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FACT SHEET

History of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
1953-2004 (Selected Highlights)

DATE ADMINISTRATION CHAIR EVENT/PROGRAM
1953-61 DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER   Published report by Kraus/Weber and based on the assessment of 7,134 American boys and girls created concern about the physical fitness of America’s children relative to their European counterparts.
1956 (6/18-19)     President’s Conference on Fitness of American Youth at U.S. Naval Academy. VP Nixon presided over the conference of 149 national leaders. The group recommended a top-level committee of federal departments be created. The focus: programs and activities relating to youth fitness.
7/16/56   Vice President Richard M. Nixon, Chairman

Shane McCarthy, Executive Director, 1956-61

President Eisenhower creates the President’s Council on Youth Fitness. The Attorney General, and Secretaries of Interior, Agriculture, Labor, and Health, Education, and Welfare served as committee members. The Executive Order specifies “one” objective. The first Council identifies itself as a “catalytic agent” concentrating on creating public awareness. A President’s Citizens-Advisory Committee on Fitness of American Youth is confirmed to give advice to Council.
9/9-10/57     Conference on Physical Fitness of Youth, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY – plan of action developed. The first nationwide pilot study of 8,500 boys and girls ages 5 thru 12 resulted in start of national testing program (today known as President’s Challenge)
1961-63 JOHN F. KENNEDY Charles (Bud) Wilkinson, Consultant to the President on Physical Fitness, 1961-63.

Richard Swider, Council Administrator

1963 Chair: Sect. of Health, Education, and Welfare

President Kennedy changes the name to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness to address all age groups. The President amended the Executive Order by one objective – enlisting the aid of citizens, civic groups, etc. With the aid of the Advertising Council, Inc., a nationwide public service advertising campaign was launched. President Kennedy ‘walks the talk’ taking 50 mile hikes. State demonstration centers were designed in 1961 to showcase model elementary and secondary schools. In that same year, President Kennedy speaks at the Conference on Physical Fitness of Youth. Recommendations from the conference include expanding the staff and increasing the Council’s budget. Regional clinics and educational films are initiated. Council members: Attorney General, the Secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce and Labor; and the Housing and Home Finance Administrator.
1963-69 LYNDON B. JOHNSON Stan Musial, Consultant to the President on Physical Fitness, 1964-67. Hubert H. Humphrey, Consultant to the President, 1967.James A. Lovell, Chair, 1967-78
Robert Stewart, Council Administrator, 1964-67.
John P. Wilbern, Council Administrator, 1967-70
Regional fitness clinics promote the Council’s recommendations for fitness programs. 1962 clinic in Sacramento attracts 600 people. 1200 people attend clinics in Albany, NY and Atlanta, GA in ’63-’64. The Advertising Council conducts a full-time public service campaign for the physical fitness program. Aug. 22, 1963: the GPO releases the Council’s adult exercise book: Adult Physical Fitness. The book was a phenomenal success, selling 385,000 in the first year. The President also added 5 objectives to the Executive Order. The second national fitness survey of 10 to 17 year olds takes place in 1965. In 1966, the President establishes the Presidential Physical Fitness Award for exceptional achievement by boys and girls ages 10 to 17 based on the survey. The Council supervised the National Youth Sports Program for disadvantaged youth. 1968- President Johnson adds “and Sports” to encourage lasting fitness gains through sports and games.
1968 Members: Attorney General; Secretaries of State, Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Health Education and Welfare and the Director of Economic Opportunity and the President’s Consultant on Physical Fitness and Sports
1969-74 RICHARD M. NIXON James A. Lovell, Chairman, 1967-78.C.

Carson Conrad, Executive Director, 1970-84

The Council expanded the Presidential Physical Fitness Awards to include recreation departments and groups such as boys and girls clubs. Special Advisors were developed in 1970 to stimulate the development of physical fitness programs for employees, enhanced public relation activities and instigated the possibility of private support for Council projects. Three conferences were held on fitness in business and industry in 1972, 1973, and 1974. The Presidential Sports Award was established in 1972 to motivate Americans to participate regularly in fitness/ sports activity.
1974-77 GERALD R. FORD James A. Lovell, Chairman, 1967-78C.

Carson Conrad, Executive Director, 1970-84

The Executive Order was amended with two additional objectives in 1976 to charge the Council with informing the general public of the importance of exercise and assisting business and industry in establishing sound physical fitness programs. In 1975, the third national youth fitness survey takes place and results did not show as much improvement as those of 1965. In 1976, the Presidential Sports Award was available in 43 categories.
1977-1981 JAMES E. CARTER Governor Jerry Apodaca, Chairman, 1978-80

Al McGuire, Chairman, 1980-81

Council membership amended to 15 members; President Carter speaks at 1st National Conference on Physical Fitness. In 1979, physical fitness and exercise become one of 15 priority areas in a national health promotion/disease prevention initiative with PCPFS as lead agency; CDC, science advisor. Congress passes Amateur Sports Act of 1978 reorganizing the USOC.
1981-1989 RONALD W. REAGAN George Allen, Chairman, 1981-88

Richard Kazmaier, Chairman, 1988-89

C. Carson Conrad, Executive Director, 1970-84

Ash E. Hayes, Executive Director, 1985-89

The Executive Order is amended to 10 objectives. The 1985 National School Population Fitness Survey spurs the development of the National Physical Fitness Award. PCPFS joins National Recreation and Parks Association in the National Fitness Coalition to stimulate recreation and parks officials to initiate fitness programs. Some of Coach Allen's goals included: the National Fitness Foundation; U.S. Fitness Academy; National Fitness Classic; Adult Fitness Card; and National Fitness Testing Week, Youth Fitness Forums, etc. The Healthy American Fitness Leaders Award begins and a physical fitness postage stamp is issued. Coach Allen appointed 44 Special Advisors. 1983 - White House Symposium on Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine and May is proclaimed National Physical Fitness and Sports Month; 1984 - National Conference on Youth Fitness and 6 regional public hearings on physical fitness and physical education take place. Also in 1984, The first National Women's Leadership Conference on Fitness takes place with First Lady as Honorary Chair. In 1987, the Amateur Athletic Union is awarded the contract to administer today's President's Challenge. In the public health arena, the PCPFS reports on the 1990 Objectives in the exercise and fitness priority area. In 1991, the Participant Physical Fitness Award is added.
1989-93 GEORGE H. BUSH Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chairman, 1990-92

Wilmer "Vinegar Bend" Mizell, Executive Director, 1989-91

John Butterfield, Executive Director, 1991-93 Great

American Workouts are held on White House lawn; chairman visits all 50 states to advocate for daily, quality physical education; the Council is expanded to 20 members; this is prolific era for public/private collaboration on physical fitness programs and initiatives. In 1989, the PCPFS is named lead agency on physical activity and fitness priority area of Healthy People 2000; CDC is science advisor. In 1990, the National Conference on Military Fitness takes place to review important physical fitness issues facing the Uniformed Services today. In 1991, the Participant Physical Fitness Award is added. The Presidential Sports Award recognizes the first family to earn the 'Family Fitness Award.'
1993-2001 WILLIAM J. CLINTON Florence Griffith Joyner (1993-98) and Tom McMillen (1993-97), Co-Chairs.Lee Haney, Chair, 1999-02 and Don Casey, Vice Chair, 2000-02.

Sandra Perlmutter, Executive Director, 1993-2001

1993 PCPFS Strategic Planning Forum conducted to discuss adult fitness survey and garner recommendations on how to improve Americans' physical activity and fitness status. Secretary Shalala releases Nolan Ryan Fitness Guide which is made available free of charge to every American who asks for one - over 850,000 distributed. In 1994, the Council releases the Silver Eagle Award to promote fitness among seniors. The landmark Physical Activity and Health: A Report by the Surgeon General is released in 1996. In 1997 Fit Start is added to the Presidential Sports Award and materials made available in Spanish. The President's Challenge releases the Health Fitness Award and materials are made available in Spanish. In cooperation with the National Archive and Records Administration, the Council sponsors Flexing the Nation's Muscle: President's, Physical Fitness and Sports in the American Century, a traveling exhibit featuring twentieth century presidents and their participation in activity and fitness. Sponsored by SGMA and IHRSA, the Council partnered with the Advertising Council to develop a 3 year ad campaign focusing on youth fitness, "Get Off It!" and "Get Up, Get Out." PCPFS and CDC are named co-leads for the physical activity and fitness goals of Healthy People 2010 and physical activity is named one of 10 Leading Health Indicators. President Clinton issues Executive Memorandum directing Secretaries of HHS and Education to identify strategies to improve our nation's youth fitness. In November 2000, report is presented to the White House, Promoting Better Health for Young People through Physical Activity and Sports. Plans are put in place for PCPFS website.
2001- GEORGE W. BUSH Lynn C. Swann, Chair, 2002-
and
Dorothy G. Richardson, Vice Chair, 2002-

Lisa E. Oliphant, Executive Director, 2001-2002

The PCPFS launches its gateway website at www.fitness.gov. For the 2001-02 school year, the President's Challenge expands to three areas and the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) is made available for children and youth.

On June 6, 2002, President Bush signs Executive Order 13265, emphasizes the Council's role in advising and assisting the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services in expanding national interest in the health benefits of regular physical activity and sports.

On June 20, 2002, President Bush holds Fitness Expo on the south lawn of the White House and introduces his new Council members.

2003   Chair Lynn C. Swann

Vice Chair
Dot Richardson, M.D.

CDR Penny Royall
Acting Executive Director
Dec 2002- Oct 2003

Melissa Johnson, Executive Director, Oct 2003

On January 15, 2003, Chairman Lynn Swann speaks at the National Press Club. He discusses the Council’s programs to help Americans “Be Physically Active Every Day,” introduces the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) to the media, and announces the future President’s Challenge interactive web site under development.

On July 18, 2003, Chairman Lynn Swann launched www.presidentschallenge.org, at the Lakewest Family YMCA in Dallas, Texas; the launch was followed by a visit to the facility by President George W. Bush. Melissa Johnson appointed executive director. Secretary Thompson launches Secretary’s Challenge.
2004  

Melissa Johnson, Executive Director

HealthierUS Fitness Festival held June 16, 2004 on National Mall with Congressional Fitness Caucus.

118,000 individuals register on www.presidentschallenge.org. President’s Challenge DVD produced. Council Science Board formed. Collaboration with ACSM formed. Over 40 partnerships formed with President’s Challenge. Publications – “Kids in Action,” “Rx: Take the President’s Challenge.” “Walking Works” re-released. New inititatives: “I Can Do It, You Can Do It” with Office on Disability; “You Can” with AOA. Wisconsin Governor’s Challenge launched. Members in discussion with state governors on launch of Challenge. Federal interagency task forces: Healthier Children; Recreation. Helped kick off “Get Fit with US” in St. Paul.

Healthier Feds Physical Activity Challenge/ President’s Challenge launch for federal employees - Fall ’04.

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