| Walter Camp Distinguished American Award | |
| Awarded for | 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 |
|---|---|
| Presented by | Walter Camp Football Foundation |
| Country | United States |
| First awarded | 1978 |
| Currently held by | Floyd Little |
| Official website | Website |
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 have to have participated in football but must understand its lesson of self-denial, cooperation and teamwork and who is a person of honesty, integrity and dedication. He or she must be a leader, an innovator, even a pioneer, who has reached a degree of excellence which distinguished him or her from contemporaries and who lives within the principles of Walter Camp.
2008 Distinguished American Award Winner[]
Pro football Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson (Purdue) is the recipient of the 2008 Walter Camp “Distinguished American” award. A standout quarterback who also played defense and served as the kicker at Purdue, Dawson was selected in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1957 NFL Draft. In 1962, Dawson signed with Dallas Texans in the American Football League and was named AFL MVP. A year later, the franchise moved to Kansas City and were renamed the Chiefs.
Dawson made his mark as the leader of the Chiefs, leading the team to three AFL titles (1962, 1966 and 1969) and one Super Bowl championship in 1969. Named the Super Bowl MVP, Dawson led the Chiefs to a 23-7 win over the heavily-favored Minnesota Vikings. Dawson was a five-time All-Pro selection and was named to the Pro Bowl seven times. He retired in 1975 after throwing for over 28,700 career yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
Walter Camp Distinguished American Award Honorees[]
2012—Tom Osborne, Hastings College
2011—Floyd Little, Syracuse
2010—Chuck Bednarik, Pennsylvania
2009—Robin Roberts, Southeastern Louisiana
2008—Len Dawson, Purdue
2007—Frank Broyles, Georgia Tech
2006—Dick Vermeil, San Jose State
2005—Arthur Blank, Babson
2004—Pat Summerall, Arkansas
2003—Bill Walsh, San Jose State
2002—Regis Philbin, Notre Dame
2001—New York City Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Service Personnel
2000—Gene Upshaw, Texas A&I
1999—Bo Schembechler, Miami (Ohio)
1998—Steve Young, Brigham Young
1997—Steve Largent, Tulsa
1996—Dick Ebersol, Yale
1995—Keith Jackson, Washington State
1994—Paul Tagliabue, Georgetown
1993—Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C.
1992—Cami Cozza, Miami (Ohio)/Yale
1991—Alexander Kroll, Rutgers
1990—Tex Schramm, Texas
1989—Dick Kazmaier, Princeton
1989—Burt Reynolds, Florida State
1988—Sid Luckman/Y.A. Tittle, Columbia/Louisiana State
1987—Weeb Ewbank, Miami (Ohio)
1986—Tom Landry, Texas
1985—Bob Hope
1984—Bill Carpenter, United States Military Academy
1983—Tom Harmon, Michigan
1982— Eddie Robinson, Grambling State
1981—Harold "Red" Grange, Illinois
1980—Alexander Haig, United States Military Academy
1980—George Halas, Illinois
1979—David "Sonny” Werblin, Rutgers
1978—Jim Crowley Notre Dame
See also[]
- Walter Camp Man of the Year
- 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
References[]
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