News From The Past The Pueblo Chieftain Saturday, August 26, 2000

Congratulations to the 2000 
Recipients of the Patriot Award

 

Medal of Honor Society President Harvey C. "Barney" Barnum, a Vietnam War Marine Corps Medal recipient, traveled to Pueblo, Colorado recently to review plans for Convention 2000 to be held in Pueblo September 19 to 24.  While here, he joined Medal Recipients Raymond G. Murphy (Marine Corps, Korea) and Peter C. Lemon (Army, Vietnam) in a press conference to announce recipients of the Medal of Honor Society's awards to be presented during the September reunion.

Each year at their reunion, the Medal recipients present awards to distinguished Americans for their patriotism and service.  These include:

The Patriot Award
The "Tex" McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism
The Bob Hope Entertainment Award

The Patriot Award

Usually awarded to a single distinguished American, the 2000 Patriot Award will have a "new twist" during the Pueblo event.  At the August 25th press conference, Society President Barney Barnum recalled the important role sports have played in the lives of America's military men and women.  Whether at home or on distant shores, in times of peace and time of war, soldiers have always enjoyed following their favorite sports teams.  Barnum also recalled the many times that sports figures would travel to those same distant shores to meet with soldiers in the field.  "They couldn't sing or dance but they would take a picture with you and shake your hand."  He also called to mind how many would write down a G.I.'s phone number, then call their family when they returned home to give them comforting reports.

In cooperation with the members of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the organizing committee for the event in Pueblo selected five outstanding sports figures to accept the Patriot Award on behalf of the athletes of their respective sports, in tribute to the contribution of sports events to military morale.  The five, all of whom will be in Pueblo to receive the award at the Patriot Award Dinner on September 22 are:

Brooks Robinson - Baseball

Brooks Robinson is on the symbolic and coveted "All Century Team of Baseball".  Only 30 players from baseball's history made this team including the great Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron.  Brooks is probably the greatest third baseman to ever play the game.  Today he is president of the Major League Baseball Alumni Association and performs clinics for children all over the United States.

 

David "The Admiral" Robinson - Basketball

David Robinson is one of "The 50 Greatest Players in NBA History".  He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.  As a basketball player he was the NBA's MVP in 1995, and led his San Antonio Spurs to the NBA 1999 Championships.  David is a three time United States Olympian playing on the winning Dream Teams I and III.  Today, he and his wife Valerie have organized and operate the David Robinson Foundation to assist the physical and spiritual needs of families.

 

Arnold Palmer - Golf

One of "The Ten Greatest Golfers of All Time", Arnold Palmer won seven majors including a US Open, four Masters and two British Opens.  He won 60 PGA Tour events as well as participating on six United States Ryder Cup teams.  He captained two of the latter.  One of the true gentlemen of sports, Arnold Palmer is one of the best-known golfers of all time.

 

 

Pat LaFontaine - Hockey

Playing with the NHL for 15 years, Pat LaFontaine retired in 1999 with 468 goals and 545 assist in 865 games (second only to Joe Mullen as the top scoring American-born player in history.)  He played in five NHL All Star games and is a two-time Olympian.  Pat was chosen to be on the Team USA in the first World Cup of Hockey against Canada and won.  Pat LaFontaine is known for his character on and off the ice, receiving the Lester Patrick Award.  Today he assists with children's foundations.

Gene Fullmer - Boxing

Gene Fullmer is the two-time, American born Middleweight Champion of the World.  Fighting in the nineteen-fifties and sixties, he posted a phenomenal record of 54 wins, 6 losses, and 3 draws.  In his early years he was known for his knockout power.  After retiring, he continues to work with the Golden Gloves organization, as well as other programs with our Nation's youth.

 

 

 

The "Tex" McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey is perhaps the best known and most heard radio personality of all time.  His broadcast and newspaper columns have been reprinted in the Congressional Record more than those of any other commentator.  The one word most often used to describe Paul Harvey and his broadcasts is "courageous".  He is a strong champion of patriotism and many of his "Rest of the Story" broadcasts tell touching stories of heroism and love of country.

 

 

 

The Bob Hope Entertainment Award

Bill Mauldin

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist and author, Bill Mauldin brought to life Willie and Joe...his famous "dog faces" from World War II.  They represented the guys who did the fighting in the fox holes from Sicily to Germany.   His cartoons in Stars and Stripes always said what was on the minds of the soldiers who were getting shot at every day.  He was hailed by Generals, even though many of his cartoons took pot shots at the brass, and buck privates alike for what he did to help the morale of all service men.  Bill Mauldin also co-starred with Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy in the classic Civil War movie, "The Red Badge of Courage".

 

Information on the CMOHS Awards

 

 

© 2000, by The Pueblo Chieftain ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

HomeOfHeroes.com now has more than 25,000 pages of US History for you to view.