National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award

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.

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.

Recipients
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 - William J. Flynn

1986 - John Toner

1987 - Ike Sewell

1988 - Joe M. Rodgers

1989 - 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 Brokaw

2011 - Archie Roberts

2012 - George Bodenheimer

2013 - Gen. Ray Odierno

2014 - (no award)

2015 - Rear Adm. Bill Byrne, USN

(2015) - Capt. Jared Tew, USAF

(2015) - Maj. Graham White, USA

2016 - Adm. William McRaven