This week, the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award was given to Lt Col Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor and the brains behind the brand-new American Dunes Golf Club in West Michigan. On the 25th anniversary of their collegiate careers, seven athletes are granted this honor each year. Past recipients include Troy Aikman, Archie Griffin, Jack Nicklaus, and more.
In 2000, Rooney enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was commissioned as an officer. Rooney is a two-time Top Gun award winner and was recognized as a top F-16 training graduate with the Spirit of Attack award.
The Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Anti-terrorism Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, and Air Expeditionary Medal are just a few of the honors he has received. Lt Col Rooney continues to fly as an aggressor as a fighter pilot at Eglin Air Force Base in Destin, Florida.
Rooney attended the University of Kansas and played golf, winning the 1995 Kansas Invitational and placing sixth in the 1996 NCAA central regional. He finished fifth in the 1996 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships.
Rooney, a PGA professional and F-16 fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force founded Folds of Honor, which gives scholarships to children and spouses of fallen or disabled service members. He founded American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, which is expected to open this May.
Rooney was born in Stillwater, OK, on December 18, 1972. He is the child of Dr. John and Sandra Rooney and the youngest of three children. He graduated from Stillwater High School in 1991. Rooney attended the University of Kansas, where he was on the golf team and helped lead the Jayhawks to back-to-back NCAA tournaments in 1995 and 1996.
He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Rooney graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas in 1995 and then attended graduate school with an emphasis in Sports Psychology under his advisor Dr. David Cook, a renowned sports psychologist. He graduated with a Master’s degree in 1996. During his time in Kansas, Rooney met his wife Jacqy during his first year, and they have five daughters. He was honored as a distinguished graduate of the University of Kansas.
President George W. Bush gave Rooney the “Presidential Volunteer Service Award” from the White House, the “Distinguished Service Medal,” the “Directors Service Award,” and the “Medal of Honor” from Ellis Island for his dedication and patriotism. Lt Col Rooney is an Oklahoma Medal of Freedom recipient, a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Kansas, and Significant Sigma Chi.
He was given the William D. Richardson Award at the Masters Tournament for extraordinary contribution to golf and the PGA of America’s first-ever Patriot Award. He was named one of the “Persons of the Year” on ABC World News Tonight, Money Magazine’s “Hero of the Year,” and People Magazine’s “Heroes of the Year.” The 2019 Ultimate Patriot Award from Fox Nation was also given to him.
Military: Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, Combat Readiness Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 ‘M’ Device, Air Force Longevity Service Civilian: The University of Kansas received the People’s Hero of the Year Award and the notable Sigma Chi Outstanding Alumni Award.