Chancellor William McRaven's Powerful Distinguished American Award Acceptance Speech

The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame presented its 2016 Distinguished American Award to William H. McRaven, the chancellor of the University of Texas System and a retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral. The presentation took place during the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on Dec. 6, 2016. McRaven secured his place in history by tracking down some of the world’s most notorious terrorists, and he has impacted military lives at home through the creation of the Preservation of the Force & Family initiative. McRaven’s high-profile accomplishments include the organization and execution of Operation Neptune Spear, the raid that led to the death of Osama Bin Laden in May of 2011, and Task Force 121, which resulted in the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003. Since 2015, he has brought his exceptional leadership skills to the University of Texas System. The son of a football player, McRaven touched on the lessons he learned from his father and the importance of the game to our country. First bestowed in 1966, the NFF Distinguished American Award is presented on special occasions when a truly deserving candidate emerges. McRaven will become the 46th recipient of the award, joining an impressive list of previous honorees that includes Major Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr., Tom Brokaw, Bob Hope, Dr. Jerome H. Holland, Vince Lombardi, Gen. Ray Odierno, Alan Page, Jimmy Stewart and Gen. James A. Van Fleet.