Theodore Roosevelt Meritorious Achievement Award

Theodore Roosevelt Meritorious Achievement Award

CRITERIA: The Theodore Roosevelt Meritorious Achievement Award is presented to an athlete in any amateur or professional sport, past or present, who has excelled not only on the playing field, but also as a contributor to both sport and society over at least a quarter of a century.

Previous Recipients

2018
Angela Ruggiero – Four-time Ice Hockey Olympic Medalist, International Olympic Committee Member, Co-founder of Sports Innovation Lab
2017
Jon Runyan – Vice President of Policy and Rules Administration for the National Football League and Former U.S. Congressman
2016
Donna de Varona – Swimming Gold Medalist, Former World Record Holder, Television Sportscaster, and Women’s Sports Advocate
2015
Gaylon McCollough, M.D. – All-American Center for the University of Alabama Internationally Renowned Surgeon and Teacher
2014
Theodore Leonsis – President and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment and Philanthropist
2013
Kevin Johnson – First African American Mayor of Sacramento, CA, and 3-Time NBA All-Star
2012
Kevin Plank – Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Under Armour, Inc.
2011
Ret. USMC Gen. Charles Krulak – 31st Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps and Current President of Birmingham-Southern College
2010
Admiral Mike Mullen – Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
2009
Daniel Rooney – Steelers owner and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland
2008
Dr. Myles Brand – NCAA President
2007
Heath Shuler – North Carolina Congressman/former Tennessee quarterback
2006
Jerry Richardson – Owner of NFL’s Carolina Panthers
2005
Sen. John McCain – Arizona Senator/Sports reform legislator
2004
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell – Judo Olympian/Colorado Senator
2003
Dr. T.K. Wetherell – President, Florida State University
2002
Hon. Jesse Ventura – Governor of Minnesota and former pro wrestler
2001
Sebastian Coe – Olympian middle distance runner/British House of Lords
2000
Tom Osborne – Nebraska Congressman/former Cornhuskers football coach
1999
Jim Ryun – Kansas Congressman, last American to hold the world record in the mile
1998
Billie Jean King – Director, World Team Tennis
1997
J.C. Watts, Jr. – Oklahoma Congressman, Sooners quarterback
1996
Steve Largent – Oklahoma Congressman, Seattle Seahawks receiver
1995
William P. “Billy” Payne – President and CEO of Atlanta Olympic Games
1994
David Bing – Owner, Bing Enterprises and Hall of Fame NBA player
1993
Orrin Hatch – Ex-basketball player, supporter of athletes and nutrition
1992
Sen. Bob Dole – Kansas basketball player and World War II hero
1991
Alan Page – Chief Justice, Minn. Supreme Court, and Vikings All-Pro
1990
Sen. Bill Bradley – Olympian and pro basketball player
1989
Jack Kemp – Secretary, Housing and Urban Development; former NFL QB
1988
Ronald Reagan – 40th President and former sports broadcaster