Former North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith was one of 16 individuals honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony Wednesday morning.
The other recipients, who were awarded the highest civilian honor, included former President Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.
Though his health prevented Smith from attending the ceremony, his wife, Dr. Linnea Smith accepted the award on his behalf. Coaches Roy Williams and Bill Guthridge sat side-by-side in the crowd.
Obama applauded Smith for his courage both on and off the court.
“While Coach Smith couldn’t join us today due to an illness he is facing with extraordinary courage, we also honor his courage in helping to change our country,” said Obama in his opening remarks. “He recruited the first black scholarship athlete to North Carolina and helped integrate a restaurant and a neighborhood in Chapel Hill. That’s the kind of character he represented on and off the court.”
Here’s a storify of this morning’s events:
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