DSU HF Board Highlight: Richard Wardner

Richard Wardner’s connection to Dickinson State University spans over 60 years. Growing up on a farm and ranch operation near Mercer, North Dakota, he came to DSU and graduated in 1966. He went on to spend 32 years in education as a coach, teacher, and athletic director. Additionally, Wardner coached football and basketball at DSU while teaching finance and government as an adjunct instructor.

Today, Wardner serves on the DSU Heritage Foundation Board as chairman of the Development Committee and the Strategy and Visioning and Nominations Committees. As both he and his wife are DSU graduates, his dedication runs deep. “We care about this school, and we want to make sure that it grows. Dickinson State is a very, very important part of the fabric of Southwest North Dakota,” Wardner says.

Wardner is especially passionate about bringing back DSU’s music and drama programs. “When I went to school here, even though I wasn’t in drama and I wasn’t in music, we enjoyed all of those things. It was a big part of our quality of life here on campus during those years.” He hopes to one day see the arts programs restored to a place where they are meeting the needs of the student body at Dickinson State.

Beyond DSU, Wardner served 32 years in the North Dakota Legislature, 24 as a senator and 11 as Majority Leader. He remains active in about six different nonprofits and chairs four of them. These include the Sunrise Youth Bureau, the Heartview Foundation, and the Enchanted Highway board. Additionally, he is involved in the Chamber of Commerce and the Dickinson Rotary. Even in retirement, Wardner remains deeply involved with DSU and the surrounding communities.

Fun Fact: Richard Wardner was the assistant basketball coach to Scott Molander, DSU’s current president!

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By Alician Parks – DSU HF Student Writer