s cabinet to the present day.