Meritorious Award
In 2020 the NDTOA Board of Directors
established the Meritorious Service Award to be given by the Board
of Directors, at their discretion, to a current or former elected
township official that has served their constituents in exemplary
fashion.
At the 54th Annual Meeting December 7, 2020,
the NDTOA Board of Directors bestowed the first ever Meritorious
Service Award upon Ralph Olson in recognition of his many years of
service to his township and NDTOA.
Click here to see all past
Meritorious Award Recipients
Click here
for a list of Meritorious Award Recipients
2021 NDTOA Meritorious Service Award
Presented to
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Grassroots Leadership Award
“Grassroots Award Nomination” form -
Click here
In 1987, NDTOA established the Mr. Township Award which was
dedicated to the founder of our organization – Hank Weber of
Casselton, North Dakota. The name of the award was later
changed to the Grassroots Leadership Award to recognize the many
female township officers in our state.
This award was presented to a township officer who, through his or
her actions, had served their township, their community and/or
their state with exceptional service.
The first recipient was Jim Braaten from Crary, Ramsey County, in
1987.
Click here to see all past
Mr. Township/Grassroots Leadership Award recipients.
Click here
for a list of Grassroots Leadership Recipients
2021
Grassroots Leadership Award:
MARVIN HELLER RECEIVES NDTOA GRASSROOTS GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP
AWARD
Marvin Heller from Berthold Township in Ward
County has served his Township for many years, for more than 20
years serving as its chairman. He has always performed above and
beyond his duties working on road and sign maintenance, weed
control and roadside mowing.
During and after the 2011 flood he was
instrumental in securing FEMA relief for all the damages to
roads and culverts that Berthold Township suffered. Taking
pictures and doing the necessary paperwork to insure
reimbursement for the expenses.
Congratulations, Marvin and thank you for a job
well done!

Marvin Heller
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Legislator of the Year Award
Legislative success requires friends in the legislative arena.
This award program was established to reward, on an annual basis,
one of those legislators who have been of great help to the NDTOA.
These awards are given at the annual meeting awards banquet. Each
winner has a chance to be recognized in the presence of as many
township officers as are assembled at the annual meeting and
convention. The award recipient is given a plaque and are invited
to address the NDTOA membership.
The qualifications to receive this award depend on if the
legislator has been a repeated sponsor, co-sponsor or defended in
committee or on the floor of their house, township endorsed bills.
Senator David O’Connell, a township officer from the Lansford
area, was the first award winner.
Click here to
see all past Legislator of the Year recipients.
Click here
for Legislator of the Year Recipients
2021
Legislator
of the Year:
Representative Dave Nehring named NDTOA Legislator of the Year for
2021.
In his first session in the legislature,
Representative Nehring hit the ground running. He introduced or
co-sponsored several bills to the benefit of grassroots
government and rural citizens in general. He was also
instrumental in NDTOA efforts to support or oppose several other
bills that would affect townships.
Representative Nehring serves District 8 which
includes parts of Burleigh and Mclean Counties. He is on the
Industry, Business, and Labor Committee as well as the Political
Subdivisions Committee.
He has a long history of service: ND Game and
Fish Advisory Board; Burleigh County Weed Board; Former
Director, ND EMS Association; Former City Council, Bowbells ND;
Former Supervisor, Apple Creek Township; Chapter Chair, Rocky
Mountain Elk Foundation; Habitat Committee Chair, Pheasants
Forever.
Originally from Bowbells ND, he and his wife
Jeri have two children.

Representative Dave Nehring
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NDTOA President's Award
In 2016, the NDTOA Board of Directors created the President's
Award as a way to recognize exemplary contribution by individuals
that are not elected officials. Willie Huot, Grand Forks, was the first award winner.
Click here to
see all past Presidents Award recipients.
Click here for
President's Award Recipients
2021 President's Award:
Julie Ellingson receives the NDTOA President’s Award for 2021.
The NDTOA President’s Award may be given to
someone that is not a Township Officer but has contributed in
some outstanding way to the goals of NDTOA. This year the award
went, very deservingly, to Julie Ellingson of St. Anthony. Julie
was at the core of a group of associations that supported the
drive for township road funding in the 67th legislative session.
Her artwork creating an 8.5 by 11-inch glossy handout for each
member of the House of Representatives was very impressive and
likely secured several votes. Julie is the Executive Vice
President of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.

Julie Ellingson
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Mr. Township / Grassroots Leadership Award recipients
Click on underlined names to view award
details
2021 -
Marvin Heller - Grassroots Leadership award
2020 - Nobody Named for the 2020 Grassroots Leadership Award!
2019 - Township Officers of Roland
Township
- Mike Hall & Vern Jacobson
2018 -
Nobody Named for the 2018 Grassroots Leadership Award!
2017 -
Rodney Johnson
Brooklyn Township, Williams County
2016 Curtis Hemstad, Idaho Township, Mountrail County
2015 Victor Thomas, East Fork
Township, Benson County.
2014 Kenneth Yantes, Ramsey County
State Township Officers Association
2013 Ron Pishtek, Sauter Township,
Walsh County
2012 Larry Syverson, Roseville Township, Traill County
2011 Donny Malcomb, Shealy Township, Ward County
2010 Gordon Rugland, Idaho Township, Mountrail County
2009 Melvin Jensen, Osnabrock Township, Cavalier County
2008 Edmund J. and Edward B Gumeringer, Alexander Township, Pierce
County
2007 Ralph Menke, Felson Township, Pembina County
2006 Victor Anderson, Benson County
2005 Eugene Kubat, Brocket, Walsh County
2004 Ralph Olson, Maddock, Benson County
2003 Helen Frichie, Benson County
2002 Richard Heuchert, St Thomas, Pembina County
2001 Joel Storsteen, Churches Ferry, Ramsey County
2000 John Steinberger, Renville County
1999 Leo Mock, Braddock, Kidder County
1998 Chuck Thacker, Neche, Pembina County
1997 Roy Werner, Jamestown, Stutsman County
1996
1995 Henning Anderson
1994 Ken Yantes, Starkweather, Ramsey County
1993 Russell Haas, Tolna, Nelson County
1992 Wilfred Jorgenson, Lisbon, Ransom County
1991 Richard Leet, Starkweather, Ramsey County
1990 Nolan Verwest, Finley, Steele County
1989 John Oxton, Hope, Steele County
1988 Leo Gray, Hankinson, Richland County
1987 Jim Braaten, Crary, Ramsey County
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North Dakota Legislator of the Year recipients
Click on underlined names to view award
details
2021 -
Representative Dave Nehring
named NDTOA Legislator of the Year for 2021
2020 -
Representative Chet Pollert named
NDTOA Legislator of the Year for 2020
2019 -
Senator Gerald Klein,
District 14,
Fessenden
2018
Representative Don Vigessa of Cooperstown
2017 Senator Rich
Wardner of Dickinson
2016 Senator Terry Wanzek, District 29, Jamestown
2015 Senator Jim Dotzenrod, District 26, Wyndmere
2014 Representative Michael Brandenburg, District 28, Edgeley.
2013
Senator Larry J. Robinson, Valley City
2012 Senator Curtis Olafson, Edinburg
2011 Representative David Monson, Osnabrock
2010 Senator Gary Lee, Casselton
2009 Representative Robin Weisz, Hurdsfield
2008 Representative Lee Kaldor, Mayville
2007 Senator Curtis Olafson, Edinburg
2006 Representative Gil Herbel, Grafton
2005 Representative Wesley Belter, Leonard
2004 Senator Dwight Cook, Mandan
2003 Representative Robin Weisz, Hurdsfield
2002 Senator Elroy Lindaas, Mayville
2001 Representative Bruce Eckre, Wahpeton
2000 Senator Jerome Kelsh, Fullerton
1999 Senator Judy Lee, West Fargo
1998 Senator John Andrist, Crosby
1997 Senator David O’Connell, Lansford
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President's Award recipients
2021
Julie Ellingson receives the NDTOA President’s Award for
2021.
2020
2019 Denise Brown
2018 Jim Hennessy, Mountrial County
2017 Mark Verke
2016 Willie Huot, Grand Forks
Meritorious Award recipients
2020 Ralph Olson |