Indiana State University Newsroom

Air Force veteran, professional golfer, author and humanitarian Dan Rooney will speak at Indiana State University Nov. 7 as part of the University Speakers Series.

A veteran F-16 fighter pilot with three combat tours in Iraq, Rooney is the founder of the Folds of Honor Foundation and the Patriot Golf Club and is a PGA professional. The author of "A Patriot's Calling - Living Life between Fear and Faith," he was the only motivational team speaker for the US Ryder Cup team in Wales, an opportunity that has been historically reserved for presidents.

Folds of Honor provides scholarships to the spouses and children of military service members disabled or killed in action. In just five years, the non-profit organization has raised more than $22 million and awarded nearly 4,000 scholarships.

Rooney is a major in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and a decorated military aviator, a two-time recipient of the Top Gun award and was honored with the Spirit of Attack award as a top graduate of F-16 training. He has received many decorations, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Anti-terrorism Medal, Combat Readiness Medal and Air Expeditionary Medal.

President George W. Bush honored Rooney for his service and patriotism by presenting him with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, the Air National Guard's Distinguished Service Medal, the Air National Guard Director's Service Award and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Rooney was honored at The Masters Invitational with the William D. Richardson Award for his outstanding contributions to golf and he received the PGA of America's first Patriot Award. He has been recognized as one of People magazine's Heroes of the Year, Money magazine's Hero of the Year and ABC World News Tonight's Persons of the Year. He is a Significant Sigma Chi and was featured on NBC Nightly News' Making a Difference report.Rooney founded The Patriot, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed course in Tulsa, Okla., which is ranked 42nd among American golf courses in Golf Week's Modern Top 100. The Patriot is home to the Folds of Honor Foundation headquarters.

Rooney is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. in Indiana State's Tilson Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Photo: http://www.indstate.edu/speaker/photodownload/Rooney_Dan_PROMOPIC.jpg

Media contact: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu