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
