Knox Trophy Explained

The Knox Trophy is the oldest military award of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The award was established on October 8, 1910, and is given annually by the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York to the United States Military Academy cadet with the highest rating for military efficiency. Named in honor of General Henry Knox, the first Secretary of War, the original trophy, made by Tiffany & Company was originally kept on display in the office of the West Point Commandant.

The Knox Trophy celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010.

History

The trophy was named in honor of Henry Knox (the first US Secretary of War). T

the original trophy, made by Tiffany & Com,pany was originally kept on display in the office of the West Point Commandant. The tradition started back on October 8, 1910, and continues today as the academy's oldest military award. According to the Sons of the Revolution in New York (SRNY), the trophy was designed by Tiffany & Company and is still presented annually to the Corps of Cadets of the United States Military Academy by the Sons of the Revolution (NY).

The United States Military Academy is a school for the practical and theoretical training of cadets for the military service. Upon completing its course satisfactorily, cadets are eligible for promotion and commission as second lieutenants in any arm or corps of the Army the duties of which they have been judged competent to perform.

Sherman L. Fleek, Lt. Col. US Army (Ret) United States Military Academy Command Historian noted, “The cadets undergo months and months, years actually of leadership evaluations, testing, training, and so on, since the trophy winners seemed to be First Captains because the First Captain excelled in leadership.”

A record in 1909 found an order of general merit ranking that included an order of merit score in; Civil and Military Engineering, Law, Ordnance and Science of Gunnery, Drill Regulations, Practical Military Engineering, Conduct First Class, less demerits for the year, providing a General Merit Ranking (looking for confirmation that this is the same reference to "military efficiency rating").

In 1978, the Commandant requested the Knox Trophy be presented to the Brigade Executive Officer. There was no established award for that position at the time. But in 1979, the Knox Trophy was again awarded to the cadet with the highest military efficiency. An award was established in 1981 recognizing the Brigade Executive Officer.

Activities

The Knox Trophy is awarded annually prior to commencement ceremonies each year at the USMA at West Point. The award is normally presented by the President or board member of the Sons of the Revolution of the State of New York. A photograph along the annual commencement publication is sent back to the SR Headquarters at the Fraunces Tavern and Museum in New York City. Since the early 1960s, each winner has received a keepsake Tiffany silver Revere bowl. A keepsake replica, alongside a print of General Henry Knox is on display at Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan (see image at the top of the piece).

The Sons of the Revolution of the State of New York

According to the Sons of the Revolution in New York (SRNY), the trophy was designed by Tiffany & Company and is still presented annually to the Corps of Cadets of the United States Military Academy by the Sons of the Revolution (NY). The tradition started back on October 8, 1910, and continues today as the academy's oldest military award.

Sons of the Revolution (SR) should not be confused with Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), a separate group which was founded on April 30, 1889, at New York by New Jersey businessman William Osborn McDowell. He disagreed with the Sons of the Revolution requirement of the time that other state societies be subordinate to the New York society, and intended to include members by recognizing additional types of public service of a revolutionary ancestor beyond that which contributed directly to the Revolution.[1]

Fraunces Tavern

See main article: Fraunces Tavern.

Fraunces Tavern is a museum and restaurant housed in a restored building that played a prominent role in pre-Revolution and Revolution history. The building that houses the tavern, located at 54 Pearl Street at the corner of Broad Street, has been owned by the New York society since 1904, which claims it is Manhattan's oldest surviving building.[2]

The building served also as the offices of the General Society until 2002, when the society headquarters moved to its current location in Independence, Mo. The museum maintains several galleries of art and artifacts about the Revolution including the McEntee "Sons of the Revolution" Gallery that displays much of the SR history.[3]

Other Sons of the Revolution Military Awards

The General Society and several state societies have established various educational and military awards which are given to individuals and groups for their academic or service performance. The awards include the Annapolis Cup which was created in 1905 and given annually by the general society and the Maryland society to a U.S. Naval Academy midshipman,[4] the Knox Trophy (New York) which was created in 1910 and given annually by the New York society to a U.S. Military Academy at West Point cadet,[5] the Capt. Gustavus Conyngham Award which was created in 1999 and given annually by the New York society to a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point midshipman,[5] the Recognition Award which was created in 2002 and given annually by the Massachusetts society to a U.S. Army ROTC cadet,[6] and the Knox Trophy (From Massachusetts, not New York) which was created in 1924 and given annually until 1940 by the Massachusetts society to a U.S. Army field-artillery battery and "redleg" artillery operator.[7]

Knox Trophy Recipients

Most of the recipients were the First Captain of their graduating class, but it is not a requirement to win the award. On the list is some of the top U.S. Army officers; William Westmoreland, Pete Dawkins (1959 Heisman Trophy winner), and several others, including John P. McConnell who was later the US Air Force Chief of Staff. Four of the Knox trophy winners became four-star generals. As of 1987, three winners were stationed at West Point; the 1955 winner, Col. Lee D. Olvey, head of the Department of Social Sciences; the 1968 winner, LTC John L. Throckmorton, Jr., Treasurer of the USMA; 1969 winner, LTC Robert H. Baldwin, Jr., professor / Department of Social Sciences.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Differences Between the SR and SAR . SR1776.org . General Society Sons of the Revolution . Independence, Mo. . 2009-09-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091222014134/http://www.sr1776.org/differences.html . 2009-12-22.
  2. News: The Happy Hour Guys at Fraunces Tavern. YouTube.com. YouTube LLC. San Bruno, Calif.. 2008-02-07. 2009-09-15.
  3. News: Fraunces Tavern. YouTube.com. YouTube LLC. San Bruno, Calif.. 2009-11-02. 2009-12-06.
  4. News: The General Society, Sons of the Revolution Annapolis Cup Award. Drumbeat. General Society Sons of the Revolution. Independence, Mo.. Summer 2006. 2009-09-22.
  5. News: Reports from State Societies, New York. Drumbeat. General Society Sons of the Revolution. Independence, Mo.. Summer 2006. 2009-09-22.
  6. News: Reports from State Societies, Massachusetts. Drumbeat. General Society Sons of the Revolution. Independence, Mo.. Summer 2006. 2009-09-22.
  7. News: The Knox Trophy and Medal, 1924-1940 . Field Artillery . Army.mil . Fort Sill, Okla. . November–December 2002 . 2009-09-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071202124434/http://sill-www.army.mil/awards/KNOXTROPHY.pdf . December 2, 2007 .

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