United States Sports Academy Honors Muhammad Ali with Distinguished Service Award

DAPHNE, AL (July 2, 2007) – Boxing legend Muhammad Ali received the United States Sports Academy’s Distinguished Service Award from Academy President and CEO Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich during a private ceremony on 29 June at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Over 40 years after he burst onto the scene as a gold-medal winner at the 1960 Rome Olympics, the man known as “The Greatest Of All Time,” remains a magical figure, known and loved throughout the world. Although diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome in 1982. Ali has not allowed this to slow his contributions to society.

Mike Fox, President and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center, who accepted the award for Ali, said, “I am pleased to receive this prestigious award on Muhammad's behalf. His life as an athlete began in the city of Louisville when he was twelve years old, so it is only appropriate that 53 years later, this honor is bestowed upon him in his hometown. While Muhammad has been a champion athlete, he has used his sport as a platform to champion humanitarian causes around the world. He is, and will always be ‘The People's Champion.’”

Dubbed "Athlete of the Century" by GQ magazine, Ali has been named Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Century," the BBC's "Sports Personality of the Century" and the World Sports Award's "World Sportsman of the Century.” In 2005, he received the highest civil award in the U.S., the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

As a boxer, Ali brought unprecedented speed and grace to his sport. His charm and wit forever changed what the public expected a champion to be. His accomplishments in the ring are the stuff of legend – two fights with Sonny Liston, in which he proclaimed himself "The Greatest" and proved he was; three epic wars with Joe Frazier; a stunning victory over George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle; and the dethroning of Leon Spinks to become heavyweight champion for an unprecedented third time.

Championing the causes of the developing world has become a major focus of his life. Ali has been instrumental in providing over 232 million meals to the world's hungry. He has hand-delivered food and medical supplies to children in Cote D'Ivoire, Indonesia, Mexico and Morocco, among other countries.

Ali is equally devoted to helping charities at home. He has visited countless numbers of soup kitchens and hospitals and has helped such organizations as the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the Special Olympics. He annually participates in "Fight Night," to generate funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. At the State Capitol in Michigan, he advocated new laws for protecting children. He is also the namesake of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act (sponsored by Senator John McCain), a law that regulates professional boxing.

In addition to being honored by Amnesty International with its Lifetime Achievement Award, the Secretary-General of the United Nations bestowed upon Ali the citation of United Nations Messenger of Peace. In Germany, he was honored with the 2005 Otto Hahn Peace Medal for his involvement in the U.S. civil rights movement and the United Nations.

In 2005, Ali opened the Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Both a destination site and international educational and cultural facility, it features 2-1/2  levels of interactive exhibits and captivating multi-media presentations through which visitors learn about Ali’s life and are encouraged to reach their greatest potential.  Through its public outreach and educational programs, the Center carries on Muhammad’s legacy by focusing on such themes as peace, social responsibility, respect and personal growth. In 2006, Ali partnered with CKX, Inc. to form Muhammad Ali Enterprises for the licensing of his name, image and likeness and to continue promoting his cultural and philosophical legacy throughout the world.

Presented by the Academy since 1984, the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) is given annually to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to national or international sports through instruction, research or service. Past honorees include Dean Smith, Don Shula, Martina Navratilova, Harvey Schiller and George Steinbrenner. For more information, visit http://www.asama.org/awards.

Ali also received the Academy's Order of the Eagle Exemplar medal and Academy Rosette. The medallion was designed by the Academy's Sport Artist of the Year 1990, Blair Buswell. Award recipients are also presented with the Academy Rosette, modeled after the Legion of Honour instituted by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. A rosette is a symbol of recognition and affiliation.

The United States Sports Academy is an independent, non-profit, accredited, special mission sports university created to serve the nation and the world with programs in instruction, research and service. The role of the Academy is to prepare men and women for careers in the profession of sports. For more information about the United States Sports Academy, “America’s Sports University,” call 251-626-3303 or visit the Academy’s website www.ussa.edu.

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