Over the years, honorees have included John F Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Orson
Wells, Howard Hughes and Henry Kissinger. January 15, 1971, Elvis was
selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of America by the
national United States Junior Chamber of Commerce: better known as the
Jaycees.
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After
the celebration, a young Texan congressman George W Bush
made a special trip to Memphis to congratulate Elvis who
he admired
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Elvis
Grammy Awards |
At
the
luncheon
Elvis
accepted the honor, at a banquet held at the Memphis Municipal
Auditorium, he was reflective, misty-eyed and clearly humbled to be in
the company of the nine others, who included Thomas Atkins (Boston's
first black councilman) bio physicist, Dr. Mario Capecchi and cancer
researcher Dr. George Todaro.
Elvis had
once again invited the Memphis Mafia gang and his young wife of only 2
years to join in the celebrations.
The
Jaycee Award was one of the few trophies that Elvis received during his
lifetime that held a special place. It represented Elvis initiation into
the mainstream, acceptance by his peers for his contributions as a
humanitarian and entertainer.
When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen,"
said Elvis to a crowd of two thousand.
"I was a dreamer... I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book.
I saw movies, and I was the hero in the movie.
So every dream that I've dreamed has come true a hundred times...
I'd like to say that I learned very early in life that without a song the day would never end.
Without a song a man ain't got a friend.
Without a song the road would never bend.
Without a song, so I keep singing a song..."
