Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA), U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today nominated Joe Paterno for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his substantial contributions to collegiate athletics, higher education and American society.
“Coach Paterno’s accomplishments on the football field are nothing short of legendary. During his 45-year tenure at Penn State, he has amassed 402 career wins – more than any other coach in Division I history,” the members wrote in a letter to President Obama. “He has coached five undefeated teams, two national championship teams, won three Big Ten conference championships, and been named “Coach Of The Year” five times by the American Football Coaches Association.”
The letter continued, “While these numbers are unrivaled, Coach Paterno’s contributions to society off the field are even more noteworthy. His commitment to the success of student athletes under his guidance is abundantly clear. Under his tenure, Penn State’s football team has had 16 Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes, 47 Academic All-Americans, and 18 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners – evidence of his dedication to helping his players excel in both athletic and academic endeavors. ”
Joe Paterno is the coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, a position he has held for 45 years.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom honors individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.