Sargent Shriver Chairman of the Board Emeritus, Special Olympics As an international lawyer and administrator, ambassador and an advocate for the poor and powerless, Sargent Shriver has compiled an unparalleled record of public service at every tier, from the local level to the world community. A graduate of Yale University and Yale Law School, Shriver served in the U.S. Navy for five years before ending his military career as lieutenant commander. After ending his military career, Shriver worked briefly as an editorial assistant at Newsweek magazine before joining the staff of Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy as manager of the Chicago Merchandise Mart. Later, he participated in the formation of some of the programs developed and supported by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation. During his long and prestigious career, Shriver: 1947-48 Conducted, with his wife Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the National Conference on Prevention and Control of Juvenile Delinquency in Washington 1955-60 Served as president of the Chicago Board of Education 1960 Worked as a political and organization coordinator in the Wisconsin and West Virginia primaries for Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy 1961-66 Served as the organizer and first Director of the Peace Corps, where he developed volunteer activities in more than 50 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America 1964-68 Served as the first Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity under U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson 1964-68 Created VISTA, Head Start, Community Action, Foster Grandparents, Job Corps, Legal Services, Indian and Migrant Opportunities and Neighborhood Health Services 1965-68 Served as Special Assistant to President Johnson 1968-70 Served as U.S. Ambassador to France 1970 Served as Chairman of Congressional Leadership for the Future, traveling to 29 U.S. states to gain support for 89 Democratic candidates for the House and Senate 1970 Named a Partner in the law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson, specializing in international law and foreign affairs 1972 Nominated by the Democratic Party as a candidate for Vice President with Senator George McGovern in the presidential effort against incumbents Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew 1975 Embarked on a nationwide Lecture tour "Co-Existence and Common Existence" of the USSR at the invitation of the Soviet government 1978 Inaugurated the Kennedy Institute of Ethics "Trialogue" to foster discussions between leaders of Christian, Jewish and Muslim Religions 1981 Appointed to the Rockefeller University Council, an organization devoted exclusively to research and graduate education in the biomedical and related sciences 1984 Elected President of Special Olympics by the Board of Directors; as President, he directed the operation and international development of sports programs around the world 1986 Retired as Partner of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson; named of Counsel to FFHS&J 1990 Appointed Chairman of the Board of Special Olympics 1993 Received the Franklin D. Roosevelt Freedom From Want Award 1994 Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor, from President Clinton on August 8; dedicated The Eunice Kennedy and Sargent Shriver Center at the University of Maryland Baltimore County to engage the strengths and resources of higher education in finding creative solutions to the most troublesome social problems of our time 1998 Shriver Hall dedicated in new Peace Corps Building in Washington, D.C., USA 1999 Shriver Job Corps Center dedicated in Devens, Massachusetts, USA 2001 Received the "Distinguished American Award" from the John F. Kennedy Library and Foundation for his inspiring work with the Peace Corps; Shriver Head Start Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, dedicated 2003 In June, Shriver stepped down as Chairman of Special Olympics and was appointed Chairman Emeritus in recognition of his long service and dedication to the Movement, which he continues to serve as an ambassador of optimism and good will. Shriver holds positions in many associations, including: Director, Arms Control Association; Director, The American Council on Germany; and Co-Chairman, Friends of VISTA. His association memberships include: National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice, National Interreligious Task Force on Soviet Jewry, Navy League, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Knights of Columbus. His awards include: Veteran of the Year, 1956; James J. Hooey Award, Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice Council of New York, 1958; Lay Churchman of the Year, 1963; National Father of the Year, 1964; Notre Dame Patriotism Award, 1965; National Brotherhood Award, 1966; Hannah G. Solomon Award, National Council of Jewish Women, 1972; and the Order of the Smile, 1989. Shriver also has received more than 24 honorary degrees from universities around the world, including Yale University, Brandeis University, Boston College, Yeshiva University, the University of Liberia and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. Shriver is married to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, daughter of Joseph P. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Eunice Kennedy Shriver is the Founder and Honorary Chairman of Special Olympics and the Executive Vice President of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation. The Shrivers have five children: Robert Sargent Shriver III, Maria Owings Shriver Schwarzenegger, Timothy Perry Shriver, Mark Kennedy Shriver, and Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver.