Knox Trophy
Encyclopedia
The Knox Trophy is the oldest military award of the United States Military Academy
at West Point. The award was established on October 8, 1910 and is given annually by the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York to the United States Military Academy cadet with the highest rating for military efficiency. Named in honor of General Henry Knox
, the first Secretary of War
, the original trophy, made by Tiffany & Company was originally kept on display in the office of the West Point Commandant.
The Knox Trophy will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010.
The United States Military Academy is a school for the practical and theoretical training of cadets for the military service. Upon completing its course satisfactorily, cadets are eligible for promotion and commission as second lieutenants in any arm or corps of the Army the duties of which they have been judged competent to perform.
Sherman L. Fleek
, Lt. Col. US Army (Ret) United States Military Academy Command Historian noted, “The cadets undergo months and months, years actually of leadership evaluations, testing, training, and so on, since the trophy winners seemed to be First Captains because the First Captain excelled in leadership.”
A record in 1909 found an order of general merit ranking that included an order of merit score in; Civil and Military Engineering, Law, Ordnance and Science of Gunnery, Drill Regulations, Practical Military Engineering, Conduct First Class, less demerits for the year, providing a General Merit Ranking (looking for confirmation that this is the same reference to "military efficiency rating").
In 1978, the Commandant requested the Knox Trophy be presented to the Brigade Executive Officer. There was no established award for that position at the time. But in 1979, the Knox Trophy was again awarded to the cadet with the highest military efficiency. An award was established in 1981 recognizing the Brigade Executive Officer.
Sons of the Revolution (SR) should not be confused with Sons of the American Revolution
(SAR), a separate group which was founded on April 30, 1889 at New York
by New Jersey
businessman William Osborn McDowell
. He disagreed with the Sons of the Revolution requirement of the time that other state societies be subordinate to the New York society, and intended to include members by recognizing additional types of public service of a revolutionary ancestor beyond that which contributed directly to the Revolution.
Fraunces Tavern is a museum
and restaurant
housed in a restored building that played a prominent role in pre-Revolution and Revolution history. The building that houses the tavern, located at 54 Pearl Street
at the corner of Broad Street
, has been owned by the New York society since 1904, which claims it is Manhattan's oldest surviving building.
The building served also as the offices of the General Society until 2002, when the society headquarters moved to its current location in Independence, Mo. The museum maintains several galleries of art and artifacts about the Revolution including the McEntee "Sons of the Revolution" Gallery that displays much of the SR history.
midshipman
, the Knox Trophy (New York) which was created in 1910 and given annually by the New York society to a U.S. Military Academy at West Point
cadet
, the Capt. Gustavus Conyngham
Award which was created in 1999 and given annually by the New York society to a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point
midshipman, the Recognition Award which was created in 2002 and given annually by the Massachusetts society to a U.S. Army ROTC
cadet, and the Knox Trophy (From Massachusetts, not New York) which was created in 1924 and given annually until 1940 by the Massachusetts society to a U.S. Army
field-artillery battery
and "redleg" artillery operator.
, Pete Dawkins
(1959 Heisman Trophy
winner/halfback), and several others, including John P. McConnell who was later the US Air Force Chief of Staff. Four of the Knox trophy winners became four star generals. As of 1987, three winners were stationed at West Point. The 1955 winner, Col. Lee D. Olvey, head of the Department of Social Sciences. The 1968 winner LTC John L. Throckmorton, Jr., Treasurer of the USMA, LTC Robert H. Baldwin, Jr., professor / Department of Social Sciences.
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point. The award was established on October 8, 1910 and is given annually by the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York to the United States Military Academy cadet with the highest rating for military efficiency. Named in honor of General Henry Knox
Henry Knox
Henry Knox was a military officer of the Continental Army and later the United States Army, and also served as the first United States Secretary of War....
, the first Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
, the original trophy, made by Tiffany & Company was originally kept on display in the office of the West Point Commandant.
The Knox Trophy will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010.
History
Named in honor of Henry Knox, the first US Secretary of War, the original trophy, made by Tiffany & Company was originally kept on display in the office of the West Point Commandant. The tradition started back on October 8, 1910 and continues today as the Academy’s oldest military award. According to the Sons of the Revolution in New York (SRNY), the trophy was designed by Tiffany & Company and is still presented annually to the Corp of Cadets of the United States Military Academy by the Sons of the Revolution (NY).The United States Military Academy is a school for the practical and theoretical training of cadets for the military service. Upon completing its course satisfactorily, cadets are eligible for promotion and commission as second lieutenants in any arm or corps of the Army the duties of which they have been judged competent to perform.
Sherman L. Fleek
Sherman L. Fleek
Sherman L. Fleek is an American military historian, born at Hill AFB and raised in Layton, Utah, specializing on Mormon military history. He has also written on topics related to Latter-day Saint history that are not always military in nature...
, Lt. Col. US Army (Ret) United States Military Academy Command Historian noted, “The cadets undergo months and months, years actually of leadership evaluations, testing, training, and so on, since the trophy winners seemed to be First Captains because the First Captain excelled in leadership.”
A record in 1909 found an order of general merit ranking that included an order of merit score in; Civil and Military Engineering, Law, Ordnance and Science of Gunnery, Drill Regulations, Practical Military Engineering, Conduct First Class, less demerits for the year, providing a General Merit Ranking (looking for confirmation that this is the same reference to "military efficiency rating").
In 1978, the Commandant requested the Knox Trophy be presented to the Brigade Executive Officer. There was no established award for that position at the time. But in 1979, the Knox Trophy was again awarded to the cadet with the highest military efficiency. An award was established in 1981 recognizing the Brigade Executive Officer.
Activities
The Knox Trophy is awarded annually prior to commencement ceremonies each year at the USMA at West Point. The award is normally presented by the President or Board Member of the Sons of the Revolution of the State of New York. A photograph along the annual commencement publication is sent back to the SAR Headquarters at the Franunces Tavern and Museum in New York City. Since the early 1960s, each winner has received a keepsake Tiffany silver Revere bowl. A keepsake replica, alongside a print of General Henry Knox is on display at Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan (see image at the top of the piece).The Sons of the Revolution of the State of New York
According to the Sons of the Revolution in New York (SRNY), the trophy was designed by Tiffany & Company and is still presented annually to the Corp of Cadets of the United States Military Academy by the Sons of the Revolution (NY). The tradition started back on October 8, 1910 and continues today as the Academy's oldest military award.Sons of the Revolution (SR) should not be confused with Sons of the American Revolution
Sons of the American Revolution
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is a Louisville, Kentucky-based fraternal organization in the United States...
(SAR), a separate group which was founded on April 30, 1889 at New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
by New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
businessman William Osborn McDowell
William Osborn McDowell
William Osborn McDowell was a financier and businessman, and a founder and member of numerous patriotic and international organizations, and a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1913. His business ventures included railroads, mining, and land speculation...
. He disagreed with the Sons of the Revolution requirement of the time that other state societies be subordinate to the New York society, and intended to include members by recognizing additional types of public service of a revolutionary ancestor beyond that which contributed directly to the Revolution.
Fraunces Tavern
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
and restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
housed in a restored building that played a prominent role in pre-Revolution and Revolution history. The building that houses the tavern, located at 54 Pearl Street
Pearl Street (Manhattan)
Pearl Street is a street in the Lower section of the New York City borough of Manhattan, running northeast from Battery Park to the Brooklyn Bridge, then turning west and terminating at Centre Street...
at the corner of Broad Street
Broad Street (Manhattan)
Broad Street is located in the Financial District in the New York City borough of Manhattan, stretching from South Street to Wall Street.- History :...
, has been owned by the New York society since 1904, which claims it is Manhattan's oldest surviving building.
The building served also as the offices of the General Society until 2002, when the society headquarters moved to its current location in Independence, Mo. The museum maintains several galleries of art and artifacts about the Revolution including the McEntee "Sons of the Revolution" Gallery that displays much of the SR history.
Other Sons of the Revolution Military Awards
The General Society and several state societies have established various educational and military awards which are given to individuals and groups for their academic or service performance. The awards include the Annapolis Cup which was created in 1905 and given annually by the general society and the Maryland society to a U.S. Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
, the Knox Trophy (New York) which was created in 1910 and given annually by the New York society to a U.S. Military Academy at West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
, the Capt. Gustavus Conyngham
Gustavus Conyngham
Gustavus Conyngham was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and was a merchant sea captain, officer in the Continental Navy and a privateer....
Award which was created in 1999 and given annually by the New York society to a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point
United States Merchant Marine Academy
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States Service academies...
midshipman, the Recognition Award which was created in 2002 and given annually by the Massachusetts society to a U.S. Army ROTC
Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps is the United States Army component of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It is the largest ROTC program, with 20,000 ROTC cadets in 272 ROTC programs at major universities throughout the United States.The modern Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps...
cadet, and the Knox Trophy (From Massachusetts, not New York) which was created in 1924 and given annually until 1940 by the Massachusetts society to a U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
field-artillery battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
and "redleg" artillery operator.
Knox Trophy Recipients
Most of the recipients were the First Captain of their graduating class, but it is not a requirement to win the award. You will see some of America's top Army officers on that list; William WestmorelandWilliam Westmoreland
William Childs Westmoreland was a United States Army General, who commanded US military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak , during the Tet Offensive. He adopted a strategy of attrition against the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the North Vietnamese Army. He later served as...
, Pete Dawkins
Pete Dawkins
Peter Miller Dawkins is a Heisman Trophy winner, Rhodes Scholar, U.S. Army Brigadier General, and Republican candidate for Senate. He is the former vice chairman of Citigroup Private Bank.-Early life, education and athletic career:...
(1959 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner/halfback), and several others, including John P. McConnell who was later the US Air Force Chief of Staff. Four of the Knox trophy winners became four star generals. As of 1987, three winners were stationed at West Point. The 1955 winner, Col. Lee D. Olvey, head of the Department of Social Sciences. The 1968 winner LTC John L. Throckmorton, Jr., Treasurer of the USMA, LTC Robert H. Baldwin, Jr., professor / Department of Social Sciences.
- 2010 - Nicholas Reisweber
- 2009 – Justin Wei Sen Lee
- 2008 – Jason Crabtree, First Captain USMA , Kingston, WA
- 2007 – Jonathan C. Nielsen, First Captain USMA
- 2006 – Peter J. Cacossa
- 2005 – James M. Edelen
- 2004 – Joseph Z. Wells
- 2003 – John R. Rhodes, Jr.
- 2002 – Andrew T. Blickhahn, First Captain USMA
- 2001 – Jonathan J. Hopkins
- 2000 – Scott Handler
- 1999 – Robert M. Shaw, First Captain USMA
- 1998 – Robert K. Bryant
- 1997 – Joseph M. Ewers
- 1996 – Scott M. Naumann
- 1995 – Hans J. Pung, First Captain USMA
- 1994 – Howard H. Hoege, First Captain USMA
- 1993 – Shawn Lance Daniel, First Captain USMA
- 1992 – Omar J. Jones IV, First Captain USMA
- 1991 – Douglas P. McCormick, First Captain USMA
- 1990 - Kristin M. Baker, First Captain USMA , first female Knox Trophy recipient, first female Brigade Commander
- 1989 – Mark M. Jennings, First Captain USMA
- 1988 – Gregory H. Louks, First Captain USMA
- 1987 - John Kai Tien, Jr., First Captain USMA
- 1986 - Timothy Alan Knight, First Captain USMA
- 1985 - Brian Lawrence Dosa, First Captain USMA
- 1984 - William Edward Rapp, First Captain USMA
- 1983 - Lawrence John Kinde, First Captain USMA
- 1982 - John William Nicholson, Jr., First Captain USMA
- 1981 - Stanley Raymon March, First Captain USMA
- 1980 - Vincent Keith Brooks, First Captain USMA
- 1979 - John Joseph Cook III, First Captain USMA
- 1978 - James Allen Hoffman II, First Captain USMA
- 1977 - Kenneth Franklin Miller, First Captain USMA
- 1976 - Richad Morales, Jr., First Captain USMA
- 1975 - James Kevin Abcouwer, First Captain USMA
- 1974 - Jack Edward Pattison, First Captain USMA
- 1973 - Joseph Phillips Tallman, First Captain USMA
- 1972 - Robert Lewis Van Antwerp, Jr., First Captain USMA
- 1971 - Thomas Alan Pyrz, First Captain USMA
- 1970 - John Thomas Connors, First Captain USMA
- 1969 - Robert Henry Baldwin,Jr., First Captain USMA
- 1968 - John Lathrop Throckmorton, Jr., First Captain USMA
- 1967 - Jack Bruce Wood, First Captain USMA
- 1966 - Norman Elliott Fretwell, First Captain USMA
- 1965 - Carl Robert Arvin, First Captain USMA
- 1964 - Richard Allen Chilcoat, First Captain USMA
- 1963 - Richard Everett Eckert, First Captain USMA
- 1962 - James Raiford Ellis, First Captain USMA , graduated with James Kimsey CEO of AOL.
- 1961 - Harold Michael Hannon, First Captain USMA
- 1960 - Charles Paddoc Otstott, First Captain USMA
- 1959 - Peter Miller Dawkins, First Captain USMA, Heisman Trophy winner,Brigadier General, CEO Primerica,Vice Chair CitiGroup Private Bank, Royal Oak, MI
- 1958 - Robert Francis Durkin, First Captain USMA, Major General, Director Defense Mapping Agency,Washington DC. Youngstown, OH
- 1957 - William Thomas Huckabee III, First Captain USMA
- 1956 - Robert Gordon Farris, First Captain USMA , fellow graduate H. Norman Schwarzkopf Commander-in-Chief
- 1955 - Lee Donne Olvey, First Captain USMA
- 1954 - John Chapman Bard, First Captain USMA
- 1953 - Robert Erwin Barton, First Captain USMA
- 1952 - Gordon David Carpenter, First Captain USMA
- 1951 - William Joseph Ryan, First Captain USMA, fellow graduate Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Astronaut
- 1950 - John Michael Murphy, First Captain USMA , fellow graduate Frank BormanFrank BormanFrank Frederick Borman, II is a retired NASA astronaut and engineer, best remembered as the Commander of Apollo 8, the first mission to fly around the Moon, making him, along with fellow crew mates Jim Lovell and Bill Anders, the first of only 24 humans to do so...
,Astronaut and CEO Eastern Airlines - 1949 - Harry Agustus Griffith, First Captain USMA
- 1948 - Arnold Web Braswell, First Captain USMA
- 1947 - William Jackson Schuder, First Captain USMA (same class as Alexander M.Haige)
- 1946 - Amos Azariah Jordan, Jr., First Captain USMA
- 1945 - Robert Evans Woods , First Captain USMA
- 1944 - John Holloway Cushman, First Captain USMA
- 1943 - Jun - Bernard William Rogers ,First Captain USMA
- 1943 - Jan - James Edward Kelleher , First Captain USMA
- 1942 - Carl Columbus Hinkle, Jr., First Captain USMA
- 1941 - John Norton , First Captain USMA
- 1940 - John Finzer Presnell, Jr., First Captain USMA
- 1939 - James Lewis Cantrell, First Captain USMA
- 1938 - Harold Killian Kelley, First Captain USMA
- 1937 - Stanley Lowell Smith, First Captain USMA
- 1936 - William Childs Westmoreland, First Captain USMA, WWII and Vietnam service, Time Magazines Man of Year 1965, Saxon, SC
- 1935 - Herbert Caran Gee, First Captain USMA
- 1934 - John de P.Townsend Hills, First Captain USMA
- 1933 - Kenneth E. Fields, First Captain USMA
- 1932 - John Paul McConnell, First Captain USMA, four-star General, and US Air Force Chief of Staff, Booneville, AK
- 1931 - John Knight Waters , First Captain USMA, Four Star General, Son in Law to Patton. Commandant USMA 1946
- 1930 - Ralph Powell Swofford, Jr., First Captain USMA
- 1929 - Bruce Douglas Rindlaub, First Captain USMA
- 1928 - James Elbert Briggs, , First Captain USMA, Rochester, NY
- 1927 - Charles Edward Martin, First Captain USMA
- 1926 - Raymond Coleman Maude, First Captain USMA
- 1925 - Charles Eskridge Saltzman, First Captain USMA
- 1924 - Robert Vernon Lee ,SC, First Captain USMA
- 1923 - Hugh Wagner Downing (Not First Captain)
- 1922 - Charles Joseph Barrett, First Captain USMA
- 1921 - George Hamden Olmsted, , First Captain USMA
- 1920 - Howard Louis Peckham
- 1919 - Hugh Ambrose Murrill
- 1918 - John Thornton Knight, Jr.
- 1917 - Robert Marks Bathurst
- 1916 - Raymond George Moses, First Captain USMA
- 1915 - Roscoe Barnett Woodruff, First Captain USMA (was also the class of Dwight David Eisenhower) 59 out of the 164 graduates rose to the rank of Brigadier General or higher
- 1914 - James Bell Cress, First Captain USMA
- 1913 - David Edward Cain, , First Captain USMA ,MO
- 1912 - William Dean, First Captain USMA
- 1911 - Benjamin Curtis Lockwook, Jr., First Captain USMA,Columbus Barracks, OH
See also
- United States Military Academy, West Point
- General Henry Knox, Secretary of War
- Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York (1790)
- National Society Sons of the American RevolutionSons of the American RevolutionThe National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is a Louisville, Kentucky-based fraternal organization in the United States...
(1889) - The Society of the CincinnatiSociety of the CincinnatiThe Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
(1783) - National Society Daughters of the American RevolutionDaughters of the American RevolutionThe Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
(1890) - The Daughters of the Cincinnati (1894)
- National Society Children of the American RevolutionChildren of the American RevolutionThe Children of the American Revolution was founded in 1895 by Harriett Lothrop. After proposing the idea for a children’s branch at the Daughters of the American Revolution Continental Congress, it was promptly chartered by the United States Congress...
(1895) - Order of Washington (1895)
- The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America (1896)
- National Society Daughters of the Founders and Patriots of America (1898)
- Descendents of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence (1907)
- Hereditary Order of the Descendants of the Loyalists & Patriots of the American Revolution (1973)
External links
- Knox Trophy Article which led to this entry West Point's Oldest Military Award - The Knox Trophy
- USMA First Captains list
- General Society Sons of the Revolution
- Fraunces Tavern
- Fraunces Tavern Museum
- Massachusetts Society
- New Jersey Society
- New York Society
- North Carolina Society
- Gen. Henry Knox Chapter (Knoxville, Tenn.)