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