Since 1939, the Junior Chamber of Commerce of America (widely referred to as "the Jaycees") has handed out awards to individuals, aged 35 years or younger, that they deem the most
distinguished in their professional fields. Winners are selected on their achievement or contribution
in at least three of the following areas:

• personal improvement or accomplishment;
• financial success or economic innovation;
• social improvement to major contemporary problems;
• philanthropic contribution or voluntary service;
• politics or government service; scientific or technical contributions;
• legal reform,cultural achievement (literature, history, education, arts)
• academic leadership or accomplishment;
• moral and religious leadership;
• athletic accomplishment;
• success in the influence of public opinion;
any other important contribution to the community, state or nation.

The Jaycees are a nationally based community group devoted to civic duty. Each name is suggested by a respected member of the community, and then a panel of distinguished judges makes the final decision.

Men of greatness in all fields have been selected for this national honor over the years, including John. F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Orson Welles, Howard Hughes, Bill Clinton, Leonard Bernstein, Jesse Jackson, Henry Kissinger and Arthur Schlesinger Jr., just to name a few.

In 1970, Elvis was nominated for the award. The judges in 1970, who included former President Lyndon B. Johnson, chose Elvis not simply because he was a famous entertainer but because of his many acts of philanthropy.
Former Memphis Sheriff Bill Morris (1964 - 1970), who were befriended with Elvis and were himself in 1961 president of the Jaycees, was the person getting Elvis' name before the National Jaycee Organization and sponsored his nomination.
In 1971 Morris ran for mayor of Memphis City but lost against Wyeth Chandler, but in later year
he would become Mayor of Shelby Country in 1978 - for 16 years..

Sheriff B. Morris had been trying to get Elvis to take this honor several times before 1971, "at that time Elvis just wouldn't accept it" he says. He told: "This would have been the last year that he could have accepted it, because of age. After telling Elvis about the influence Jaycees had on the leadership of this Nation finally he said "Hey, that's keen, I might just do that deal".
For Elvis it was the first public function for an award that he ever attended.

Among the other nominees for 1970 were:

- Ronald Louis Ziegler (31) - Ronald Reagan's press secretary (National Affairs)
- Thomas Atkins (31) - Civil Rights Activist (Municipal Affairs)
- Mario Cepecci (32) - Biopysicist (Biological Research)
- Dr. George Todaro (33) - Cancer Researcher (Medicine)
- Paul W. Bucha (27) - Military Service
- Harry W. Cherry (35) - Business
- Edward T. Coll, (30) - Voluntary Service
- James B. Goetz (34) - State Affairs
- Walter J. Human, (33) - Business
- Elvis Aaron Presley (35) - Entertainment




Ronald Louis Ziegler




Thomas Atkins




Mario Cepecci




Dr. George Todaro




Paul W. Bucha




Harry W. Cherry


Edward T. Coll




James Burton Goetz




Walter J. Human




Elvis A. Presley

to be continue..

On Saturday, 9th January in advance of presentation of the awards at the national Jaycee congress, held in Memphis 15. - 16. January, the names are announced.

On Friday January 15, 1971 - Elvis chartered a customized G 2 Jet for his flight home from Los Angeles and arrived in Memphis at 11.30 pm. Because Elvis wanted to stay close to the Ellis Auditorium he rented a suite at the Rivermount Hotel where was held the Jaycee prayer breakfast and luncheon. He spends a few hours working on his Acceptance Speech for the Awards Dinner. Probably spent some time too on the flight for getting his ideas for it together.




Arrival in Memphis from Los Angeles - 15. Jan. 1972



Marty LACKER: He (Elvis) told me to handle everything. He said "find out where I go and where all the entrances are, I don't want to stay at Graceland. I'd rather be somewhere close to the Auditorium". So I arranged for him to have the whole top floor on the Rivermount Hotel. He said I'd like to do something special to honor the other honorees".

Despite his success, Elvis was truly awed by these men and noticeable nervous. Furthermore, the humbled Elvis was determined that his fame would not overshadow their accomplishments in any way. This was one time in Elvis's life when he dearly wanted to be treated like everyone else, without the fanfare of media, fans and photographers that usually accompied his public appearances.

January 16, 1971 was the day Elvis and other nine nominees would be honored as "One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men". The awards ceremony included a prayer breakfast, a luncheon, a press conference and an evening ceremony, held at Ellis Auditorium.

Although Elvis still was late that morning for the Jaycee prayer breakfast, he stayed in his suite. With security carefully planned, his host Harold Sterling anxiously stood in the hallway, waiting for Elvis to arrive, who apparently was held up due a lost cufflink. Sterling was surprised when he saw Elvis. "It was overwhelming" he remembers. "I was just not ready for someone that theatrical, he had all these diamonds on, and his hair was long. He was a taskmaster, people jumped, he had ideas on what he wanted and the impression he wanted to give, but he was a benevolent tyrant, he was so good, but was
demanding too. His entrance into the dining room was electric, filling the most staid businessmen and society wives with teenage enthusiasm, they all stopped their conversations to watch him enter the room".
With Priscilla beside him Elvis had a great welcome and was introduced. Just as he and Priscilla sat down, photographers rushed to their table and graciously Elvis allowed a couple of quick pictures and then he asked the newsman to leave.






on Elvis left sideseated B. Morris



The prayer breakfast followed a private question & answer session in which Jaycees attending the 33rd congress were permitted to question the honorees. The media were banned from the forum to allow honorees to speak openly about their views. Microphones and special name signs are set up. Elvis is seated next to Ronald L. Ziegler. On this occasion, Elvis spoke of religion and its importance to his life.















In that forum, Elvis "held his own with more learned colleges" said George Cajoleas, President of the Florida Jaycees. "He was forthright in his answers and didn't stumble. The guy came off looking very good, although he seemed very impressed with the men around him in terms of their contribution to social advancement". The honorees were asked if they made a religious commitment before undertaking their life's work. "Six or seven men said they didn't belong to a church and felt a certain hypocrisy about organized religion. But Elvis seemed to feel religion was very important in his life, not in the organized sense, but in the sense that he had called on God many times for strength. I think he also quoted some scripture" said Mr. Cajoleas.
One of the people present asked Elvis "What kind of message do you hope to bring to the world?" He answered "I'm not here to bring anyone a message. I'm here to entertain people and make them happy. If that has any meaning then I'm accomplishing something of value".
It seems that the breakfast must run into the Luncheon as a lot of photos seem to be confused between the two. Probably it’s the same tables for the breakfast and lunch.

On the Jaycee Luncheon (16.Jan., Mid-day) Elvis accepted the honor (medal). When Elvis came to receive the award, he had one hand too few as he accepted the award from Jaycees president Gordon Thomas. Shaking Mr. Thomas' hand and taking the medal in the other, Elvis had no place to hold his yellow "Easy Rider" glasses.
The future President George Bush was a speaker, as the ambassador of the United Nations and featured as the keynote speaker (filling in for Vice President Agnew) in the ceremony.


Gordon B. Thomas, President of the Jaycees

Elvis m. George Bush









Also in attendance was Marion Keisker - Elvis first contact at SUN Records - in full uniform and Elvis introduced her to Priscilla as "The lady I told you so much about" and then said "you know she's the one who made it all possible. Without her I wouldn't even be here". To one side of Elvis was seated Elvis good friend, former sheriff Bill Morris. When interviewed later he said " Elvis wanted minimum publicity because he didn't feel it right that he should overshadow the accomplishments and presence of the other nine honorees.

Later on that day the United Nations' Ambassador George Bush (former president) addressed an estimated 1100 at the Rivermount Hotel. During the meeting he complimented the Jaycees on their Top Ten selection - also said too " you Memphis politicians had better watch out if Elvis Presley ever
decided to enter politics". They would have to re-group their forces" said G. Bush. George Bush said later he was referring to the calibre of Elvis' comments at the morning forum.

It seems Elvis rather captured the attention of the press, as the other nine nominees, which were dressed rather conservatively at the Jaycee Luncheon, while Elvis was resplendent in long Hair, a black fox fur suit (quoted as being’ crushed velvet'), shades, medaillon, double belt and numerous rings.

The Memphis Press Scimitar reported from sources at the conference that Elvis spoke about religion and how it’s important to his life, but in the organized sense that he called on God many times for strength, and "that God is a living presence in all of us". "Yes I don't go along with music advocating drugs and desecration of the flag. I think an entertainer is for entertaining and to make people happy".

Elvis said after the Luncheon that he didn't quote scripture but "had commented that God is a living
presence in us all".












Elvis leaving the Rivermount after Lunch

In the afternoon at 5.00 pm, Elvis hosted a cocktail reception at Graceland for the other honorees and distinguished members of the Jaycees. At the party, he generously presented each honoree with a Mathey-Tissot watch as they came through the door. A tasteful-looking man's watch that displayed the date, the timepiece featured the name "Elvis Presley" on the beveled edge that encircled the face. Elvis generously gave these watches as a gesture of fellowship to friends and acquaintance; in this case, he wanted to show his respect for the other honorees. A mix-up that revealed something of Elvis' nature occurred with the giving of these gifts. One of the watches was accidentally handed to an assistant transportation chairman for the Jaycees, who was thrilled to be singled out by Elvis Presley for a gift. Elvis didn't ask the Jaycee to give the watch back, because he didn't want to hurt the man's feelings. Instead Elvis ordered an additional watch for the ninth honoree.


This type of watch gave Elvis all honorees at Graceland.

Marty Lacker: " We had Graceland done real sharp. We had police outside the front door to make sure nobody was not invited tried to get in. I had each member of the Memphis Mafia at the front door and they would greet each of the guests at the door and take them on a personal tour.
The cocktail party was held in what now is the Trophy Room and was catered by a noted Memphis caterer, "Monte's Catering" which served their famed barbecue oyster, Champaign and mixed drinks (in other sources it's said that there were waiters and food from the Four Flames restaurant).

After the cocktail party, around one and a half hour later, the cars were loaded and, escorted by motorcycle police, everyone travelled downtown to the Four Flames restaurant, one of Memphis' finest and famous restaurants, were at approximately 06.00 pm, a formal dinner for 100 guests was arranged and hosted by Elvis and Priscilla.


Four Flames Restaurant



Special Place Cards have been embossed with the TCB logo and signed by Elvis. The cost of this
"Chateaubriand Dinner" were $ 1.907,51 and was entertained by Tony Barasso and two violins.
It was a great dinner with a slight interruption when a drunk al Capp, the creator of the comic strip "Li'l Abner" entered from a patio door uninvited and wanted to be seated. He was supposed to be part of the Awards ceremony later that night and somehow found out about the dinner and was pissed because he wasn't invited. Richard Davis and someone else escorted him outside.


Al Crapp

Marty Lacker: "Bouquets of fresh flowers and candelabras, with place cards signed by Elvis with the TCB logo were present on each table. Music was provided by a violinist and dinner was served by white gloved waiters. Elvis was real happy except one thing. In the middle of the dinner, the side door opened and in walked "Al Capp" the cartoonist. Well, nobody had invited him and the Sheriff's deputy at the door said "I'm sorry, Sir - this is a private party, you can't come in". Capp said in a loud voice "I'm part of the ceremony and I should be there". It turned out that Capp was drunk and he started yelling in a raspy, obnoxious voice "I don't know why I wasn't invited. I'm Al Capp".
Finally one of the big-shot Jaycees told him he was going to have to leave. Capp yelled all the way out the door and he didn't even go to the ceremony. Elvis said "who give a sh*t?", but it hurt him and it put a damper on his evening".

Following the dinner, at 08.00 pm starts the Award Ceremony at Memphis' Ellis Auditorium.
Elvis wore a tuxedo at this formal ceremony, which was designed by Bill Belew.




Ellis Auditorium


Elvis arrival at Ellis Auditorium


Bill Belew scetch of Elvis' Tuxedo

The winners were announced by Jaycees president Gordon Thomas, following selection by a panel of judges headed by another former US president, Lyndon B. Johnson. The ten awards are given equally to each, none are placed above the other in the announcement of these awards.
The award said of Elvis "unlike many performers, past and present, Elvis can't be categorized as eccentric or snobbish, he has not forgotten his birthplace - Tupelo - to which he recently donated funds for a youth development program".

He was shaking as he stood in the wings at the auditorium and told Frank C. Taylor, chairman of the Outstanding Young Men " I'm scared to death", who reminded the superstar that he had appeared hundreds of times before much larger crowds. "Yeah but not like this" Elvis replied.
"It was a different plateau for him", Taylor said. "For the first time, he was being placed on the level with achievers in realms other than entertainment, and for the first time Elvis felt, he was being accepted like a true professional. He like the association of being given such an honor along with those nine other guys, and he was impressed by their tremendous abilities. And none of the others
singled Elvis out for adulation more than any other, and he liked that too.
When Elvis' turn came, he took his place at the podium and looked back at the other winners seated on stage and started his – now famous – speech.

"When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, 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.(And with a gesture to the other winners) These gentlemen over here, these type of people who care, are dedicated. You realize if it's not possible that they
might be building the Kingdom of God, it's not too far-fetched from reality. 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".
Goodnight. Thank you.

The audience gave Elvis a standing ovation after his speech.










Elvis' notice of his speech

"Terrified Presley accepting the Jaycee Honor" read the headline in the Memphis Press Scimitar from January 18, 1971.
"Elvis Presley stood in the wings at the Auditorium in Memphis and admitted he was "terrified". He was perspiring profusely and his head was hanging downs as he awaited his turn on stage as one of United States Jaycees 10 Outstanding Young Men of America for 1970. (Excerpt of the Newspaper article)




After the ceremony with Thomas Atkins


receiving the trophy by Jaycee President Gordon B. Thomas




Small talk with the other honorees




TOYA programm - given to all recipients and special guests


TOYA- Award



Jaycee creed:

We Believe:
That Faith In God Gives Meaning And Purpose To Human Life ...
That The Brotherhood Of Man Transcends The Sovereignty Of Nations ...
That Economic Justice Can Best Be Won By Free Men Through Free Enterprise
That Government Should Be Of Laws Rather Than Of Men ...
That Earth's Great Treasure Lies In Human Personality
And That Service To Humanity Is The Best Work Of Life.

His inspiring speech was not only eloquent; it also was one of his few public statements that offered a glimpse of the real Elvis Presley. He based part of his speech on a song by soul singer Roy Hamilton, who was one of Elvis' favorites.

Priscilla: "He stayed up writing on this little sketch pad, and he would show me what he has written and ask me what I thought. he was so nervous about making that speech. He was going to be in front of millionaires, and he wanted to be explicit and intelligent to them, so he would read it to me and I was amazed. I couldn't believe that this came out of him, he shocked me with the eloquence of his speech. I would have thought he took it from something - I wouldn't have put it past him to do that, clever as he was, but I witnessed it. I mean it was just beautiful".

Frank C. Taylor: "With a sweeping gesture, he said "These men may be the Kingdom of God". The famous voice cracked, he could not go on. He was the only one to have genuine tears in his eyes and to break up" Taylor says. "Elvis stopped, stepped back for a second, regrouped himself and spoke again".

Marty Lacker: "All the guys and the wives sat in the front row which were reserved for the families of
the nominees. Along with Priscilla, Vernon and Dee, we too were a part of Elvis family. During the
awards ceremony Elvis literally glowed with the enthusiasm of a happy young man who has accomplished something great. I was thrilled to see him looking so good and acting so very much alive and interested in what was happening. It was a great day. he was introduced to the audience and presented the award which was placed around his neck. In accepting the award he began the speech " I am very humbled by this award, not so much in receiving it but receiving it in the company of the other nine men honored tonight".

Ron Ziegler:"I think he was very pleased to receive the award and it was an honor to him, and he so indicated, he was expressing a little discomfort of how he was going to react and to relate to the other people who were there, so we talked about that a little bit. It appeared to me at that time that he wanted to reach out and talk to someone different to that what he could find in his entourage. I didn't get the impression that he was limited or dull witted. I found him to be somewhat articulate and poised individual. I did sense however an individual who was withdrawn and an individual who was somewhat shy.
I think all of us were moved by Elvis. He was a natural nice man, I liked him".

At the ceremony's end, Elvis returned to his suite at the Rivermount Hotel and invited his hosts from the Jaycees to join him. "He was more relaxed than I'd ever see him", remembered Frank Taylor, the Memphis organizer of the Jaycees convention. "It was almost like the weekend was away from reality. He had never been so exposed to the professional part of life. It was a new world for him. For once he shared the spotlight with others".
Elvis stayed overnight and flew the next day back to Los Angeles for rehearsals.

Being included in a group of men, that were contributing great things to society moved Elvis. Although his own accomplishments were substantial, and his many gifts to charity were the primary reason for his nomination. He felt that his own success paled in comparison to those of the other honorees. And of all his many achievements, including those he later attained, none were as treasured by him as the Jaycee's presentation. He carried his trophy with him whenever he left Memphis, and the scrapbook given to him by Frank Taylor was proudly displayed on his desk. To say that Elvis was humbled by being nominated for this honor is an understatement. It represented Elvis' acceptance by his peers and proved that he was seen as more than just a pop culture phenomenon, but an outstanding humanitarian and entertainer as well. In the program he was hailed for his quiet and low-key philanthropy.

A couple of weeks after the awards ceremony invited Elvis his co-honorees to Las Vegas for a show.


Outside his Hillcrest Home a few days after receiving the Award.


Elvis' Tuxedo and Award on display at Graceland.

Hope I could give some unknowing facts and an inside glimps into this special day for Elvis.
Enjoy

Angle Eyes this is so Awesome, I have read Elvis Speech he made here a whole lot. But I had never read how that Day was for Elvis, and how he Felt. So Thank You for Sharing this with us!

IT IS TOTALLY AWESOME! And so was he. I had never read or heard much
about the entire thing either...so like him to be "terrified" and sweat up a
storm...and admit it! He was awed by being selected, that he told me and also that he was scared silly having to get up in front of people and give a speech...which I was stupid and said, "you get in front of hundreds and thousands of people all the time! And he said, "not the same, I'm up there as an entertainer then, this was different!" And he is exactly right...it is horrible
trying to talk in front a strangers...even though he knew some of them. He was awed by who else were chosen, couldn't quite grasp why they'd choose him. I said, Well, you deserved it. I didn't understand what he meant
when he was speaking of the statue/trophy award he received...he treasured it, kept it with him just as they write...that I knew. He described it as two hands touching...I imagined a "handshake" kind of looking thing but it is
very touching and spiritual they way the fingers are touching...like Elvis reaching down to his "people" from the stage... Weird huh. Anyway, thank
you so much AngelEyes for transcribing and posting all of this...all those
pictures oh my! And he was glorious all duded up...so Elvis, rings and all.
He couldn't decide which one to wear so he wore them all...typical of him.
The fur suit does look like velvet...that's why we all think that when we see it, I have seen him in the black one several times (in pictures), but not that wonderful
purple color...it is special as a color...spiritual and used in places of worship as it is the color related to God - goodness and mercy and all
things glorious... He surely looked "glorious" in it! The glasses he had
were necessary (not in gaudy and grandeur but that was just his likening)
to protect his eyes that were always bothering him from early 70's...due I think to the strobe lighting on stages everywhere... he was going blind
and he knew it was happening so he made sure to wear those glasses
when light was involved.
Lordy, lordy, the boy was so unique and special...and those people noticed! Really noticed! I am so glad he was alive to receive that honor.
Love, is worth it all-
wjh

Thanks Barb and Wanda for the comments. Yes, he was someone very special
and I hope that my work will give people a glimpse of the human "Elvis", not of the image "Elvis".
Interesting for me is always that other persons, like the other honorees in this case, talk and speak about Elvis with a great respect and admiration - the exact opposite as members/friends of his MM do.

Often I feel like a "gold digger" during my research, but it is a satisfying work and slowly but surely people will find out the truth of the person and human he really was. And if my work can contribute to this, I'm happy because that's all what I want - reveal all the lies, halftruth and myths that surround his person, is very satisfying for me too. I don't give up my hope that one day the whole truth will be reveal and he got all the respect and admiration that he deserve as not only the extraordinary singer and entertainer, but also as the person/human he was.