Philanthropist and former software company executive Doug Burgum is the recipient of North Dakota's highest honor, the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider award.

Gov. John Hoeven presented the award to Burgum Friday during a surprise ceremony at Fargo's Microsoft Corp. campus, where Burgum served as the company's senior vice president. He's the 37th person to receive the award.

Burgum is the founder of Great Plains Software, which Microsoft bought in 2001 for $1.1 billion in stock. Burgum left the company in 2007.

Burgum, an Arthur native, is a North Dakota State University graduate and longtime supporter of the university. Five years ago he bought a downtown office building and donated it to the university as a home for art and architecture students.