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Wisdom from a Medal of Freedom recipient

In this year of uncertainty - marked by a worldwide pandemic that’s caused social and economic upheaval, followed by a contentious presidential election - it was refreshing to see a Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded last week at the White House. Just before receiving the highest civilian award in the nation, former college football coach and well-known motivational speaker Lou Holtz said in an interview he was humbled by the honor and that there were many more people far worthy. He admitted, however, that there was no one more appreciative than himself and that he was excited to receive the award from a person he admired and respected - President Trump.

Holtz credits the president for putting the country - and its citizens - first. When he spoke at the Republican National Convention in August, Holtz called the president a consistent winner and an outstanding leader who deserved re-election.

Each of Trump’s selections for the Medal of Freedom has shown a similar humility, leaving it to the historians to chronicle their achievements. This president has been more selective than his predecessors in bestowing the freedom medal. Holtz, the 16th recipient and the fourth this year, was preceded by Jim Ryun, Rush Limbaugh and Jack Keane.

Barack Obama, in contrast, generously awarded 123 medals, the most ever. A week before leaving office, on Jan. 12, 2017, Obama awarded his vice president, Joe Biden, the Medal of Freedom for his “love of country and a lifetime of service.”

Trump’s selections have spanned the career spectrum, ranging from government service to economics to entertainment. His first Presidential Medal of Freedom was posthumously awarded in 2018 to Elvis Presley, the iconic singer, musician and actor often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll” or simply “the King.”

Of the 16 medals awarded by Trump, 10 have had influential careers in sports, including Alan Page (football); Babe Ruth (baseball); Roger Staubach (football); Tiger Woods (golf); Bob Cousy (basketball); Jerry West (basketball); Mariano Rivera (baseball); Roger Penske (auto racing); Jim Ryun (track and field) and Holtz (football).

Some, like Alan Page and Ryun, have transcended their sport, and served in public office. Page, Trump’s second medal recipient in 2018, had his education goals and life skills honed at the University of Notre Dame. After a 15-year career in the National Football League, mostly with Minnesota, he graduated from University of Minnesota Law School and served as Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1993 to 2015.

Ryun, who received his medal last July, was widely considered the world’s top middle-distance runner. A silver medal winner in the 1968 Summer Olympics, he was also the first high school athlete to run a mile in under four minutes.

Ryun eventually entered the political arena, representing Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007.

Competitive sports taught Holtz how difficult it is to deal with defeat. One quality he admires about Trump is his ability to fight back. Despite relentless attacks from liberal Democrats and a hostile media, he’s remained true to his “America first” message, even while coping with a crippling pandemic, one which has devastated lesser economies around the globe.

Here are five memorable quotes from Holtz that can bring a winning result when dealing with a defeat or a pending crisis:

1. Winners embrace hard work. They love the discipline of it, the trade-off they’re making to win.

Losers, on the other hand, see it as punishment. And that’s the difference.

2. Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.

3. It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.

4. Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it.

5. Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.

By Jim Zbick | tneditor@tnonline.com