Minnesota legend Alan Page to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
Justice Alan C. Page can add another major accomplishment to his already extraordinary career – being awarded the nation's highest civilian honor.
Page, a former Minnesota Viking and current Minnesota Supreme Court justice, has been announced as one of seven recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Associated Press says.
The medal honors "individuals who have made great contributions to either the United States or the world."
This round of recipients also includes U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, rock legend Elvis Presley and late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
MPR says the awards will be presented next week. According to the station, the White House's announcement had this to say about Page:
Justice Alan Page is an accomplished jurist, athlete, and philanthropist. After a successful college football career at the University of Notre Dame, he played 15 years in the National Football League with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. He started in four Super Bowls, was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1971, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. While playing for the Vikings, he obtained his law degree and practiced law during the off-season. After retiring from the NFL in 1981, Justice Page practiced law full-time before winning a seat on the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1992. He served for more than 20 years. Since 1988, his Page Education Foundation has provided scholarships to nearly 7,000 students.
