The Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, is a legend in the sport of golf, especially with his record 18 Major Championships. In a ceremony held before leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., Jack Nicklaus was awarded the highest civilian honor the United States Congress can bestow, the Congressional Gold Medal, for his contributions to the sport of golf and his service to the community and the nation.
Since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. Each medal honors a particular individual, institution, or event. Although the first recipients included citizens who participated in the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, Congress broadened the scope of the medal to include actors, authors, entertainers, musicians, pioneers in aeronautics and space, explorers, lifesavers, notables in science and medicine, athletes, humanitarians, public servants, and foreign recipients.
Source: PGA TOUR
