The North Dakota State Parade Committee has selected John Hoganson, North Dakota’s first state paleontologist, as grand marshal of the 2023 North Dakota State Parade.

The parade, with the theme, “Diggin’ ND History!” will be Saturday, July 22, in Minot.

Hoganson was born in Fargo and graduated from West Fargo High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in earth science at North Dakota State University, a master’s degree in geology with a paleontology emphasis at the University of Florida and a doctorate in geology with a paleontology emphasis at the University of North Dakota.

North Dakota’s first state paleontologist has spent decades unearthing secrets that have been kept for millions of years. After 33 years, Hoganson retired from the North Dakota Geological Survey (NDGS) in 2014 but maintains emeritus status. With the NDGS, Hoganson’s primary responsibility was to develop a Fossil Resource Management Program for North Dakota. He was involved with establishing a federal law to protect fossil resources on federal lands in the United States and established working relationships with state and federal entities regarding fossil resource management. This work included creating the North Dakota State Fossil Collection at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck. Many of these fossils are displayed in the Geologic Time exhibit at the Heritage Center.

Hoganson has given hundreds of talks about North Dakota paleontology, educating the general public and fellow paleontologists about the prehistoric life of this state. He is also responsible for establishing dozens of exhibits across the state, allowing regional museums to showcase local fossils.

He started the N.D. Public Fossil Dig program, which is still active after more than 20 years, and was involved with establishing the prehistoric life of North Dakota and the geology of North Dakota sections for the North Dakota studies program.

His responsibilities included conducting research to learn more about the animals and plants that inhabited North Dakota and the climates and environments in which they lived at different times in the state’s geological past. During this research, several species of animals new to science were discovered.

Among the most significant discoveries in Hoganson’s time was the mosasaur, a 34-foot-long sea lizard that lived in North Dakota when the state was covered with an ocean 80 million years ago.

“These animals would’ve been living at the same time as dinosaurs. They were living in the oceans at the same time dinosaurs were living on land,” Hoganson said.

Now serving as paleontologist emeritus, he is able to focus entirely on his research.

Hoganson has published many scientific and public interest articles, books and chapters in books about North Dakota’s paleontology and geology and prehistoric past.

In recognition of his work, he has received the North Dakota Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service, the North Dakota State University College of Science and Mathematics Master Award, the University of North Dakota Arthur Gray Leonard Award for educational outreach, stewardship and research, public service recognition on the U.S. Senate floor by former senator Heidi Heitkamp and induction into West Fargo Packer’s Hall of Fame.

Hoganson is married to Cathy Clayton and has two children (Kelly and Josh), six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Parade entries being accepted

Entries are now being accepted for the 41st annual North Dakota State Parade.

This year’s North Dakota State Parade theme is “Diggin’ ND History!” According to parade officials, there are many ways to be diggin’ ND history – from paleontologists diggin’ up dinosaur bones, homesteaders diggin’ up the sod to seed grain to feed the world, geologists diggin’ to drill for black gold or just diggin’ the state’s beauty or many historic sites.

The parade starts at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 22, and follows Burdick Expressway east from Broadway and through the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. Since becoming North Dakota’s inaugural State Parade in 1981, it has only been canceled only twice – due to the 2011 flood and the COVID epidemic in 2020. Visit the parade’s new website at www.ndsparade.com

This year’s entry forms can be completed online or downloaded from the website; Facebook: North Dakota State Parade; requested via email: ndparade2002@yahoo.com; or call 838-0104 and leave a voice mail if you have any questions or need more information. Calls will be returned. Or mail the State Parade Committee at P.O. Box 2157, Minot, North Dakota 58702-2157

Non-commercial entries will be assessed a $1 application fee; there is a $65 fee for commercial entries, with a $50 fee for each additional unit in the entry. There is a $5 fee for entries wishing to be judged.

Entries are lined up according to date received. Numbers will be mailed out in early July. Deadline to guarantee being announced, judged or listed in The Minot Daily News is June 19. A late fee of $5 will be assessed for entries after June 19. Payment may be cash, check or credit card.