Dan Rooney Wins the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Award in Holyoke, MA

Dan Rooney, U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, is marching in the 59th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Holyoke, western Massachusetts, on Sunday, March 21, 2009.  Ambassador Rooney is receiving the John F. Kennedy National Award issued by the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee.

The prestigious award is presented each March to an American of Irish descent who is distinguished in his or her profession. 

 “I am both pleased and humbled that you have associated me with such distinguished Irish-Americans,” Rooney wrote to the parade committee.  “More importantly, it is a privilege to accept the JFK Award exactly 30 years after my father, Art Rooney, received the same honor.”

Ambassador Rooney, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, is president of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team.  He is attending the Ambassador’s Dinner the evening before the parade on Saturday, March 20, according to Holyoke resident James Leary, president of this year’s parade.

Rooney was named as the US Ambassador to Ireland on March 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama, and was sworn in by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton on March 1, 2009. 

Hoyoke John F. Kennedy National Award Winners – 1958-2011

• 2010: Dan Rooney
• 2009: Joseph Loughrey
• 2008: Fran X. Healy
• 2007: Dan Shaughnessy
• 2006: Thomas J. Ridge
• 2005: Tom O’Brien
• 2004: Catherine G. “Cody” Coleman
• 2003: William J. Flynn
• 2002: Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin
• 2001: John V. Shea
• 2000: Hon. Richard E. Neal
• 1999: Steven McDonald and Patricia Norris-McDonald
• 1998: Gen. Richard E. Neal
• 1997: John J. Sweeney
• 1996: Robert L. Stack
• 1995: Eoin McKiernan
• 1994: Ambassador Raymond L. Flynn
• 1993: Sr. Mary Rose McGeady, D.C.
• 1992: Thomas Clancy
• 1991: Carmel Quinn
• 1990: Most Rev. Leo E. O’Neil
• 1989: Neil Sheehan
• 1988: Thomas J. Flatley
• 1987: Dennis Day
• 1986: Governor William A. O’Neill
• 1985: Frank McGuire
• 1984: Hon. Edward P. Boland
• 1983: Most Rev. Joseph F. Maguire
• 1982: Maureen O’Hara
• 1981: William A. Nolen, M.D.
• 1980: Arthur J. Rooney
• 1979: Dan Devine
• 1978: Hon. Thomas P. O’Neill Jr.
• 1977: Jimmy Breslin
• 1976: Edward Bennett Williams
• 1975: Hon. Thomas Paul Salmon
• 1974: James Bishop
• 1973: Hon. John W. McCormack
• 1972: Major General Timothy J. Dacey, Jr.
• 1971: Pat O’Brien
• 1970: Hon. John N. Dempsey
• 1969: Cardinal Richard Cushing
• 1968: Lawrence O’Brien
• 1967: Tommy Loughran
• 1966: Hon. Edward M. Kennedy
• 1965: James J. Shea, Sr.
• 1964: James B. Donovan
• 1963: William D. Gargan
• 1962: Robert B. Consedine
• 1961: Most Rev. Christopher J. Weldon, D.D.
• 1960: Hon. John F. Collins
• 1959: Most Rev. Jeremiah J. Minnehan, D.D.
• 1958: President John F. Kennedy