National Football Foundation

The National Football Foundation's Distinguished American Award is not an award presented every year. It is presented when the NFF board of directors feels there is a person especially deserving.

As the millennium begins, the National Football Foundation decided Arthur J. Decio is a man who ranks as a Distinguished American. When the announcement of Decio's selection was made earlier this year, National Football Foundation chairman Jon F. Hanson said, "Through his vision and his leadership, Art has been able to leave an indelible mark in his community and on our nation."

Hanson made the announcement at the Hall of Fame in South Bend, uniquely appropriate because Indiana is Decio's home territory. Decio is chairman of Skyline Corporation, Elkhart, Indiana. During his five-decade career, he has received national recognition for his achievements in business, as well as his commitment to a wide range of civic, religious, educational, and humanitarian causes.

Mr. Decio was 22 when he joined Skyline in 1952. Its operations then were in a small garage. Under his leadership, Skyline grew into a leading national producer of manufactured housing and tow-able recreational vehicles. It now has 24 operating companies in 12 states from coast to coast and has earned a profit every year since its inception. He has received presidential appointments to three national commissions and has served on the boards of more than 40 civic, religious, educational, business, and financial organizations, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Special Olympics International, Washington, DC.

He is a trustee and fellow of the University of Notre Dame, past chairman and trustee emeritus of Holy Cross College, South Bend, Indiana; trustee of Hillsdale College; serves on the Board of Governors of Independent Colleges of Indiana.
Indianapolis, Indiana; is a board member of the Finance Council of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana; a director of the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation; a life member and past chairman of the National Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, Alexandria. Virginia; president of the Elkhart General Hospital Foundation; a director of NiSource, Inc., Merrillville, Indiana and Schwarz, Morton Grove, Illinois.

Mr. Decio's service has been recognized through more than 40 awards including the Distinguished Auxiliary Service Cross, the Salvation Army's highest lay honor; and the Alexis de'Tocqueville Award from the United Way of America, Alexandria, Virginia.

He has received honorary degrees from Notre Dame, Hillsdale College, Indiana State University, Purdue University, St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana; Vincennes University and Salem College, Salem, West Virginia.

Through all of his corporate and community work, Decio still devotes himself to creating a strong, bonding family. He and his wife Patricia count among their treasures five children and thirteen grandchildren.