Walter Camp Distinguished American Award The Walter Camp Distinguished American Award is presented by the Walter Camp Football Foundation to an individual who has used his or her talents to attain great success in business , private life or public service and who may have accomplished that which no other has done . The recipient does not have to have participated in football but must understand its lesson of self - denial , cooperation and teamwork and who is a person of honesty , integrity and dedication . He or she must be a leader , an innovator , even a pioneer , who has reached a degree of excellence which distinguished him or her from contemporaries and who lives within the principles of Walter Camp . 2008 Distinguished American Award Winner . Pro football Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson ( Purdue ) is the recipient of the 2008 Walter Camp “ Distinguished American ” award . A standout quarterback who also played defense and served as the kicker at Purdue , Dawson was selected in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1957 NFL Draft . In 1962 , Dawson signed with Dallas Texans in the American Football League and was named AFL MVP . A year later , the franchise moved to Kansas City and were renamed the Chiefs . Dawson made his mark as the leader of the Chiefs , leading the team to three AFL titles ( 1962 , 1966 and 1969 ) and one Super Bowl championship in 1969 . Named the Super Bowl MVP , Dawson led the Chiefs to a 23 - 7 win over the heavily - favored Minnesota Vikings . Dawson was a five - time All - Pro selection and was named to the Pro Bowl seven times . He retired in 1975 after throwing for over 28 , 700 career yards . He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 . Walter Camp Distinguished American Award Honorees . 2012 — Tom Osborne , " Hastings College " 2011 — Floyd Little , " Syracuse " 2010 — Chuck Bednarik , " Pennsylvania " 2009 — Robin Roberts , " Southeastern Louisiana " 2008 — Len Dawson , " Purdue " 2007 — Frank Broyles , " Georgia Tech " 2006 — Dick Vermeil , " San Jose State " 2005 — Arthur Blank , " Babson " 2004 — Pat Summerall , " Arkansas " 2003 — Bill Walsh , " San Jose State " 2002 — Regis Philbin , " Notre Dame " 2001 — New York City Police , Fire , and Emergency Medical Service Personnel 2000 — Gene Upshaw , " Texas A & I " 1999 — Bo Schembechler , " Miami ( Ohio ) " 1998 — Steve Young , " Brigham Young " 1997 — Steve Largent , " Tulsa " 1996 — Dick Ebersol , " Yale " 1995 — Keith Jackson , " Washington State " 1994 — Paul Tagliabue , " Georgetown " 1993 — Rev . Theodore Hesburgh , " C . S . C . " 1992 — Cami Cozza , " Miami ( Ohio ) / Yale " 1991 — Alexander Kroll , " Rutgers " 1990 — Tex Schramm , " Texas " 1989 — Dick Kazmaier , " Princeton " 1989 — Burt Reynolds , " Florida State " 1988 — Sid Luckman / Y . A . Tittle , " Columbia " / " Louisiana State " 1987 — Weeb Ewbank , " Miami ( Ohio ) " 1986 — Tom Landry , " Texas " 1985 — Bob Hope 1984 — Bill Carpenter , " United States Military Academy " 1983 — Tom Harmon , " Michigan " 1982 — Eddie Robinson , " Grambling State " 1981 — Harold " Red " Grange , " Illinois " 1980 — Alexander Haig , " United States Military Academy " 1980 — George Halas , " Illinois " 1979 — David " Sonny ” Werblin , " Rutgers " 1978 — Jim Crowley " Notre Dame "