Presidential Medal

WASHINGTON - Pat Summitt, the former head coach of the University of Tennessee's women's basketball team, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House announced Thursday. Summitt, the winningest coach in basketball history, announced her retirement Wednesday after coaching the Lady Volunteers for 38 years. Summitt was diagnosed less than a year ago with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. President Obama, an avid basketball fan, called Summitt an “inspiration.” He praised her willingness to speak openly about her disease and her coaching skills.

WASHINGTON -- The White House has announced this year's recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. The list of 13 honorees includes musician Bob Dylan, writer Toni Morrison, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Shimon Peres. "These extraordinary honorees come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, but each of them has made a lasting contribution to the life of our nation," President Obama said in a statement.

WASHINGTON -- The White House has announced this year's recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. The list of 13 honorees includes musician Bob Dylan, writer Toni Morrison, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Shimon Peres. "These extraordinary honorees come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, but each of them has made a lasting contribution to the life of our nation," President Obama said in a statement.

The White House announced Thursday that former Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt will receive the nation's highest civilian honor, The Medal of Freedom. Through a statement released by the press secretary's office, President Obama said: “Coach Summitt is an inspiration - both as the all-time winningest NCAA coach, and as someone who is willing to speak so openly and courageously about her battle with Alzheimer's.   "Pat's gift has always been her ability to push those around her to new heights, and over the last 38 years, her unique approach has resulted in both unparalleled success on the court and unrivaled loyalty from those who know her and those whose lives she has touched.  Pat's coaching career may be over, but I'm confident that her work is far from finished.  I look forward to awarding her this honor.” Summitt was notified of the award last week.

President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday to former President George H.W. Bush and 14 others, including poet Maya Angelou, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, investor Warren Buffett and basketball legend Bill Russell. The medal is the nation's highest civilian honor and is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions "to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

Reporting from Washington -- Israeli President Shimon Peres will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom this spring, President Obama announced at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington. "Shimon once described the story of the Jewish people by saying it proved that, 'slings, arrows and gas chambers can annihilate man, but cannot destroy human values, dignity and freedom,'" Obama said as he announced the award. "He has lived those values. He has taught us to ask more of ourselves and to empathize more with our fellow human beings.

President Obama, attempting to spotlight those who have acted as "agents of change," announced Thursday that he would bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor, on a cast of living and deceased figures widely known in politics, the arts and sciences, sports and social movements. The 16 honorees named by the White House include Harvey Milk, the San Francisco supervisor who led an early movement for gay rights in public life and was assassinated.

Ernest B. Furgurson (Editorial Pages, April 16) notes that Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Sidney Hook's views on affirmative action are consonant with those of President Reagan and many of his appointees. In all fairness to both Reagan and Hook, however, Furgurson might also have observed that Reagan's and Hook's anti-quota attitudes mirror those of the vast majority of Americans, according to public opinion surveys made during the past 15 years. More important, however, Furgurson should have pointed out that Hook's public, articulated opposition to race and sex quotas was not always appreciated by powerful and influential people--quite the contrary.

The shock waves from the explosive scandal at Penn State are reaching Washington. Pennsylvania Sens. Pat Toomey and Bob Casey will rescind their Medal of Freedom nomination for former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in the wake of the child abuse scandal involving his former assistant coach, the senators said Thursday. Paterno was fired Wednesday evening by the school's board of trustees, ending his 46-year-tenure as head coach. The award is considered the highest honor a civilian can receive.

Reporting from Washington -- Israeli President Shimon Peres will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom this spring, President Obama announced at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington. "Shimon once described the story of the Jewish people by saying it proved that, 'slings, arrows and gas chambers can annihilate man, but cannot destroy human values, dignity and freedom,'" Obama said as he announced the award. "He has lived those values. He has taught us to ask more of ourselves and to empathize more with our fellow human beings.

The shock waves from the explosive scandal at Penn State are reaching Washington. Pennsylvania Sens. Pat Toomey and Bob Casey will rescind their Medal of Freedom nomination for former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in the wake of the child abuse scandal involving his former assistant coach, the senators said Thursday. Paterno was fired Wednesday evening by the school's board of trustees, ending his 46-year-tenure as head coach. The award is considered the highest honor a civilian can receive.

President Obama awarded Presidential Citizens Medals on Thursday to three Los Angeles residents for providing mental health services to veterans, a shelter for homeless and disabled veterans and creating a music program for children in gang-plagued neighborhoods. Judith Broder of the Soldiers Project, John Keaveney of the New Directions shelter and Margaret Martin of the Harmony Project joined 10 other recipients from across the nation for an awards ceremony at the White House. Before awarding the medals, Obama spoke about how many honorees had mustered the courage to be a good Samaritan during their own time of pain and need.

President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday to former President George H.W. Bush and 14 others, including poet Maya Angelou, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, investor Warren Buffett and basketball legend Bill Russell. The medal is the nation's highest civilian honor and is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions "to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

Mario Obledo, who grew up on welfare and later ran the California agency that administered it when he became the state's highest-ranking Mexican American official, died Wednesday in Sacramento. He was 78. The cause was a heart attack, said his wife, Keda Alcala-Obledo. Obledo was appointed secretary of health and welfare in 1975 by Gov. Jerry Brown and served until 1982, when he made an unsuccessful run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. He helped found a number of civil rights organizations, including the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the California Coalition of Hispanic Organizations.