The James Cardinal Gibbons Medal is named in honor James Cardinal Gibbons, the founder and first chancellor of The Catholic University of America. It is intended to honor any person who, in the opinion of the university's Alumni Association's board of governors, has rendered distinguished and meritorious service to the Roman Catholic Church, the United States of America, or The Catholic University of America.
Winners include Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, Senator John F. Kennedy, Speaker John W. McCormack, Sargent Shriver, Nancy Reagan, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Sister Helen Prejean, and Ronan Tynan.
The Gibbons Medal is conferred by the university president on behalf of the CUA Alumni Association during the alumni awards ceremony. John F. Kennedy was awarded the medal while still a senator, upon the nomination of Eddie Pryzbyla, a future winner himself.
Winners
YearAwardeeBackground2017Gary Sinise Actor, veterans advocate2016None awarded2015Timothy ShriverCEO of the Special Olympics2014None awarded2013Sr. Mary Scullion, RSMActivist, co-founder of Philadelphia's Project H.O.M.E.2012Kevin RyanPresident of Covenant House International2011None awarded2010Sr. Alice Zachman, SSNDHuman rights advocate in Guatemala2009Ronan TynanIrish singer, Paralympic athlete2008Kenneth HackettPresident of Catholic Relief Services2007None awarded20062005Darrell GreenAmerican football player, founder of the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation2004Gen. Barry McCaffreyUnited States Army general, national security consultant2003Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ2002Aaron NevilleFour time-Grammy Award-winning vocalist2001Cardinal Avery DullesJesuit priest, theologian, and Catholic cardinal2000William H. Graham Sr.Former Catholic University of America faculty member 1999Kathryn J. DuFourFirst female judge in the Maryland Circuit Courts and CUA benefactor1998Lindy BoggsUS Representative from Louisiana and United States Ambassador to the Holy See1997Henry HydeUS Representative from IllinoisBr. Patrick Ellis, FSCDe La Salle Christian Brother and president of the Catholic University of America1996Cardinal James HickeyFormer Archbishop of Washington, DC and chancellor of the Catholic University of America1995Robert P. CaseyFormer Governor of Pennsylvania1994Antonin ScaliaAssociate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United StatesRichard W. Galiher Sr.Attorney and CUA benefactor 1993 Edward J. PryzbylaPresident, Edwards Enterprises, alumnus, benefactor 1992 George J. Quinn Chairman, Alton Engineering, alumnus, benefactor 1991 William J. Byron President, The Catholic University of America 1990 Eunice Kennedy Shriver Executive Vice President, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, Founding Chairwoman, Special Olympics International 1989 William D. BordersRetired Archbishop of Baltimore 1988 Edward Bennett Williams Attorney 1988 Admiral James D. Watkins Former Chief of Naval Operations, former secretary of energy, former chairman of Reagan's HIV Task Force 1987 Philip M. Hannan Archbishop of New Orleans, alumnus 1986 Nancy Reagan Former First Lady of the United States of America 1985 Mildred Fay Jefferson M.D., surgeon and pro-life leader 1985 Gilbert V. Hartke Chairman Emeritus, The Catholic University of America Drama Department, alumnus 1984 Bruce Ritter Founder, Covenant House 1983 None Awarded. 1982 Raymond A. DuFour president and chairman of the board, DuFour Enterprises, Inc., alumnus, benefactor 1981 John Tracy Ellis Church historian, alumnus 1980 J. Peter Grace Chief Executive Officer, W.R. Grace Co. 1980 William Cardinal Baum Prefect, Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education in Rome, former chancellor of The Catholic University of America 1979 Terence Cardinal CookeArchbishop of New York, alumnus 1978 Clarence C. Walton President, The Catholic University of America, alumnus 1977 Benjamin T. Rome Chairman of the board, Hyman Construction Company, alumnus, benefactor 1976 Lawrence Cardinal Shehan Archbishop of Baltimore 1975 John J. Sirica Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia 1974 Michael Mansfield U.S. Senator 1973 Helen Hayes Actress 1972 Patrick Cardinal O'Boyle Archbishop of Washington and chancellor of the university 1971 James Walsh Superior General, Maryknoll Fathers 1970 Dr. Carroll Hochwalt Former chairman, The Catholic University of America, Board of trustees 1969 Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. President, University of Notre Dame, alumnus 1968 Danny Thomas Entertainer 1967 James J. Norris Assistant to the executive director, Catholic Relief Services 1966 Earl Warren Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1965 Sargent Shriver Director, Peace Corps 1964 John A. McCone Director, Central Intelligence Agency 1963 John W. McCormack Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives 1962 Luke Edward Hart Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus 1961 Charles G. Fenwick Director, Legal Affairs, Organization of American States 1960 Karl F. Herzfeld Physicist 1959 General Alfred Gruenther Past President, American Red Cross 1958 Thomas E. Murray Consultant, Atomic Energy Commission 1957 Bryan J. McEntegart Bishop of Brooklyn 1956 Ignatius Smith, O.P. Dean, The Catholic University of America School of Philosophy 1956 John F. Kennedy U.S. Senator (MA) (Later President of the United States of America) 1955 General Lawton Collins Chief of Staff, U.S. Army 1954 J. Edgar Hoover Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation 1953 Fulton J. Sheen 1951 Fulton Oursler Author, senior editor, Reader's Digest 1950 General Carlos Romulo Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines 1949 Carlton J. H. Hayes Professor, historian, publicist
See also List of ecclesiastical decorations
References