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Irving, Texas — The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that William H. McRaven, chancellor of the University of Texas System and retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral, will be honored with the organization's 2016 Distinguished American Award during the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on Dec. 6.

"William McRaven is one of our nation's most distinguished leaders and a champion of freedom and education," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "He has secured his place in history by tracking down some of the world's most notorious terrorists, and he has impacted military lives at home through the creation of the Preservation of the Force & Family initiative. He now brings those exceptional leadership skills to the University of Texas System, and we take great pride in honoring him and his outstanding record of achievement."

One of the most prestigious honors presented by the NFF, the Distinguished American Award recognizes 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.

"William McRaven has been a leader all his life with impeccable values," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "Whether handling life and death situations in the military or ensuring the highest caliber of education within one of our nation's top university systems, he has distinguished himself as a calm and decisive leader who knows how to make the tough decisions. We are extremely proud to recognize him with our Distinguished American Award. He represents exactly the type of individual who we want the next generation to emulate."

First bestowed in 1966, the NFF Distinguished American Award is presented on special occasions when a truly deserving candidate emerges. McRaven will become the 46th recipient of the award, joining an impressive list of previous honorees that includes Major Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr., Tom Brokaw, Bob Hope, Dr. Jerome H. Holland, Vince Lombardi, Gen. Ray Odierno, Alan Page, Jimmy Stewart and Gen. James A. Van Fleet.

As chancellor of the University of Texas System, McRaven leads one of the nation's largest and most respected systems of higher education. He oversees 14 institutions, educating 217,000 students and employing more than 20,000 faculty and 70,000 health care professionals, researchers and staff.

Since he became chancellor in January 2015, McRaven has recommitted the UT System and its institutions to improving the lives of Texans and people all over the world through education, research and health care.

McRaven's ambitious vision for the UT System includes eight "Quantum Leaps," that address many of the most significant challenges of our time, including building the nation's next generation of leaders through core education in leadership and ethics; leading a brain health revolution by accelerating discoveries and treatments for neurological diseases; elevating higher education's role in national security; driving unprecedented levels of collaboration between higher and K-12 education; and increasing student access and success.

Prior to becoming chancellor, McRaven served as the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, leading a force of 69,000 men and women and conducting counter-terrorism operations worldwide. Recognized as a national authority on U.S. foreign policy, McRaven has advised presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama and other U.S. leaders on defense issues. His book, "Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice," is considered a fundamental text on special operations strategy, and it has been published in several languages.

McRaven's high-profile accomplishments include the organization and execution of Operation Neptune Spear, the raid that led to the death of Osama Bin Laden in May of 2011, and Task Force 121, which resulted in the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003.

McRaven's military legacy goes beyond strategy and warfare. As commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, McRaven spearheaded the creation of the Preservation of the Force & Family initiative to ensure the mental, spiritual and physical well-being of those who serve, as well as their families. His wife, Georgeann, has dedicated much of her career to playing a leadership role with military families and wounded warriors.

McRaven has been recognized for his leadership numerous times by national and international publications and organizations. In 2011, he was the first runner-up for Time's Person of the Year, and the Dallas Morning News named him Texan of the Year. In 2012, Foreign Policy magazine placed him on its list of the nation's Top 10 Foreign Policy Experts and the Top 100 Global Thinkers. In 2014, Politico magazine ranked him among the Politico 50, citing his leadership as instrumental in cutting though Washington bureaucracy.

He has received the Republic of France's Legion d'Honneur, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association's National Award and the National Intelligence Award. In 2015, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum selected McRaven to receive the Intrepid Freedom Award for his distinguished service in promoting and defending the values of democracy. Also in 2015, he was presented with the Distinguished Service Award from the FBI Agents Association, which represents more than 13,000 active and retired FBI Special Agents. In 2016, McRaven was named the recipient of the Ambassador Richard M. Helms Award by the Central Intelligence Agency Officers Memorial Foundation. The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) presented him with the Tuss McLaughry Award, the organization's highest honor, at their 2016 convention in San Antonio.

"Of all the sports in America, football best represents the ideals upon which this nation was founded," said McRaven in accepting the AFCA honor. "Football is not just a game. Football is life played out on a field 100 yards long and 53 yards wide… Football is so much more than a game. If we hope to grow as a nation, as people, as human beings, then we must continue to use football to coach, to mentor and to teach our young men."

Born in North Carolina, McRaven's father was an Air Force colonel who briefly played professional football for the Cleveland Rams, instilling a love of the game in his son. Spending most of his childhood in San Antonio, McRaven attended Roosevelt High School where he played football and excelled in track. He received an ROTC scholarship to attend The University of Texas at Austin, and he competed on the Longhorns track team, graduating in 1977 with a degree in journalism. Later, he received a master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey in 1991. In 2012, the Texas Exes honored McRaven with a Distinguished Alumnus Award. He met his wife, Georgeann, while they were students at Texas, and they have three grown children.

McRaven will be honored Dec. 6 during the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the historic Waldorf Astoria in New York City. He will accept his award alongside the recipients of the other NFF Major Awards, including College Football Hall of Fame coach and AFCA Executive Director Emeritus Grant Teaff (NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award), the Voice of the Washington Huskies Bob Rondeau (NFF Chris Schenkel Award for excellence in broadcasting), and the yet-to-be announced recipients of the NFF Gold Medal and the NFF John L. Toner Award for excellence in athletics administration.

In addition to the presentation of the NFF Major Awards, the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner will provide the stage for the induction of the 2016 College Football Hall of Fame Class; the awarding of the 2016 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments; and the bestowing of the 27th NFF William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments, to the nation's top football scholar-athlete.

This year's College Football Hall of Fame Class includes: Marlin Briscoe (Nebraska Omaha), Derrick Brooks (Florida State), Tom Cousineau (Ohio State), Randall Cunningham (UNLV), Troy Davis (Iowa State), William Fuller (North Carolina), Bert Jones (LSU), Tim Krumrie (Wisconsin), Pat McInally (Harvard), Herb Orvis (Colorado), Bill Royce (Ashland [Ohio]), Mike Utley (Washington State), Scott Woerner (Georgia), Rod Woodson (Purdue) and coaches Bill Bowes (New Hampshire) and Frank Girardi (Lycoming [Pa.]).

The 2016 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class will be announced this fall, and the recipient of the Campbell Trophy will be announced live at the event on Dec. 6.