GOLDEN PLATE ACADEMY OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS WILL HONOR BEST IN MANY FIELDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05S00620R000601460041-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2009
• Sequence Number: 41
• Publication Date: March 26, 1978
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 1978
Academy of Achievement awards
will honor.. best :in many :fields
By CHUCK WANAGER~'. recipient this year is Sen. Wendell Ford,
Sunday staff writer from Owensboro.
OWENSBORO, Ky. - For one early The awards fete is being billed as
miner weekend this Ohio River com- "One of the finest events the state of
unity will be the very nerve center of Kentucky could ever have" by Exective
e United States justice and intelli- Inn owner Robert E. Green, a 1968
,nee communities. honoree of the Academy, who 10 years
That is because the American Acade- later is serving as chairman of the
Lyof Achievement is hosting its Golden Salute to Excellence committee. His
late Awards ceremonies June 22-24 at statement can draw little argument.
ie Executive Inn Rivermont and Other giants in many fields of
nong the distinguished personalities endeavor to be honored Saturday, June
ed to athe affair are . 24, with a black-tie banquet are humor-
itpectpectey Goner attended
Griffin Bell, boss ist Erma Bombeck, federal Judge Frank
football
Johnson
ansfield Turner and FBI chief William cTom Landry. comedienne . cedielCarol
ebster. coach o
Burnett, Nobel Peace Prize winner Sean
A list of "exemplars of excellence" MacBride and Omar N. Bradley, Ameri-
iosen for the Golden Plate Award who ca's only living five-star general
ive made reservations for the banquet
as announced Saturday at a press con- The ceremonies, the 17th annual,
rence at the Rivermont. Some 40 return to the Tri-State after being away
ants in their fields of endeavor from from the area for fodr years since the
merica and around the world are event was held at the Executive Inn in
ipected to attend the event, with the Evansville. In all, 30 new recipients of
lest list to be finalized "within a few the Golden Pate Award are planned with
eeks," according to Brian Reynolds. "10 or 12" of the most noted past
sad of the Academy. honorees - including world traveler
and radio news pioneer Lowell Thomas,
A special highlight will be the pres- actor Ed Asner, actress Cloris Leach-
itation of the Academy's seventh annu- man and baseball's all-time home run
l Founder's Medal to retired federal king Hank Aaron - to be on hand to
edge John Sirica, Watergate trial present the 1978 awards.
edge, who now serves with Lowell The honored guests are to be seated
homas and Dr. Michael E. DeBakey as at the center of a,300-foot dais at the
o-chairman of the 'Golden Plate banquet in the inn's convention center.
,wards Council. Also to be feted by the Academy will
Also chosen as a Golden Plate Award Continued on Page 8-A
coordinate the event. Some 40 lead-
ers in government, business and
other fields are expected for the
annual affair.
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A special honor to be presented
retired federal Judge John Sirica at
the Golden Plate Awards weekend
June 22-24 in Owensboro, Ky., is
and
left
shown by Robert Green
,
,
Owensboro honor W.M. Elmer, who are helping to
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From Page 8-A
caaerrey
Atlantic Monthly. Hammer took a company with three
employees and a net worth of $34,000 and made it into an
incredible organization, which is now headquartered in Los
Angeles.
Tony Auth proves that you don't' have to be old to be
famous. The editorial cartoonist for The Philadelphia
Inquirer, syndicates his work to 70 newspapers across the
country. A recent garduate of UCLA, Orth has quickly
earned a spot along with Herblock, Oliphant and MacNelly
as a political commentator.
His skillful craftsmanship and biting humor earned
this master of satire the most prestigious honor of his craft
in 1976 - the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartoons.
Most contruction engineers work incredibly hard just
trying to find something to keep them busy from day to day.
J. Robert Fluor, chief executive of Flour Corp., is so
successful that he has a current backlog of projects worth
an amazing $10-billion.
He is chairman of the board of trustees of the Universi-
ty of Southern California and chairman of the United Way
of Los Angeles. He was chosen by Financial World maga-
zine in 1974 and again in 1975 as the "Most Outstanding
Chief Executive Office" of the construction service indus-
try.
George P. Mitchell arrived at Texas A&M with $50 in
his pocket; now the founder of Mitchell Energy & Develop-
ment Corp. has a personal fortune valued at $250-million.
That achievement has earned him the distinction of "an
oilman's oilman."
He gradually built his empire which today is one of the
largest independent producers of oil and natural gas. He
owns 66,000 acres of land, including "Woodlands" ... a
Manhattan-size development that will eventually accomo-
date a population of 150,000.
One of the greatest historians of our time, Arthur M.
.Schlesinger, Jr., is the recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes. A
summa cum laude graduate of Harvard, Schlesinger wrote
"A Thousand Days" and "The Imperial Presidency". -""-
Schlesinger is the Albert Schweitzer Professor of
Humanities in the graduate school of the City College of
New York.
Think about pro football coaches and Tom Landry
must come to mind. He has coached two Super Bowl
winners as the only boss in the history of the Dallas
Cowboys.
His Dallas team has made it to the playoffs 11 of the
past 12 seasons, and it is this record which is why his
colleagues consider him a genius when it comes to foot-
ball. Landry was All-Pro in his playing days with the New
York Giants in the NFL.
Wendell Ford holds a unique spot when it comes to
Kentucky politics. He is the only person in the state to be
elected consecutively as Lietenant Governor, then Gover-
nor and eventually U.S. Senator.
When the Golden Plates are awarded this summer,
Ford won't have to travel too far to pick up his honor - he's
Owensboro's "favorite son".
The Hon.. William H. Webster is relatively new to the
Washington, D.C. scene, but he is one of the most important
men in the nation's capital since President Carter selected
him as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Described as a "man of great integrity," Webster is a
former Federal District Court then an Appeals Court judge.
The author of the number one best-selling book -
"The Thorn Birds!'- is Colleen McCullough. The Austraili-
an born author is a medical school dropout, but that did not
stop her from being a huge success.
The publishing rights to her book went for $2-million,
and a film about her "Austrailian 'Gone With the Wind'
love story will soon be made into a movie.
Americans may not be familiar with Michael. O.',
Edwardes but they certainly know his product - those
brightly-colored sports cars from British Leyland Ltd.
which zip along U.S. highways.
A few years ago British Leyland was floundering, but
Edwardes was lured from another company he had built
into a success and brought to British Leyland. That automo-
tive maker is now a $4-billion industry.
Twelve past Golden Plate recipients will be in Owens-
boro to present American Academy of.Achievement
awards. They include:
? Lowell Thomas, Pawling, N.Y.. pioneer newscaster,
author and explorer.
? Hon. John.J. Sirica, Washington, D.C., the famous
Watergate trial judge, who was named Time's "Man of the
Year" in 1973.
? Alex-Haley, Los Angeles, Calif., the author of the
number One best-seller "Roots." which won the Pulitzer
W-Col. Harland Sanders, Louisville, Ky., is the origina-
tor of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
? Hank Aaron, Atlanta, Ga., is the all-time home run
king of professional baseball.
? Gen. Jimmy Doolittle,.Los Angeles, Calif., won the
Congressional Medal of Honor.
? Vice Admiral James Stockdale, Washington, D.C., is
president of the Naval War College and Medal of Honor
recipient.
? Cloris Leachman, Hollywood, Calif., is a renowned
actress who is both an Oscar and Emmy winner.
la Edward Asner, Hollywood, Calif., the distinguished
actor who has won five Emmy awards.
? Dr. Edward Teller, Livermore, Calif., is an interna-
tionally renowned nuclear physicist.
? Louis Nizer, New York, N.Y., is a famed attorney
and author of "My Life in Court"
M John D. deButts, New York, N.Y., is chairman of the
board of American Telephone and Telegraph.
Jimmy Doolittle
Hank Aaron
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 GOLDEN PLATE
AWARDS COUNCIL'
C14AI MAN
LOWELL THOMAS
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TO: Academy members and friends
FROM: Brian and Wayne Reynolds
SUBJECT: 1978 Banquet Report #5
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS: BOX 1240 ? VIENNA, VIRGINIA 22180 ? [phone]
The expanded roster of most illustrious past recipients of the Golden Plate Award who
present awards at the 1978 Banquet on Saturday evening, June 24, in Kentucky inclu
? Lowell Thomas, Pawling, New York -- pioneer newscaster/author/explorer, who
enhance the excitement of the Reception/Dinner on Thursday evening, June 22...
opening event of the Salute weekend.. with reminiscences of his fabulous career.
? Edward Asner, Los Angeles -- television star of "The Lou Grant Show" and recipie
of five Emmys...who will narrate the Banquet of the Golden Plate award ceremoni
? Judge John J. Sirica, Washington, D.C. -- Watergate Trial Judge and Time mag
1973 "Man of the Year"...who will be presented at the Banquet with the Academ
seventh annual Founder's Medal "for extraordinary service" to the Awards Council
0 Alex Haley, Los Angeles -- celebrated author of the No.1 best-seller "Roots."
0 Louis Nizer, New York -- famed attorney, author of "My Life in Court."
? John D. deButts, New York -- Board Chairman of American Telephone & Telegrap
who will deliver Special Remarks in the opening moments of the Banquet evening.
? Dr:.Edward-Tel fei,- Livermore, Cali.fornla . eminent nuclear physicist
? Col. Harland Sanders, Louisville -- originator of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
0 Cloris Leachman, Los Angeles -- Oscar and Emmy award winner.
0 General Jimmy Doolittle, Los Angeles -- Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.
9,_-,Admiral- James Stockdale -- Naval War College president/Medal of Honor awarde
All of these confirmed award presenters, and the 1978 guests of honor listed previousl
or being announced in this report (on the next page) are featured in the enclosed cop
of last Sunday's special coverage in the Evansville "Courier and Press." Evansville i
nearby Owensboro, Kentucky...the site of the June 22-24 Salute to Excellence prog
A non-profit, tax-exempt organization, dedicated to the Inspiration of Youth--to raise their sights high:
to excel in their endeavors--through the dramatic annual salute...at the Banquet of the Golden Plate...
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WAYNE R. REYNOLDS
Coordinator. Golden Plate Invitations
March 31, 1978
 ? The Honorable Approved For Release 2009/08/11 : CIA-RDP05S00620R000601460041-0 shington, D.C. -
a native of St. Louis and a gradualMf Amherst... where he was a friend classmate of CIA Director
Stansfield Turner.. .this former U.S. Attorney, federal district judge, an federal appeals court judge...
who "wins uniformly high praise from lawyers of every political and social persuasion who have practiced
before him"...has stepped into the national spotlight with an awesome new responsibility.. earning tribu
from the U.S. Attorney General, Newsweek, Time, and Wall Street Journal as "a tall, ruggedly handso
man" of "strength, high intellect and impeccable integrity."
0 Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Albert Schweitzer Professor of the Humanities at the Graduate School of the
City University of New York -- a summa cum laude graduate of Harvard, this distinguished educator/writ
- and former assistant to President Kennedy... author of the famed No.1 best-seller, "The Imperial Presiden
...and the equally renowned "A Thousand Days"...is the recipient of innumerable high honors, includin
the National Institute of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for History the National Book Award, the Pulitzer
Prize for History, and the Pulitzer Prize for Biography.. .to earn international acclaim as "one of the gre
historians of our time."
? Tom Landry, Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys... champions of the 1978 Super Bowl -- a high school All
Regional fullback who "flew thirty B-17 missions over Germany during World War II"...he returned to co
captain the University of Texas football team and earn All-Southwest Conference honors...was an All-Pr
with the New York Giants before becoming its defensive coach...became the first and only head coach f
the Dallas Cowboys in 1960... survived a winless first season for the expansion team.. .then sparked them
12 straight winning years and the "best record in football over those years".. reaching the playoffs in 11
those seasons. . .and most recently demolished. Denver in Super Bowl XII...to earn Time magazine's tribut
"His Cowboys play the most intricately calibrated football ever concocted... Much of the sophisticated
strategy that marks modern football was devised in Landry's fertile mind. For beneath that ubiquitous hat
behind the stony visage, resides a genius of the game."
9 Colleen McCullough,, Australian-born author of "The Thorn Birds"... No.1 best-seller for many months--
a medical school drop-out who "spent a year in the Outback as a teacher and school bus driver".. she
on its ear" and has been hailed as "an Australian Gone With the Wind"....with hard-cover reprints in 20
through two continents, 54 years and 280,000 words". ..a smash best-seller that "turned the publishing w
"riveting evocation of time, place and character" which "follows three generations of an Outback family
"15,000-word chunks each night, refueling herself with heavily-sugared coffee".. finally completed her
department for ten years"...and meantime "pounded out her romantic, tumultous 530-page" novel ...typi
"eventually landed in the United States, where she managed the laboratory at Yale University's neurolog
languages:_.:a_.record $2 million for paperback`rights...and the`sale for a?feature length film...truly a
mammoth love story that has made its mark" in- publishing"history.
0 The Honorable Wendell H. Ford, United States Senator of Kentucky, and Chairman of the Democractic
Senatorial Campaign Committee -- Owensboro's own "favorite son"...named in 1955 as "one of three
outstanding young men of Kentucky".. was the only Kentuckian to be elected National President of the
Jaycees... became in 1959 the Governor's chief administrative assistant. ..was elected in 1965 to the Sta
Senate. ..was elected two years later as the Lt. Governor, and moved up four years later to the Governo
...to become "the only Kentuckian in the state's history ever to be elected to consecutive terms as Lt.
Governor, and United States Senator."
0 Michael O. Edwardes, Chairman and Chief Executive of British Leyland, Ltd., London -- saluted by For
magazine as the 47 year-old South African-born lawyer who had in five years quintupled the profits of th
Chloride Group before recently accepting" the challenge of rescuing the four-billion-dollar auto giant.
A C.Y.?Tung, Chairman of Island Navigation Corporation;.: Ltd., Hong Kong -- featured recently in Fortu
as a "shipping tycoon"....one of the four "largest independent shipowners in the world"...with a 112 shi
eight-million-ton fleet of cargo carriers, oil tankers, and passenger liners... valued at one billion dollar
For the convenience of our sponsors, an Executive Inn Rivermont reservation card is enclosed.
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