Tim Purdon

A native of Ashby, Minn., Tim Purdon attended NDSCS and graduated with an associate degree in liberal arts in 1989. Tim was the recipient of a President’s Scholarship and was on the President’s Honor Roll the entire two years he was at NDSCS. 

While at NDSCS, Tim was a fixture at the Clair T. Blikre Activities Center. Working for Athletic Director Don Engen, Tim spent many nights supervising student use of the facility. He also served as the “Voice of the Wildcats,” as the public address announcer for the women’s basketball and volleyball games. Tim also worked at Wildcat men’s basketball games and wrestling matches and many high school basketball tournaments as the scoreboard and clock operator. With the help of legendary NDSCS men’s track and field coach Owen (O.J.) Jensen, Tim became a certified USA Track & Field official during his time in Wahpeton and worked many high school and college track meets at NDSCS as the official starter. Tim ran track (steeplechase) for the Wildcats during his freshman year and participated in all intramural sports. 

Tim went on to attend Minnesota State University Moorhead and received his Bachelor of Arts in English, graduating summa cum laude in 1991. He graduated cum laude from the Hamline University School of Law in 1994.Following law school, Tim clerked for the Hon. Bruce M. Van Sickle, United States District Court, District of North Dakota in Bismarck.

On February 4, 2010 Tim was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota. Tim’s nomination was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on August 5, 2010.  He is North Dakota’s 18^th U.S. Attorney. As U.S. Attorney, Tim has placed special emphasis on increasing public safety on the American Indian reservations in North Dakota, ensuring national security and law enforcement cooperation along North Dakota’s international border with Canada and working with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners to counter the new threat from organized criminal enterprises that have targeted western North Dakota’s Bakken oil boom region. Prior to becoming U.S. Attorney, Tim practiced law at the Vogel Law Firm in Bismarck, N.D. Prior to joining the Vogel Law Firm in 2005, Tim practiced for nine years at the Bismarck firm of Dickson & Purdon. 

Attending NDSCS has been a family affair for Tim’s family as his sister, Barb, graduated from NDSCS in 1991 and also worked for the Wildcat athletic department during her time in Wahpeton. Tim’s parents are Larry and Nancy Purdon of Ashby, Minn. Tim is married to Bismarck attorney Carmen Miller, who works for Ducks Unlimited. Tim and Carmen have a daughter, Claudia.