Former Justice Alan Page ’78 receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Justice Alan C. Page ’78 received the nation's highest civillian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
This prestigious award may be given by the president to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.
President Donald J. Trump awarded the medals to Page and six other individuals at a ceremony at the White House on Nov. 16. Also attending were First Lady Melania Trump, several Cabinet members, six Supreme Court justices, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and numerous other dignataries.
The White House release announcing the awards described Page as follows: “Justice Page is an accomplished jurist, athlete, and philanthropist. After a successful college football career at the University of Notre Dame, he played 15 years in the National Football League with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. He started in four Super Bowls, was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1971, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. While playing for the Vikings, he obtained his law degree and practiced law during the off-season. After retiring from the NFL in 1981, Justice Page practiced law full-time before winning a seat on the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1992. He served for more than 20 years. Since 1988, his Page Education Foundation has provided scholarships to nearly 7,000 students.”
The other six newly named recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (three of whom are being recognized posthumously) are:
- Dr. Miriam Adelson;
- Retiring U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah);
- Rock superstar Elvis Presley;
- Baseball legend George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Jr.;
- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia; and
- Hall-of-Fame quarterback Roger Staubach.
