The National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award is among the highest offered by the National Football Foundation

National Football Foundation

The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...

 (NFF). Every year, the NFF & College Football Hall of Fame

College Football Hall of Fame

The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...

 pays tribute to a select few with awards of excellence for exhibiting superior qualities of scholarship, citizenship and leadership. Additionally, the Foundation also recognizes individuals who demonstrate outstanding support for the NFF and its mission of promoting the game of amateur football. The Distinguished American Award is presented on special occasions when a truly deserving individual emerges, the award honors someone who has applied the character building attributes learned from amateur sport in their business and personal life, exhibiting superior leadership qualities in education, amateur athletics, business and in the community.

The recipient is not limited to a former college player or coach, must be an outstanding person who has maintained a lifetime of interest in the game and who, over a long period of time, has exhibited enviable leadership qualities and made a significant contribution to the betterment of amateur football in the United States.

Selection process

Various individuals associated with The National Football Foundation, such as former recipients, board members corporate leaders, chapter presidents and friends send nominations and suggestions to the NFF Chairman. Selection of the recipient is made by the Awards Committee and ratified by the Board of Directors.

Winners

1966 - Bill Carpenter

Bill Carpenter

William "Bill" Stanley Carpenter, Jr., LTG, U.S. Army is an American former Army officer and college football player. While playing college football, he gained national prominence as the "Lonesome End" of the Army football team...

 

1969 - Archibald MacLeish

Archibald MacLeish

Archibald MacLeish was an American poet, writer, and the Librarian of Congress. He is associated with the Modernist school of poetry. He received three Pulitzer Prizes for his work.-Early years:...

 

1970 - Vince Lombardi

Vince Lombardi

Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...

 

1971 - Frank Boyden

Frank Boyden

-Personal life:He attended Amherst College, class of 1902.He married Helen Sears Childs on June 29, 1907. She was a 1904 graduate of Smith College, which awarded her a Doctorate of Humane Letters in 1934....

 

1972 - Jerome H. Holland

Jerome H. Holland

Jerome H. Holland was an educational administrator and diplomat.Jerome Heartwell Holland grew up in Auburn, New York. He graduated from Cornell University in 1939, after being the first African American to play on its football team...

 

1973 - (no award)

1974 - Bob Hope

Bob Hope

Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...

 

1975 - Theodore Hesburgh

Theodore Hesburgh

The Rev. Theodore Martin Hesburgh, CSC, STD , a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, is President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame. He is the namesake for TIAA-CREF's Hesburgh Award....

 

1976 - James Van Fleet

James Van Fleet

James Alward Van Fleet was a U.S. Army officer during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Van Fleet was a native of New Jersey, who was raised in Florida and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy. He served as a regimental, divisional and corps commander during World War II and as...

 

1977 - Rev. Edmund P. Joyce

1978 - (no award)

1979 - John W. Galbreath 

1980 - Fred Russell

Fred Russell

Fred Russell was an American sports writer prominent in the Golden Era of Sports in the 20th century...

 

1981 - Sonny Werblin

Sonny Werblin

David Abraham "Sonny" Werblin was a prominent entertainment industry executive and sports impresario who was an owner of the New York Jets, Chairman of Madison Square Gardens, and who built and managed the Meadowlands Sports Complex.A graduate of Rutgers University, Werblin went to work for Music...

 

1982 - Silver Anniversary (all honored) Jim Brown

Jim Brown

James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...

, Willie Davis,
Jack Kemp

Jack Kemp

Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...

, Ron Kramer

Ron Kramer

Ronald J. Kramer was a multi-sport college athlete and professional American football player. Before embarking on a career in the National Football League, he lettered in football, basketball, and track at the University of Michigan in the 1950s...

, Jim Swink

Jim Swink

Jim Swink is a former All-American halfback at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.Swink grew up in Rusk, Texas, which led to his nickname, "The Rusk Rambler"...

1983 - Leon Hess

Leon Hess

Leon Hess was the founder of the Hess Corporation and the owner of the New York Jets.-Biography:Hess was born on March 13, 1914. His father was a Russian immigrant who worked as an oil delivery man in Asbury Park, New Jersey during the Great Depression.He married Norma around 1945 and they had...

 & James Stewart

James Stewart

James Stewart was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart may also refer to:-Noblemen:*James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland*James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn James Stewart (1908–1997) was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart...

 

1984 - David M. Nelson

David M. Nelson

David Moir Nelson was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, author, and authority on college football playing rules...

 

1985 - Bill Flynn

1986 - John Toner

John Toner

-External links:...

 

1987 - Ike Sewell

Ike Sewell

Issac "Ike" Sewell was an American athlete, businessman, entrepreneur, and founder of the Uno Chicago Grill restaurant chain that originated in Chicago, Illinois, as well as founder of the Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due restaurants there in 1943 and 1955, respectively...

 

1988 - Joe Rodgers


1989 - Moose Krause 

1990 - Pete Rozelle

Pete Rozelle

Alvin Ray "Pete" Rozelle was the commissioner of the National Football League from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office. Rozelle is credited with making the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the world....

 

1991 - Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno

Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...

 

1992 - Wellington Mara

Wellington Mara

Wellington Timothy Mara was the co-owner of the NFL's New York Giants from 1959 until his death, and one of the most influential and iconic figures in the history of the National Football League. He was the younger son of Tim Mara, who founded the Giants in 1925...

 

1993 - Dick Kazmaier

Dick Kazmaier

Richard Kazmaier was an American football player for Princeton University from 1949 through 1951 and winner of the 1951 Heisman Trophy. As a halfback, kicker and quarterback, he ended his career third all time in Princeton history with over 4000 yards of offense and 55 touchdowns...

 

1994 - Charles F. Bolden, Jr.

Charles F. Bolden, Jr.

Charles Frank "Charlie" Bolden, Jr. is the current Administrator of NASA, a retired United States Marine Corps major general, and former NASA astronaut....

 

1995 - Tom Osborne 

1996 - J. Donald Monan, S.J

1997 - (no award)

1998 - Roy Kramer

Roy Kramer

-External links:*...

 

1999 - (no award)

2000 - Arthur J. Decio

2001 - Dr. James Frank

2002 - George B. Young 

2003 - Robert Khayat

Robert Khayat

-External links:*...

 

2004 - Robert Casciola

Robert Casciola

Robert F. "Bob" Casciola is an American former college football coach, National Basketball Association executive, banking executive, and broadcaster. He was the head coach at the University of Connecticut from 1971 to 1972 and at Princeton University from 1973 to 1977. He held assistant coaching...

2005 - Alan Page

Alan Page

Alan Cedric Page is a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1963, received his B.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1967, and received his J.D. from the University of...

2006 - Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman

Corporal Patrick Daniel "Pat" Tillman Jr. was an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. He joined the Army Rangers and served several tours in combat before he died in the...

2007 - Rocky Bleier 

2008 - T. Boone Pickens

2009 - Billy Payne

2010 - Tom Brokaw

Tom Brokaw

Thomas John "Tom" Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors...

See also

• Walter Camp Man of the Year
  Walter Camp Man of the Year
  The Walter Camp Man of the Year is one of seven awards given annually by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. The award is given to the "Man of the Year" in the world of college football. It honors an individual who has been closely associated with the game of American football as a player, coach...
  
  
• Walter Camp Distinguished American Award
  Walter Camp Distinguished American Award
  The Walter Camp Distinguished American Award is presented by the Walter Camp Football Foundation to an individual who has used his or her talents to attain great success in business, private life or public service and who may have accomplished that which no other has done.The recipient does not...
  
  
• Walter Camp Alumni of the Year
  Walter Camp Alumni of the Year
  The Walter Camp “Alumni of the Year” award is bestowed by the Walter Camp Football Foundation on a worthy individual who has distinguished himself in the pursuit of excellence as an athlete, in his personal career and in doing good works for others. He must be an individual who has exhibited...
  
  
• Amos Alonzo Stagg Award
  Amos Alonzo Stagg Award
  The Amos Alonzo Stagg Award is presented annually by the American Football Coaches Association to the “individual, group or institution whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football’’. Recipients receive a plaque which is a replica of the one given to...
  
  
• National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award
• National Football Foundation Gold Medal Winners
  National Football Foundation Gold Medal Winners
  Each football season, The National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame pays tribute to a select few with awards of excellence for exhibiting superior qualities of scholarship, citizenship and leadership. Additionally, the Foundation also recognizes individuals who demonstrate...
  
  
• Theodore Roosevelt Award (NCAA)
  Theodore Roosevelt Award (NCAA)
  The Theodore Roosevelt Award is the highest honor the National Collegiate Athletic Association may confer on an individual. The award is awarded annually to a graduate from an NCAA member institution who earned a varsity letter in college for participation in intercollegiate athletics, and who...
  
  
• Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
  Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
  The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is given annually by the National Football League honoring a player's volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field. Prior to 1999, it was called simply the NFL Man of the Year Award...
  
  
• "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award
  "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award
  The Byron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award has been awarded by the National Football League Players Association continuously since 1966. The most recent winner, for the 2010 season, is Tony Richardson of the New York Jets...
  
  

External links

• National Football Foundation website
  • National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award website
• College Football Hall of Fame website
• 2007 Press Release
• 2009 Press release