Since 1947, The Catholic University of America Alumni Association has honored those who have “rendered distinguished and meritorious service” to the University, the Roman Catholic Church, or the United States of America with its prestigious James Cardinal Gibbons Medal.
The medal was named in honor of the University’s founder and first chancellor. For almost 70 years, it has celebrated groundbreaking scientists, entertainers, priests and religious, as well as politicians, an eventual United States president, and even a potential saint for their distinguished service. Below is a sampling of those honored with the Gibbons Medal. For more information, visit cuamagazine.cua.edu.
The Most Rev. Fulton J. Sheen, who had been named bishop of the Archdiocese of New York in June 1951, was the Emmy-winning host of his own NBC television show, Life is Worth Living, which reached an estimated 30 million viewers each week. Sheen had a long-standing relationship with Catholic University, both as a student and a professor. For 23 years, Sheen was a popular professor in the School of Theology and Religious Studies and the School of Philosophy.
Today, Archbishop Sheen’s reputation continues to grow, as does the cause for his canonization. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI announced that the Congregation for the Causes of Saints had proclaimed him “Venerable Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen.” After a reported miracle attributed to Sheen was unanimously approved by the congregation in 2014, Sheen now awaits the next step in his possible canonization process: beatification.
Only five years before he would become the first Roman Catholic president of the United States, John F. Kennedy was honored with the Gibbons Medal for his work in the House of Representatives (1947-1953) and the U.S. Senate (1953-1960). Upon receiving his medal, Kennedy reflected on the honor it was to accept an award bearing the name of Cardinal Gibbons, saying “Few other churchmen have left such an extraordinary and enduring impression upon the American scene; and few have given so much value to the life of their church and their country.”
To see a copy of Kennedy’s Gibbons Medal speech, complete with his handwritten notes, visit magazine.catholic.edu.
A well-known American stage and film actress, Hayes starred in such films as A Farewell to Arms, The White Sister, and What Every Woman Knows. As the winner of two Oscars, one Emmy, three Tonys, and a Grammy, Hayes holds the distinct honor of being one of only 12 people to have ever won all four prestigious entertainment awards.
In addition to her accolades, Hayes also was a generous supporter of independent theaters, including the Riverside Shakespeare Company of New York City. Her proudest accomplishment, however, was her work with the Helen Hayes Rehabilitation Hospital in West Haverstaw, N.Y., which served the needs of people with disabilities.
Known by some as “one of the greatest leading ladies of the 20th century,” Hayes is now a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame. In her honor, the annual Helen Hayes Awards have recognized excellence in professional theater in the greater Washington, D.C., area since 1984.
A longtime friend of Rev. Gilbert Hartke, founder of the Catholic University Department of Drama, Hayes performed the final stage role of her career at Hartke Theatre in 1971, in Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night.
Sister Prejean rose to recognition as a leading advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. After beginning her prison ministry in New Orleans in 1981, she began to correspond as a spiritual advisor for an inmate sentenced to die in the electric chair of Louisiana’s Angola State
Prison. She documented her experiences in the book Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States.
Number one on the New York Times Best Seller list for 31 weeks, the book was later developed into a major motion picture starring Susan Sarandon as Sister Helen and Sean Penn as a death row inmate. Sister Helen’s second book, The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions, was published in December 2004.
The day she received her Gibbons Medal, Sister Prejean addressed more than 120 Catholic University students, faculty, and staff at Caldwell Hall Auditorium, telling them “to walk the path and, when you do, let it be on the side of the elderly, or maybe children, or maybe abused women. Listen to your heart and see what it’s teaching you.”
Widely considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history, Green played for the Washington Redskins from 1983 to 2002. He is a four-time winner of the NFL’s Fastest Man competition who helped bring the Redskins to victory in Super Bowls XXII and XXVI.
In 1988, Green founded the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation, a faith-based charitable organization which runs afterschool and summer programs focused on academics, friendships, and values for children ages 5 to 11. Supported by an assortment of local and national businesses, the foundation operates through after-school Youth Life Learning Centers in Washington, D.C., Richmond, Va., Nashville, Tenn., and Durham, N.C.
Prior to receiving his Gibbons Medal, Green told CUA Magazine that he was “honored and humbled that a highly respected and moral university like Catholic” would give him the award. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
This year, the Alumni Association will honor Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Gary Sinise with the University’s James Cardinal Gibbons Medal on April 8.
Though Sinise is well-known for his roles in films such as Forrest Gump and Apollo 13, he also has been a committed advocate for America’s service members for nearly 40 years. In 2011, he established the Gary Sinise Foundation to serve and honor military members, first responders, and their families. Sinise is the father of three, including Ella Sinise, who earned her bachelor’s in elementary education from Catholic University in 2015.
Senior Writer Katie Bahr spoke with Sinise about his acting career, his charity work, and his proudest moments.
Early on in my discovery of acting, I saw a production on stage: Of Mice and Men. I was just knocked out by it. After that, I read the book and John Steinbeck’s other books and started doing more and more plays. After I founded Steppenwolf Theatre, we did the play and I got to play George. Ten years later, I was able to do the movie. That will always be a special one simply because it goes back to when I was first studying acting in high school and it followed me through.
And then Lieutenant Dan [from Forrest Gump] was a special role. Shortly after the movie opened I was introduced to the Disabled Veterans Organization and that led to me working with our military wounded. The character’s story is very powerful because he goes through a lot of anger and challenges because of his disability, but ultimately, he’s standing up and moving on with his life. I tell that story when I talk with veterans today. Most of them have seen the movie and know the character. It seems to open doors.
Sept. 11 changed my life in many ways. I had already been involved with our wounded veterans somewhat, but the terrible attack on our country just opened up the floodgates and I started volunteering everywhere I could to support the men and women responding to the attacks. One of the obvious ways an entertainer can help is by traveling with the USO. So in 2003, I went to Iraq just to shake hands, and visit with the troops. I was there with Kid Rock, Lee Ann Womack, and other musicians performing for the troops and I wanted to do that too. I had some musicians I played with for fun so I started offering to perform with them for the USO. We’ve been at it ever since.
At that time, wherever I was going with the handshake tours, many people didn’t actually know my real name and would recognize me as Lieutenant Dan. So it was kind of an obvious band name to call it Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band. I’ve never personally made money playing, but I pay the band members and now the band is a program of my foundation. We’ve played 350 concerts all for this mission of honoring our defenders and raising their spirits.
I want it to be a reliable and trusted resource for the American people to support the men and women who serve our country. For a long time, I supported lots of different organizations, lending my services as a performer, or by showing up as a fundraiser or as a spokesperson. Eventually, it just became clear that this was a big part of my life, something I wanted to use my time and resources on. Knowing that God has called me to support our defenders, I started my own organization.
My kids. I’ve been together with my wife for 40 years and been married 35, and we have three healthy, great kids and that’s where it starts for me. I’ve done a lot of work over the years and I’ve met some great folks, including many men and women who have served our country. I really do feel called to this work. It’s been said before, but there’s really a healing power in placing service above self.