Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey, a Democrat, and  Pat Toomey, a Republican, and Representative Glenn Thompson, a Republican, joined in a bipartisan letter to President Obama to nominate Paterno.

They cited Paterno’s contributions to collegiate athletics, higher education and American society.  Thompson represents State College, the home of The Pennsylvania State University and of the Paterno family.

In his 45-year tenure at Penn State, Paterno has 402 victories – “more  than any other coach in Division I history,” the three legislators wrote in a letter to Obama.

Paterno has begun his 46th season as the head coach. He came to Penn State in 1950 after graduating as an English major from Brown University to work for  his college coach, Rip Engle, and earn some money to attend law school. He never left town.

“He has coached five undefeated teams, two national championship teams, won three Big Ten Conference championships, and been named ‘Coach Of The Year’ five times by the American Football Coaches Association,” the nomination letter said.

Paterno began his career at Penn State when Harry S Truman was the president, and he has served under 11 presidents since then: Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama.

Paterno and his 1986 national championship teams visited the White House and were honored by Reagan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjh_cB5XqJ0

In 1988, Paterno seconded the nomination for George H. W. Bush at the Republican Convention in Houston. He has also met with Obama, Clinton, Ford and George W. Bush during their visits to Pennsylvania.  
Paterno has been described as a Conservative. His son, Scott, a lawyer, won the Republican primary for a House seat, but lost to the incumbent.

"I brought my kids up to think for themselves since day one," Paterno said before the 2008 presidential primaries. "I've got a son who's a Republican who ran for Congress, Scott. I'm a Republican. I've got a son, Jay, who's for Obama. I've got a daughter, who I'm pretty sure she's going to be for Hillary. So God Bless America."

Jay Paterno includes a photo of him with Obama on his Facebook site, and he noted recently that he had visited the White House.

“There's no more decent person on the face of the earth,” George W. Bush said of Paterno in 2005.  “What a man, who set high standards, he loves his family, he loves his university, he loves his country, and my mother and dad love him.”

The Presidential Medal of Freedom honors meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

When Paterno's  name was broached for nomination in 2010, one legislator wondered why “a football coach” would merit the honor.  The three legislators cited Paterno's contributions beyond football: Passionate involvement in the Special Olympics with his wife, Sue;  millions of dollars in contributions to build the Paterno Libraries wing onto the Pattee Library;  and the relentless drive that helped build a cow college into a major university.

Bill Russell, the Hall of Fame Boston Celtics center, and Stan Musial, the Hall of Fame St. Louis Cardinals outfielder, were so honored in recent years. The late Alabama coach Paul (Bear) Bryant and the late U.C.L.A. Basketball coach John Wooden had also received the honor.

The nomination letter said:

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to request that you consider the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) football coach Joe Paterno for the Presidential Medal of Freedom given his substantial contributions to collegiate athletics, higher education and American society.

Coach Paterno’s accomplishments on the football field are nothing short of legendary. During his 45-year tenure at Penn State, he has amassed 402 career wins – more than any other coach in Division I history. He has coached five undefeated teams, two national championship teams, won three Big Ten Conference championships, and been named “Coach Of The Year” five times by the American Football Coaches Association.

While these numbers are unrivaled, Coach Paterno’s contributions to society off the field are even more noteworthy. His commitment to the success of student athletes under his guidance is abundantly clear. Under his tenure, Penn State’s football team has had 16 Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes, 47 Academic All-Americans, and 18 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners – evidence of his dedication to helping his players excel in both athletic and academic endeavors.

Coach Paterno and his family have been incredibly generous, serving as the National Spokesman for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, supporting the Special Olympics, and donating millions of dollars to the University for academic programs and libraries. It is common for a university to name a field of play after a coach that has contributed immensely to that institution’s athletic program, but Coach Paterno’s name has been added to a wing of Penn State’s Pattee Library due to his immense contributions to academics at Penn State.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom has historically been awarded for meritorious contributions to the national interests of the United States. Coach Paterno’s contributions exceed this standard by a considerable degree and we respectfully request that you provide him your utmost consideration for the award. It is not unprecedented to award this Presidential Medal of Freedom to collegiate coaches as both Paul “Bear” Bryant and John Wooden have been honored in the past. We believe it is important for Coach Paterno to share in this esteemed recognition.

Coach Paterno over the years has shown tremendous character and loyalty. Throughout his time at Penn State, he has remained committed to reaching goals without sacrificing the ideals that are central to higher education. His contributions to college athletics and higher education, as well as the content of his character, make Coach Joe Paterno deserving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Casey, Jr., 
United States Senator

Pat Toomey, 
United States Senator

Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson
, Member of Congress