Board chairman emeritus of apparel and footwear retailer SCHEELS
1948
Steve D. Scheel is the board chairman emeritus of Fargo-based sporting goods, apparel and footwear retailer, SCHEELS.
Born and raised in Fargo, Scheel graduated from Fargo Central High School and earned degrees in U.S. history, economics and political science from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer from 1969 to 1971. The following year he joined SCHEELS, a brand founded by Frederick A. Scheele in 1902 as a small hardware and general merchandise store in Sabin, Minnesota. Steve D. Scheel started as a delivery driver and salesperson, and later managed stores in Fargo, Casselton, Moorhead, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before becoming president, CEO and chairman in 1989. Under his leadership over the next 35 years, the employee-owned company has grown to more than 13,000 associates and 34 stores in 16 states. SCHEELS operates the 25 largest sporting goods stores in the United States, including the world’s largest all sports stores at 331,000 square feet in Dallas, Texas, and Boise, Idaho.
Throughout the years, SCHEELS has expanded its offerings to include attractions such as Ferris wheels, restaurants, large aquariums where customers can watch a scuba diver feed the fish and sculptures of American presidents, a reflection of Steve D. Scheel’s love of history.
Scheel also embraced and expanded the company’s tradition of being a major philanthropic partner to nonprofits, charitable organizations and communities, supporting a variety of causes and projects including athletics, education, conservation, social services and health. SCHEELS employees give back to their communities, investing thousands of hours into volunteering and partnering with over 1,000 local organizations and the United Way in SCHEELS’ 34 markets.
Scheel is a recipient of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber’s Legacy Award and the L.B. Hartz Professional Achievement Award, among numerous other awards and recognitions. Scheel received an honorary doctorate in Leadership and Philanthropy from the University of Mary in Bismarck.
Steve D. Scheel is the fourth generation of his family to be involved in the SCHEELS company. He and his wife, Eileen, have five adult children and 15 grandchildren.
Presented: November 25, 2024
Portrait Painted By: Vern Skaug