Frank Deford, sports journalist, author and longtime Morning Edition commentator, will receive the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama at the White House on Wednesday, reports the Westport News in Connecticut, where Deford has lived for nearly 40 years.
The citation the president will read during the presentation recognizes Deford “for transforming how we think about sports. A dedicated writer and storyteller, Mr. Deford has offered a consistent, compelling voice in print and on radio, reaching beyond scores and statistics to reveal the humanity woven into the games we love.”
He is one of 12 recipients of the National Humanities Medal. Others include writer Joan Didion, political scientist Robert Putnam, poet Kay Ryan and actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith. Twelve recipients of the National Medal of Arts also will be honored during the same ceremony.