Oklahoma State University Athletics
Boone Pickens Named Recipient of Distinguished American Award
June 04, 2008 | Cowboy Football
Oklahoma State University alumnus T. Boone Pickens has been named a recipient of one of four major awards presented by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame it was announced today by NFF chairman Archie Manning.
Pickens was recognized for his philanthropy work with this year's Distinguished American Award. He is joined in this year's class of honorees by John Glenn (Gold Medal), Bill Battle (Outstanding Contribution To Amateur Football Award) and Gene Smith (John L. Toner Award).
“The awards committee did a tremendous job in selecting the 2008 recipients,” said NFF Awards Committee Chairman Bob Mulcahy. “John Glenn, who is an American icon, and Boone Pickens, one of our nation's foremost philanthropists, highlight this distinguished group. We are more than proud to remind this year's honorees of the impact they have had on us and our sport through the NFF Major Awards.”
The epitome of an American success story, T. Boone Pickens came from humble beginnings to become one of the country's most lucrative entrepreneurs and Oklahoma State University's most generous alumnus.
As the founder and chairman of BP Capital, Pickens is responsible for the management of more than $4 billion, administering one of the nation¹s most successful energy-oriented investment funds. Nicknamed the “Oracle of Oil” by CNBC, Pickens started his career in the gas and oil industry, building Mesa Petroleum into the largest independent oil company in the country. He frequently uses his knowledge in the evaluation of potential equity investments and energy sector themes with an uncanny ability to accurately predict gas and oil prices. Also invested in a wide range of other businesses, he is the largest private holder of permitted groundwater rights in the U.S. through Mesa Water, and another Pickens' investment, Mesa Power, is planning the world's largest wind farm in the Texas Panhandle.
An avid philanthropist, Pickens has given away more than $700 million, supporting educational initiatives, medical research, corporate wellness, at-risk youth, conservation and athletics. He has donated nearly $400 million to his alma mater. In 2005, he donated $165 million to Oklahoma State, the largest single gift given to an NCAA athletics program in history. The athletic donation was aimed at creating an athletic village surrounding the football stadium that was renamed in his honor in 2003.
On May 21, he gave $100 million for academics at Oklahoma State, the largest academic gift in the state's history. That gift goes toward faculty chairs and will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the state of Oklahoma. In 1989, OSU's School of Geology was named for the Holdenville, Okla., native. Continually listed on the Chronicle of Philanthropy's list of top U.S. philanthropists, his $7 million donation to the American Red Cross in 2005 is the largest individual contribution in the 150-year history of the organization.
Pickens is a member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, the Texas Business Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Named one of Oil & Gas Investor's “100 Most Influential People of the Petroleum Century,” he is a frequent guest on some of the nation's most-watched business programs and has appeared on the cover of Time and Fortune. Also a seasoned author, his next book “The First Billion Is the Hardest: How Believing It's Still Early in the Game Can Lead to Life's Greatest Comebacks," which takes a critical look at the problems facing the U.S. as a result of ever-escalating foreign oil import and lays out a comprehensive solution, will be released in the fall. Honored numerous times for his community service and humanitarian efforts, Pickens resides in Dallas.
Each of these awards will be presented at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 9, 2008, at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. Also that evening, the NFF will recognize the National Scholar-Athlete class (announced in the fall); award the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth; and induct the 2008 Football Bowl Subdivision College Football Hall of Fame Class.
GOLD MEDAL—John Glenn, Former U.S. Senator / Astronaut
The highest and most prestigious award bestowed by the Foundation, the Gold Medal has been awarded annually since 1958 and recognizes an outstanding American who has demonstrated integrity and honesty, achieved significant career success and has reflected the basic values of those who have excelled in amateur sport, particularly football.
DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN AWARD—T. Boone Pickens, Philanthropist
Presented on special occasions when a truly deserving individual emerges, the award honors someone who has applied the character building attributes learned from amateur football in their business and personal life, exhibiting superior leadership qualities in education, amateur athletics, business and in the community.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AMATEUR FOOTBALL AWARD—Bill Battle, Founder, Collegiate Licensing Company
This award is intended to provide national recognition to an individual(s) whose efforts and activities in support of the Foundation and its goals have been local in nature. It also applies to individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of football either to the manner in which it is played and coached or to the manner in which it is enjoyed by spectators.
JOHN L. TONER AWARD—Gene Smith, Director of Athletics, Ohio State University
Presented annually, the Toner Award is given to a director of athletics who has demonstrated superior administrative abilities and shown outstanding dedication to college athletics and particularly college football.
Pickens was recognized for his philanthropy work with this year's Distinguished American Award. He is joined in this year's class of honorees by John Glenn (Gold Medal), Bill Battle (Outstanding Contribution To Amateur Football Award) and Gene Smith (John L. Toner Award).
“The awards committee did a tremendous job in selecting the 2008 recipients,” said NFF Awards Committee Chairman Bob Mulcahy. “John Glenn, who is an American icon, and Boone Pickens, one of our nation's foremost philanthropists, highlight this distinguished group. We are more than proud to remind this year's honorees of the impact they have had on us and our sport through the NFF Major Awards.”
The epitome of an American success story, T. Boone Pickens came from humble beginnings to become one of the country's most lucrative entrepreneurs and Oklahoma State University's most generous alumnus.
As the founder and chairman of BP Capital, Pickens is responsible for the management of more than $4 billion, administering one of the nation¹s most successful energy-oriented investment funds. Nicknamed the “Oracle of Oil” by CNBC, Pickens started his career in the gas and oil industry, building Mesa Petroleum into the largest independent oil company in the country. He frequently uses his knowledge in the evaluation of potential equity investments and energy sector themes with an uncanny ability to accurately predict gas and oil prices. Also invested in a wide range of other businesses, he is the largest private holder of permitted groundwater rights in the U.S. through Mesa Water, and another Pickens' investment, Mesa Power, is planning the world's largest wind farm in the Texas Panhandle.
An avid philanthropist, Pickens has given away more than $700 million, supporting educational initiatives, medical research, corporate wellness, at-risk youth, conservation and athletics. He has donated nearly $400 million to his alma mater. In 2005, he donated $165 million to Oklahoma State, the largest single gift given to an NCAA athletics program in history. The athletic donation was aimed at creating an athletic village surrounding the football stadium that was renamed in his honor in 2003.
On May 21, he gave $100 million for academics at Oklahoma State, the largest academic gift in the state's history. That gift goes toward faculty chairs and will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the state of Oklahoma. In 1989, OSU's School of Geology was named for the Holdenville, Okla., native. Continually listed on the Chronicle of Philanthropy's list of top U.S. philanthropists, his $7 million donation to the American Red Cross in 2005 is the largest individual contribution in the 150-year history of the organization.
Pickens is a member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, the Texas Business Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Named one of Oil & Gas Investor's “100 Most Influential People of the Petroleum Century,” he is a frequent guest on some of the nation's most-watched business programs and has appeared on the cover of Time and Fortune. Also a seasoned author, his next book “The First Billion Is the Hardest: How Believing It's Still Early in the Game Can Lead to Life's Greatest Comebacks," which takes a critical look at the problems facing the U.S. as a result of ever-escalating foreign oil import and lays out a comprehensive solution, will be released in the fall. Honored numerous times for his community service and humanitarian efforts, Pickens resides in Dallas.
Each of these awards will be presented at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 9, 2008, at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. Also that evening, the NFF will recognize the National Scholar-Athlete class (announced in the fall); award the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth; and induct the 2008 Football Bowl Subdivision College Football Hall of Fame Class.
GOLD MEDAL—John Glenn, Former U.S. Senator / Astronaut
The highest and most prestigious award bestowed by the Foundation, the Gold Medal has been awarded annually since 1958 and recognizes an outstanding American who has demonstrated integrity and honesty, achieved significant career success and has reflected the basic values of those who have excelled in amateur sport, particularly football.
DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN AWARD—T. Boone Pickens, Philanthropist
Presented on special occasions when a truly deserving individual emerges, the award honors someone who has applied the character building attributes learned from amateur football in their business and personal life, exhibiting superior leadership qualities in education, amateur athletics, business and in the community.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AMATEUR FOOTBALL AWARD—Bill Battle, Founder, Collegiate Licensing Company
This award is intended to provide national recognition to an individual(s) whose efforts and activities in support of the Foundation and its goals have been local in nature. It also applies to individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of football either to the manner in which it is played and coached or to the manner in which it is enjoyed by spectators.
JOHN L. TONER AWARD—Gene Smith, Director of Athletics, Ohio State University
Presented annually, the Toner Award is given to a director of athletics who has demonstrated superior administrative abilities and shown outstanding dedication to college athletics and particularly college football.
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