- National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award
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National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award Awarded for exhibiting superior qualities of scholarship, citizenship and leadership. Presented by National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame Country United States First awarded 1966 Currently held by Billy Payne Official website http://www.footballfoundation.com/distinguish.php The National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award is among the highest offered by the National Football Foundation (NFF). Every year, the NFF & 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 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.
Contents
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
1969 - Archibald MacLeish
1970 - Vince Lombardi
1971 - Frank Boyden
1972 - Jerome H. Holland
1973 - (no award)
1974 - Bob Hope
1975 - Theodore Hesburgh
1976 - James Van Fleet
1977 - Rev. Edmund P. Joyce
1978 - (no award)
1979 - John W. Galbreath
1980 - Fred Russell
1981 - Sonny Werblin
1982 - Silver Anniversary (all honored) Jim Brown, Willie Davis,
Jack Kemp, Ron Kramer, Jim Swink
1983 - Leon Hess & James Stewart
1984 - David M. Nelson
1985 - Bill Flynn
1986 - John Toner
1987 - Ike Sewell
1988 - Joe Rodgers1989 - Moose Krause
1990 - Pete Rozelle
1991 - Joe Paterno
1992 - Wellington Mara
1993 - Dick Kazmaier
1994 - Charles F. Bolden, Jr.
1995 - Tom Osborne
1996 - J. Donald Monan, S.J
1997 - (no award)
1998 - Roy Kramer
1999 - (no award)
2000 - Arthur J. Decio
2001 - Dr. James Frank
2002 - George B. Young
2003 - Robert Khayat
2004 - Robert Casciola
2005 - Alan Page
2006 - Pat Tillman
2007 - Rocky Bleier
2008 - T. Boone Pickens
2009 - Billy Payne
2010 - Tom BrokawSee also
- Walter Camp Man of the Year
- Walter Camp Distinguished American Award
- Walter Camp Alumni of the Year
- Amos Alonzo Stagg Award
- National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award
- National Football Foundation Gold Medal Winners
- Theodore Roosevelt Award (NCAA)
- Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
- "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award
External links
- National Football Foundation website
- College Football Hall of Fame website
- 2007 Press Release
- 2009 Press release
College football awards Overall trophies Overall media awards AP Player of the Year (1998) • SN Player of the Year (1942)Positional awards Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Defenseman) • Chuck Bednarik Award (Defenseman) • Dave Rimington Trophy (Center) • Davey O'Brien Award (Quarterback) • Dick Butkus Award (Linebacker) • Doak Walker Award (Running back) • Fred Biletnikoff Award (Wide receiver) • Jim Thorpe Award (Defensive back) • John Mackey Award (Tight end) • Lombardi Award (Lineman/linebacker) • Lott Trophy (Defenseman) • Lou Groza Award (Placekicker) • Manning Award (Quarterback) • Outland Trophy (Interior lineman) • Ray Guy Award (Punter) • Ted Hendricks Award (Defensive end)Other national player awards Chic Harley Award (Best player) • Archie Griffin Award (Best player) • Bill Willis Trophy (Defensive lineman) • Jack Lambert Trophy (Linebacker) • Jack Tatum Trophy (Defensive back) • Jim Brown Trophy (Running back) • Jim Parker Trophy (Offensive lineman) • Paul Hornung Award (Most versatile) • Sammy Baugh Trophy (Quarterback) • Paul Warfield Trophy (Wide receiver) • Johnny Unitas Award (Senior quarterback)All-Americans Head coaching awards AFCA Coach of the Year (1935) • Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (1957) • SN Coach of the Year (1963) • Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award (1967) • Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year (1976) • Woody Hayes Trophy (1977) • Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (1986) • Home Depot Coach of the Year (1994) • AP Coach of the Year (1998) • Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award (2006) • Bobby Bowden Coach of the Year Award (2009) • Joseph V. Paterno Award (2010) (formerly the George Munger Award (1989))Assistant coaching awards Broyles Award (Assistant Coach of the Year) • AFCA Assistant Coach of the YearConference awards ACC awards • Big 12 awards • Big East awards • Big Ten awards (MVP) • MAC awards • Pac-12 awards • SEC awards • Defunct: SWC awardsDivision I FCS awards Walter Payton Award (Div. I FCS offensive player) • Buck Buchanan Award (Div. I FCS defenseman) • Jerry Rice Award (Div. I FCS freshman) • Eddie Robinson Award (Div. I FCS coach)Other divisions/associations Harlon Hill Trophy (Div. II) • Gagliardi Trophy (Div. III) • Melberger Award (Div. III) • Rawlings Award (NAIA)Academic, inspirational,
and versatility awardsAcademic All-America of the Year (Student-athlete) • Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award • William V. Campbell Trophy (Student-athlete) • Wuerffel Trophy (Humanitarian-athlete) • Lowe's Senior CLASS Award (Student-athlete) • Burlsworth Trophy (Walk-on) • Rudy Award (inspirational/motivational)Service awards Amos Alonzo Stagg Award • Walter Camp Alumni of the Year • Walter Camp Man of the Year • National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award • National Football Foundation Gold Medal Winners • Theodore Roosevelt AwardRegional awards Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award (New England Sportsmanship)Halls of fame Categories:- American awards
- College football awards
- College football media
- Awards established in 1966
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