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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) |
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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 |
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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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