National Football Foundation

Few people are more dedicated to the purpose and mission of the National Football Foundation than Dick Whitney. With over a quarter-century of service to the NFF and leadership positions across two chapters, Whitney is a most deserving West Region Chapter Leadership Award honoree.
 
"As a player and coach for so many years you hope you can stay connected to the game in some way," said Whitney. "The NFF allows me to do that by giving something back and the scholar-athlete concept makes it extra special."
 
Whitney began his football career at Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles, where he was an all-league wide receiver from 1950 to 1952. He enrolled at Glendale Junior College in Glendale, Calif., again playing wide receiver. In 1955, Whitney moved to Cal State - Los Angeles where he played football and baseball for the Golden Eagles. He graduated from Cal State - Los Angeles with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1959.
 
His first coaching job came at Franklin High School in Los Angeles that same year and lasted through 1977. During his tenure, Franklin amassed consecutive undefeated seasons from 1969 to 1971. In 1977, he moved to Kennedy High School in Los Angeles, coaching defense and special teams until 1989 and helping the school to multiple league championships. After retiring from coaching, Whitney served as Kennedy's athletics director from 1989 to 1995.
 
Whitney joined the NFF San Fernando (Calif.) Chapter in 1985, and served on its board of directors from 1990 to 1994, including three years as president. In 1995, he transferred to the NFF Orange County (Calif.) Chapter and has been the chapter's president since 2008. The chapter's annual scholar-athlete awards program honors more than 60 standouts and distributes $26,000 in scholarships. More than $276,000 has been given to date. The chapter also hosts an annual golf tournament to support its scholarship program.
 
"Being recognized for my efforts with two chapters for twenty-one years makes this award very special to me, my family & the men & women who served on those boards," Whitney said.
 
Whitney has served as president of the Los Angeles Coaches Association and on the Los Angeles Policy Determination Committee. Since retirement, he has been a six-year member of the Senior Community Board of Directors, including two years as president.
 
Whitney and his wife of 55 years, DeDe, have two children and four grandchildren. They reside in Huntington Beach, Calif.