NFF Gold Medal Recipients
Biography
Born and educated in Los Angeles, Jack Kemp received his bachelor’s degree from Occidental College, where his skills as a quarterback earned him an opportunity to play professionally for 13 years. Kemp was named a Little College All-American after leading the nation’s small colleges in passing with more than 1,100 yards. Kemp originally was a 17th round draft choice of the Detroit Lions, but was cut. He was picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and played in the CFL the following season. In 1959, he became the backup for the New York Giants. When the AFL was formed in 1960, he signed with the San Diego Chargers, leading them to divisional championships in 1960 and 1961. After being waived by the Chargers, Kemp was picked up by the Buffalo Bills. He quickly turned the team into a power, winning AFL championships in 1964 and 1965.
Kemp retired in 1969, decided to run for a House District seat in Buffalo, and won. He was named to the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament, and was an active Congressional delegate to the SALT talks in Geneva, the Jerusalem Conference on International Terrorism, and the U.S. Commission on Refugees. He also served as a member of the House Budget Committee. A creator of thousands of jobs in his district, he persuaded the Department of Transportation to provide $14.5 million for Buffalo’s transit mall. He helped insure $120 million in federal support for Southtowns Sewage Treatment plant, and established the Western New York Jobs Network.
In 1981, Congressman Kemp’s tax reform legislation became a major component of U.S. tax policy. In 1982, he introduced the Balanced Monetary Policy and Price Stability Act, which was later adopted by Congress. Widely acclaimed as a spokesman for human rights, he helped form the Christian Rescue Effort for the Emancipation of Dissidents. After nine terms in Congress and losing the Republican presidential bid to George H.W. Bush, Kemp was named Bush’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He was tabbed as the running mate of Bob Dole in the 1996 presidential election.
After his days in political office, Kemp remained active as a political advocate and commentator, and served on corporate and nonprofit organization boards. He also authored, co-authored, and edited several books. On May 2, 2009, Kemp died at the age of 73 at his home in Bethesda, Md. Kemp was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 by President Barack Obama.
