The Notre Dame National Monogram Club's highest honor is bestowed upon active Monogram Club members who have distinguished themselves in the following ways:

• Exemplary performance in local, state or national government

• Outstanding dedication to the spirit and ideals of Notre Dame

• Demonstrated responsibility to and concern for their respective communities

• Extraordinary commitment and involvement with youth

The Monogram Club's officers and board of directors select the annual recipient. The Monogram Club then presents the award at the annual on-campus meeting in June.

The award is named in honor of Notre Dame athletics legend Edward "Moose" Krause (1913-92), a three-sport monogram winner in the early 1930s who earned All-America honors in football and basketball while also competing in track and field. He later served as an assistant football coach and assistant and head basketball coach at Notre Dame before becoming one of the nation's most respected athletic directors, serving in that role at his alma mater from 1949-82.

Monogram Club Moose Krause Distinguished Service Award Recipients ('79-'04)
1979 - Ray Meyer ('38, basketball)
1980 - Clarence "Jake" Kline ('21, baseball)
1981 - Edward "Moose" Krause ('34, football/basketball)
1982 - Harvey Foster ('39, football)
1983 - Jim Mello ('48, football)
1984 - Ziggy Czarobski ('48, football)
1985 - Rev. John Smyth ('57, basketball)
1986 - Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. ('39, honorary member)
1986 - Rev. Edmund P. "Ned" Joyce, C.S.C.('37, honorary member)
1987 - Dan Harshman ('68, football)
1988 - John Jordan ('69, honorary member)
1989 - Leo Barnhorst ('49, basketball)
1989 - Bill Hassett ('47, basketball/baseball)
1990 - Dave Duerson ('83, football)
1991 - Zeke O'Connor (football)
1992 - Joseph Signaigo ('48, football)
1993 - Fritz Wilson ('28, baseball)
1994 - Dr. Dennis Nigro ('69, tennis)
1995 - Dick Rosenthal ('54, basketball/baseball)
1996 - Chris Zorich ('91, football)
1997 - George Kelly ('53, honorary member)
1998 - Ara Parseghian (honorary member)
1999 - John Carney ('87, football)
2000 - Mike Wadsworth ('66, football)
2000 - Rev. William Beauchamp, C.S.C. ('75, honorary member)
2001 - Rev. Jim Riehle, C.S.C. ('49, honorary member)
2002 - Bill Hurd ('69, track and field)
2003 - Pete Demmerle ('75, football)
2004 - Jim Morse ('57, football)
2005 - Rev. Edward A. "Monk" Malloy, C.S.C ('63, '67, and '69, basketball)
2006 - Carol Lally Shields ('79, basketball)
2007 - Jerome Bettis (football)
2008 - Lou Holtz