NEW YORK – The United States Olympic Endowment today presented three awards at its annual luncheon in New York. The 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team, 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and Gordon Crawford, chairman of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation were honored in recognition of their commitment and contributions to the Olympic and Paralympic movements.

The 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team was named the recipient of the George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award. The award is presented annually to honor outstanding members of the Olympic and Paralympic family who have contributed to sport through management, sport organization endeavors or the enhancement of competitive opportunities, and who have displayed qualities of leadership, ethical conduct and dedicated responsibility during a longstanding commitment to sport.

The 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team received the William E. Simon Award, given to an individual or group who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Simon – the award’s namesake – was president of the USOC from 1981-85 and served as secretary of the treasury for three years under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

New to the 2015 program, the USOE also recognized Crawford as the inaugural recipient of the General Douglas MacArthur Award. The award will be presented annually to an individual in recognition of his or her extensive and significant personal commitment to and support of the USOC.

The USOE was established by the USOC in 1984 to administer and invest the corpus of endowed funds that resulted from the surplus of the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. A nonprofit organization, its objective is to support the USOC and its member organizations, with the overall aim of enhancing Olympic and Paralympic sports in the United States. A separate entity from the USOC, the USOE’s net assets have grown to approximately $200 million while awarding grants to the USOC and its member organizations totaling $300 million over the last 31 years.

George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award – 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team
The 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team left an indelible legacy on the growth of women’s ice hockey in the United States. The team twice defeated rival Canada en route to winning the first gold medal presented in women’s ice hockey at an Olympic Winter Games. Head coach Ben Smith guided Team USA to an undefeated tournament finish (6-0-0) as the U.S. outscored its opponents 36-8. The U.S. women came to Nagano, Japan with a single purpose – to become the first-ever Olympic champion in women’s ice hockey – and in the process, crafted a signature moment of the Games.

William E. Simon Award – 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team
The performance of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team will forever remain etched in the memories of sports fans as one of the greatest sporting achievements of all-time. Sports Illustrated selected the team’s victory over the Soviet Union en route to winning the gold medal as the No. 1 moment of the 20th century. It was a magical ride that happened amidst the backdrop of the Cold War – events that made the now fabled “Miracle on Ice” even more impactful on American history.

General Douglas MacArthur Award – Gordon Crawford
Gordon ‘Gordy’ Crawford is chairman of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation – the primary source of philanthropic resources for the Olympic and Paralympic movements in the United States. His volunteer leadership and personal gifts to the USOPF provide him the opportunity to ensure that the patriotism, goodwill and friendship that initially drew him to the Olympic and Paralympic Games will live on for future generations. A devoted collector of Olympic memorabilia, he has been instrumental in establishing the Crawford Family United States Olympic Archives at the USOC headquarters. His generosity has also helped support substantial renovations to the flagship U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.