2026 Alumni Honors: Randy Hatzenbuhler, ’85

When Randy Hatzenbuhler, ’85, was surprised with the news that he would receive the Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement & Leadership, he was deeply moved, calling the honor overwhelming and humbling. 

The announcement came during a 2025 retirement celebration of his remarkable 38-year career with the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation (TRMF). 

Randy originally came to Medora in 1988 after being recruited by the foundation's first executive director, Rod Tjaden. Though he considered it a short-term stop on his career path, the opportunity in the Badlands ultimately defined his professional life. He was officially named President of TRMF in 1997. Under his guidance, Medora saw immense physical and financial growth, culminating in a recent financial package that’s funding roughly $65 million in major projects for the tourist town. He was also loaned to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation, where he successfully helped raise more than $100 million for the world-class facility that opened on July 4. 

Despite these monumental brick-and-mortar achievements, Randy remains most proud of his people-focused initiatives. He points to the creation of an international workforce program and a robust volunteer program—which now brings more than 700 people to Medora every year—as his greatest TRMF accomplishments. Over the decades, he’s mentored thousands of seasonal workers, cultivating an inclusive environment where young people from all backgrounds could thrive. His leadership philosophy was always straightforward: show people the possibilities and get out of the way. 

Randy’s connection to the University of North Dakota runs deep. He and his wife, Laurie, spent “the best years of their lives” at UND, where Randy earned a degree in accounting, Laurie studied nursing, and they welcomed their daughter. Today, both of their children, Gina, ’06, and Jordan, ’09, are proud UND accounting graduates. 
Randy ranks the Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement and Leadership among his top three honors. The others are his induction into the UND Accounting Hall of Fame and receiving the Governor’s Legend Award for Travel & Tourism Industry Leadership in 2023. 

“You’ll notice that two of them are UND-related,” said Randy. “I love the University of North Dakota. I’m so proud of it and it’s hard for me to describe how honored I am.” 
After deciding to prioritize his health to ensure a long and active next chapter, Randy officially retired at the end of the 2025 summer season. However, he is hardly sitting still. He and Laurie built a home in Medora, where he now runs "Big, Bold, and Brave,” a summer camp for 10- to 13-year-olds that features hiking, life lessons, and learning the value of hard work. The camp's name was inspired by a phrase he used years ago to encourage his young daughter to climb a challenging Medora butte.

Between running camps, he is also dedicating time to writing a book about his life experiences. 

Reflecting on his storied career, Randy is incredibly grateful. He often notes that the only other place he would have ever considered working besides Medora was the University of North Dakota, making this recognition from his alma mater the ultimate finishing touch to a legendary career.