NFF Gold Medal Recipients
Biography
The Milton, Mass., native played baseball and soccer at Phillips Academy before joining the U.S. Navy as Seaman 2nd Class in 1942. George H.W. Bush was awarded his wings and commission at 18, becoming the youngest pilot in the Navy. He was on active duty for three years during World War II, flying torpedo bombers in the Pacific Theatre. In 1944, his plane caught on fire during a bombing run, but he finished his run before turning out to sea. He bailed out, and was rescued. Bush was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals. After returning to the states, he pursued a degree in economics at Yale, where he captained the baseball team.
When he graduated, he moved to Texas to start his business career. He began as an oil field salesman, and co-founded a small oil royalty firm in 1951. Two years later, he co-founded another petroleum corporation. At age 30, he co-founded a third firm which pioneered in experimental off-shore drilling equipment. Bush became a millionaire by the age of 40, and turned to public service and politics.
Bush was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives twice. Beginning in 1971, he was Ambassador to the United Nations, then Chairman of the Republican National Committee, followed by Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office. In 1976, he became Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In 1980, Bush was tabbed the running mate for Ronald Reagan, the 1971 Gold Medal recipient, and remained Reagan’s vice-president after his re-election. Bush then ran for president in 1988, sweeping 40 states to become the 41st U.S. President.
President Bush led the nation and most of the world in one of the most inspirational and impressive examples of will, dedication and military efficiency, the successful Desert Storm operation. It was the vision and the skill of the President and his colleagues that created a strong, unified global response to the aggression of Iraq. He is the oldest living former President and Vice President. He is also the last living former President who is a veteran of World War II.
In 1993, Bush was awarded an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II. He was the third American president to receive the honor, the others being Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. From 1993-99 he served as the chairman to the board of trustees for Eisenhower Fellowships, and from 2007-09 was chairman of the National Constitution Center. President Bush is the Honorary Chairman of Points of Light, an international nonprofit dedicated to engaging more people and resources in solving serious social problems through voluntary service.
Bush’s accolades include the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award, the NIAF One America Award, the Medal of Freedom, the Profile in Courage Award, and the Cyrus A. Ansary prize. His wife Barbara died on April 17th, 2018 at the age of 92 at their home in Houston, TX. He currently resides in Houston.
