The AAU Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award was established to honor Gussie Crawford, longtime AAU volunteer and voted the first female president of AAU, as a trailblazer in amateur sports. The award is intended to recognize those athletes whose efforts, both on and off their playing surface on the national or international stage, have paved the way for  great change in amateur sports.

Seventh Recipient – Robert “Bob” Wheeler and Dr. Florence “Flo” Ridlon

Emmy Award winner and author Robert “Bob” Wheeler and author Dr. Florence “Flo” Ridlon have been named the recipients of the 7th AAU Crawford Award at the 129th AAU National Convention on October 23rd, 2024. They were recognized for their tireless efforts in championing Jim Thorpe and helping get his Olympic medals reinstated by the IOC. Dr. Ridlon’s research into the 1912 Olympics and the writing of Bob Wheeler helped right a wrong that stood for nearly 70 years. READ MORE

Sixth Recipient – Duke Kahanamoku

“The Father of Surfing” Duke Kahanamoku was honored as the 6th Annual Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award winner at a ceremony during the Duke Kahanamoku Ocean Festival on August 24th, 2023. One of the first premier Olympic swimmers, he shattered the world record in the 100-yard freestyle in 1911 by more than four seconds, and won medals at the 1912, 1920, and 1924 Olympic Games. He is also credited with spreading the sport of surfing to a global audience, and introducing beach volleyball to the first wave of players in Southern California. READ MORE

Fifth Recipient - Barry Sanders

Barry Sanders was honored as the 5th Annual AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony at the historic Detroit Athletic Club on February 21, 2022. His exploits on the field were unparalleled. Off the field, his impact on the community was equally as significant. Detroit TV personality Rhonda Walker emceed the event and introduced 9-time Olypic Gold Medalist, Carl Lewis, gave a special keynote speech.

Special remembrance was paid by then AAU President & CEO Jennings "Rusty" Buchanan to Gussie Crawford, the award's namesake, who had passed away in early February 2022. He also remembered 47th AAU President & CEO Dr.Roger J. Goudy, who created the award in 2017, and passed away in late November of 2020.   READ MORE
 

Fourth Recipient - Muhammad Ali

The legendary boxer and well-known philanthropist Muhammad Ali was announced as the recipient of the 4th AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award in a ceremony on Thursday, November 12, 2020 at the Detroit Athletic Club. Khaliah Ali Wertheimer accepted the award virtually on behalf of her father. Special guest Olympic track and Field legend, Jackie Joyner Kersee joined the ceremony virtually.  READ MORE

CLICK HERE to view replay of the ceremony held on Thursday, November 12, 2020. 
Special acceptance speech given by Khaliah Ali Wertheimer, daughter of the late fighter and philanthropist Muhammad Ali.

The event featured speakers and panelists will be speaking about the nature of sports. These speakers and panelists include:

Dr. Roger J. Goudy, president and CEO of the AAU (2014 - 2020). He had been with the organization for more than four decades and was the AAU secretary for 20 years before assuming leadership of the organization. He also served as national chair for AAU volleyball, the largest sport in the Union and host of the biggest volleyball event in the world according to Guinness Book of World Records. The 2019 event saw 2,805 teams and more than 45,000 participants

Kristin Ritter, President of the historic Detroit Athletic Club, recently named the No. 1 Athletic Club in America for the second time.

Sara Driesenga, LLMSW, is currently an assistant softball coach at Central Michigan University. She is also the Co-Founder of Dare To Be, a company that creates and delivers evidence-based and customized programs, workshops and one-on-one coaching to individuals and groups.

Darnell Hall, 1992 Olympic Gold Medallist in the 4x400 Relays. Darnell serves as a Detroit Police Officer, founder along with his wife Karen of Track Life University (TLU). He is also the Chair for the Michigan District of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Athletics program.

Greg Hammaren, senior vice president and general manager of Fox Sports, the highest-rated cable channel in prime time in Michigan as well as among the highest-rated and most-watched regional sports networks in the country. 

Scott Wetherbee, vice president and director of athletics at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, who brought to the discussion more than 20 years of collegiate athletic administrative experience

Third Recipient - Mildred "Babe" Didrickson Zaharias

Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias was announced as the recipient of the 3rd AAU Gussie Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award in a ceremony on April 16 at the New York Athletic Club. W.L. Pate, President of Babe’s Foundation accepted the award on her behalf. READ MORE

Second Recipient - Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe, legendary multi-sport athlete took home the honors for his contributions to amateur sports. The award was accepted in a remote video presentation by his son Bill Thorpe and on-site by his great-grandson and great-great grandson at a ceremony during the presentation of the AAU James E. Sullivan Award Ceremony, April 17, 2018 at the New York Athletic Club. READ MORE

Inaugural Recipient - Jesse Owen

The award was accepted on the family’s behalf by his granddaughter, Gina Hemphill-Strachan, during the presentation of the AAU James E. Sullivan Award Ceremony, April 11, 2017 at the New York Athletic Club.