John F. Kennedy National Award

The John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Award is presented annually to an American of Irish descent who has distinguished themselves in their chosen field.

2025 Award Recipient:
Jim McDonnell

The St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke is proud to announce that Jim McDonnell, nationally respected law enforcement leader and public safety innovator, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the esteemed John F. Kennedy National Award.

McDonnell’s distinguished career in public safety spans more than four decades and is marked by integrity, community partnership, and a deep commitment to reform. A native of Brookline, Massachusetts, he began his law enforcement career in 1981 as a graduate of the Los Angeles Police Academy. Over nearly 30 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, he rose through every rank to become First Assistant Chief, serving as second‑in‑command. During this time, he played a significant role in advancing community‑based policing strategies that strengthened trust across Los Angeles’ diverse neighborhoods.

Following his LAPD tenure, McDonnell served as Chief of Police in Long Beach, California, where he expanded community engagement efforts and oversaw notable reductions in crime. In 2014, he was elected the 32nd Sheriff of Los Angeles County, leading the largest sheriff’s department in the United States with a focus on accountability, constitutional policing, and partnership with federal, state, and local agencies.

In 2024, McDonnell was sworn in as the 59th Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, becoming the first individual to hold senior executive leadership roles in three of Los Angeles County’s largest law enforcement agencies. In this role, he continues to champion public safety, transparency, and community trust.

“President Kennedy challenged us to serve others and work for the common good,” said Jim Wildman, Parade President. “Jim McDonnell’s distinguished career exemplifies those ideals. His leadership, integrity, and lifelong commitment to community make him an outstanding choice for this honor.”

“Receiving the John F. Kennedy National Award is both humbling and deeply meaningful to me,” said Chief McDonnell. “As a first-generation Irish American, this recognition reflects the values of service and community that my parents instilled in me. I am honored to join such a distinguished group of past recipients and grateful to the St. Patrick’s Committee and the City of Holyoke for this extraordinary honor.” (Full video message can be accessed here.)

The John F. Kennedy National Award: Celebrating Irish-American Excellence

Annually, the St. Patrick's Committee of Holyoke pays tribute to Irish-Americans who have significantly contributed to their fields with the esteemed John F. Kennedy National Award. Initiated in 1958 as the Outstanding American of Irish Descent, the accolade was aptly renamed in 1964 after its inaugural honoree, Senator John F. Kennedy, on the cusp of his presidency. Celebrations for awardees are woven into the fabric of the Parade Weekend, including highlights such as an acknowledgment at the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race, a dedicated honorific dinner, and a featured position in the grand Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade procession.

The award has historically recognized a diverse and prestigious group, a veritable "Who’s Who" of Irish-American luminaries from sectors including politics, sports, law, industry, philanthropy, media, the arts, finance, among others. Esteemed recipients have included the legendary actress Maureen O’Hara (1982); trailblazing NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman (2004); the esteemed former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge (2006); the respected Ambassador to Ireland, Honorable Dan Rooney (2010); Pulitzer Prize laureates Neil Sheehan (1989), David McCullough (2011), and Doris Kearns Goodwin (2013); the inspirational father-son duo “Team Hoyt,” Rick and Dick Hoyt (2014); the acclaimed Professional Boxer “Irish” Micky Ward (2016); and the Emmy-award-winning talent, Ann Dowd (2017).

Past JFK Award Recipients

1958 John F. Kennedy – United States Senator, President of the United States
1959 Most Rev. Jeremiah J. Minnehan, D.D. – Auxiliary Bishop of Boston
1960 Hon. John F. Collins – Mayor, City of Boston
1961 Most Rev. Christopher J. Weldon, D.D. – Bishop of the Springfield (MA) Diocese
1962 Robert B. Consedine – Journalist/Author
1963 William D. Gargan – Actor
1964 James B. Donovan – Attorney, International Negotiator
1965 James J. Shea, Sr. – President, Milton Bradley Company
1966 Hon. Edward M. Kennedy – United States Senator
1967 Tommy Loughran – Champion Light Heavyweight Boxer
1968 Lawrence O’Brien – U.S. Postmaster General Commissioner NBA
1969 Cardinal Richard Cushing – Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston
1970 Hon. John N. Dempsey – Governor of Connecticut
1971 Pat O’Brien – Actor
1972 Major General Timothy J. Dacey, Jr. – USAF, Chief of Staff, Strategic Air Command
1973 Hon. John W. McCormack – Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
1974 James Bishop – Author, Syndicated Columnist
1975 Hon. Thomas Paul Salmon – Governor of Vermont
1976 Edward Bennett Williams – Attorney
1977 Jimmy Breslin – Author, Investigative Journalist
1978 Hon. Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. – Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
1979 Dan Devine – Football Coach, Notre Dame University
1980 Arthur J. Rooney – Owner, Pittsburgh, Steelers Professional Football
1981 William A. Nolen, M.D., – Surgeon/Author
1982 Maureen O’Hara – Actress
1983 Most Rev. Joseph F. Maguire – Bishop of the Springfield (MA) Diocese
1984 Hon. Edward P. Boland – Member of Congress of the United States
1985 Frank McGuire – NCAA Basketball Coach
1986 William A. O’Neill – Governor of Connecticut
1987 Dennis Day – Singer, radio and television personality
1988 Thomas J. Flatley – Business Executive Philanthropist
1989 Neil Sheehan – Journalist, Reporter, Pulitzer Prize Author
1990 Most Rev. Leo E. O’Neill – Coadjutor Bishop of Manchester, NH
1991 Carmel Quinn – Singer/Entertainer
1992 Tom Clancy – Author
1993 Sister Mary Rose McGeady, D.C. – President, Covenant House, New York City
1994 Raymond L. Flynn – U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican
1995 Eoin McKiernan – Founder, Irish American Cultural Institute
1996 Robert L. Stack – Actor
1997 John J. Sweeney – President, AFL-CIO
1998 Gen. Richard I. Neal – Assistant Commandant, United States Marine Corp
1999 Steven McDonald and Patricia Ann Norris-McDonald – Detective, New York Police Department, Inspirational and motivational speaker
2000 Hon. Richard E. Neal – Member of Congress of the United States
2001 John V. Shea – Actor, riter, director
2002 Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin – Chaplain, U.S. House of Representatives
2003 William J. Flynn – Chairman of the Board, Mutual of New York Life Insurance Company
2004 Catherine G. “Cady” Coleman – NASA Astronaut
2005 Tom O’Brien – Football Coach, Boston College
2006 Thomas J. Ridge – Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
2007 Dan Shaughnessy – Author/Sports Reporter, Boston Globe
2008 Francis X. Healy – Baseball player, Sports Broadcaster Executive
2009 Joseph Loughrey – Vice Chairman, Cummins, Inc.
2010 Hon. Daniel M. Rooney – U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland
2011 David McCullough – Author, Pulitzer Prize Winner
2012 Kevin O’Hara – Author
2013 Doris Kearns Goodwin – Author
2014 Dick and Rick Hoyt – Team Hoyt, Marathon, Triathlon and Ironman competitors
2015 John M. Maguire – President and Chief Executive Officer of Friendly’s Ice Cream, LLC
2016 “Irish” Micky Ward – Retired Junior Welterweight Professional Boxer
2017 Ann Dowd – Award winning actress
2018 Arthur “Archie” Roberts – Retired cardiac surgeon and former collegiate and professional football player
2019 T.J. Jagodowski – Comedian, actor, and improvisational performer
2020 - 2022 David Glidden - CEO of Liberty Bank
2023 - Lenny Jacobson - Actor
2024 - Mike Gorman - longtime announcer for the Boston Celtics
2025 - Bridget Moynahan - Actress