Art Decio To Receive 2000 Distinguished American Award
Notre Dame fellow and trustee to be recognized by National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

May 15, 2000

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — University of Notre Dame fellow and trustee Art Decio has been selected to receive the 2000 Distinguished American Award by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

The award is presented on special occasions when a truly deserving individual emerges, one who has exhibited superior leadership qualities in business and in the community, and who has maintained a high level of interest in amateur athletics.

“On behalf of the Awards Committee, and the Board of Directors of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, I am pleased to announce Art Decio as this year’s Distinguished American Award recipient,” said National Football Foundation chairman Jon F. Hanson.

“Through his vision and leadership, Art has been able to leave an indelible mark in his community and on our nation.”

The award will be presented Aug. 11, 2000, at the College Football Hall of Fame’s enshrinement dinner in South Bend, Ind. Decio also will be a guest of the Foundation and seated on the dais for its 43rd annual awards dinner, Dec. 12, 2000, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

Decio built the Skyline Corporation of Elkhart, Ind., into a leading United States producer of manufactured housing and recreational vehicles. As chairman of the board and chief executive officer, he today oversees Skyline’s 25 operating companies in 12 states.

He has received Presidential appointments to three national commissions and has served on the boards of more than 35 civic, religious, educational, business, and financial organizations, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Special Olympics International. He is past chairman and trustee of Holy Cross College in South Bend. He was also a trustee of Hillsdale College, a life member and past chairman of the National Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, a director of NiSource Industries, Inc., Schwarz, and Quality Dining, Inc.

President of the Elkhart General Hospital Foundation, Decio serves on the advisory boards of Indiana University at South Bend and on the Board of Governors of Independent Colleges of Indiana.

He is a trustee for the Aux Chandelles Trust for the Mentally Retarded in Elkhart and a director of Special Olympics International in Washington. In addition, he is a director and past chairman of Regional Approach for Progress of South Bend, a board member of the Finance Council of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, and a charter board member of the Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation.

He has received many awards recognizing his public service, community involvement and humanitarian efforts from the United Way of America, the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, the United Labor Agency of Elkhart, the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Indiana Province, and many other organizations.

Born in Elkhart, he was educated at Marmion Military Academy and attended DePaul University. He and his wife, Patricia, have five children and twelve grandchildren.