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.
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.
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.
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.