Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, will receive the University’s American Free Enterprise Medal on Thursday, Nov. 3.
The medal ceremony is 11 a.m. in the Greene Complex for Sports and Recreation, 1100 S. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 803-2021. The University’s American Free Enterprise Day celebration honors individuals whose hard work and achievement exemplify the best of the American free enterprise system.
Forbes is the author of multiple books and articles. He writes editorials for each issue of the magazine that bears his name under the heading “Fact and Comment.” He is the only writer to have won the highly prestigious Crystal Owl Award four times. U.S. Steel Corporation formerly gave the award to the financial journalist whose economic forecasts for the coming year proved most accurate.
Most recently, Forbes’ launched the podcast “What’s Ahead,” where he engages the world’s top newsmakers, politicians and pioneers in business and economics in honest conversations meant to challenge traditional conventions on the intersection of society, economics and policy.
Last year’s American Free Enterprise Day 35th anniversary celebration honored franchising titan Ray Titus. Titus founded the first Signarama store in 1986 and applied his successful business model to other business-to-business brands. His United Franchise Group later welcomed a food division. Today, UFG has more than 1,600 franchises in 80 countries and yet remains a family business.
The first American Free Enterprise Day celebration took place in 1984, and the event has become a tradition at Palm Beach Atlantic. Previous medal recipients include Y. Michele Kang, founder and CEO of Cognosante, 2019; George T. Elmore, president of Hardrives, Inc., 2018; David C. Novak, co-founder and retired chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands Inc., 2017; Kenneth Langone, founder of Invemed Associates and co-founder of The Home Depot, 2016; Leo A. Vecellio, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Vecellio Group, Inc., 2015; Arthur L. Williams, Jr., A.L. Williams & Associates, 2014; Tim Gannon, a co-founder of Outback Steakhouse, Inc., 2013; Brian P. Burns, BF Enterprises Inc., 2012; H. Wayne Huizenga, Jr., Huizenga Holdings, Inc., 2011; Edward M. Kobel, DeBartolo Development, LLC, 2010; John D. MacArthur, insurance and real estate entrepreneur, 2009; John M. Gregory, SJ Strategic Investments, LLC, 2008; Karl H. Watson, CEMEX, 2007; Stuart W. Epperson, Salem Communications Corporation, 2004; Sam Moore, Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2003; Joseph R. Gregory, Kingsway LLC, 2002; Lester J. Woerner, Woerner Holdings, Inc, 2001; Rich DeVos, 2000, Orlando Magic; John J. Brogan, 1999; Thomas R. Pledger, Dycom Industries, 1998; Carl DeSantis, Rexall Sundown, Inc., 1997; Lowell “Bud” Paxson, Paxson Communications Corp., 1996; Richard S. Johnson, Johnson Investment Group, 1995; David Mahoney, Charles A. Dana Foundation, 1994; William G. Lassiter, Jr., W.G. Lassiter Co., Inc., 1993; Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr., The Dreyfoos Group, 1992; S. Bradford “Skeet” Rymer, Jr., Magic Chef, 1991; S. Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A, 1990; Stewart Morris, Stewart Information Services Corp. and the Hugh J. Andersen Foundation, 1989; Frederick M. Supper, Alexander Proudfoot Co., 1988; Henry J. Rolfs, Downtown/Uptown West Palm Beach, 1987; Theodore R. Johnson, United Parcel Service, 1986; Marshall E. Rinker, Sr., Rinker Materials Corp., 1985; and Sir John M. Templeton, Templeton World Funds Ltd., 1984.
Photo: Steve Forbes is the University’s American Free Enterprise Day medalist.
Ceremony Sponsor: Bank of America
Luncheon Sponsor: Young America’s Foundation
The mission of Young America’s Foundation (YAF) is to ensure that increasing numbers of young Americans understand and are inspired by the ideas of individual freedom, free enterprise, traditional values, and a strong national defense. YAF accomplishes its mission by providing essential conferences, seminars, educational materials, internships, and speakers to young people across the country. The organization also preserves the Reagan Ranch (Santa Barbara, CA)—President Ronald Reagan’s “Western White House”—and the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home (Dixon, IL) to pass on our 40th President’s values to future generations.
