IRVING, TX – The leaders of The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame issued the following statements today on the passing of Father Theodore Hesburgh, who served as president of Notre Dame from 1952 to 1987 and passed away Feb. 26 on the Notre Dame campus. He was 97. The NFF honored Father Hesburgh in 1975, presenting him the NFF Distinguished American Award in recognition of his accomplishments as an “internationally known scholar and respected educator, whose philosophy champions academic and athletic excellence and concern for the human spirit.” He served with distinction on the NFF’s Board of Directors and was a key member of the leadership team that created the NFF’s Annual Awards Dinner in 1956.
“Father Hesburgh stands among the giants who have been honored by the National Football Foundation,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “He played a critical role in advancing the scholar-athlete ideal, and he came to embody the highest standards in ensuring that the student-athletes on campuses nationwide developed the cherished skill sets that would benefit them for a lifetime. We are extremely grateful for his contributions. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the entire Notre Dame community.”
