The Rev. Theodore Martin Hesburgh, CSC, STD (b. May 25, 1917 at Syracuse, New York) is President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame and served as its President for 35 years (1952-87), the longest tenure so far. He holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for "Most Honorary Degrees" having been awarded 150 in his lifetime and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor on December 9, 1999.

Hesburgh served as a member of the United States Civil Rights Commission from 1957 until his dismissal by President Nixon in 1972. From 1969-1972 he was the Chairman of the Commission. He also served in a number of other posts on government commissions, non-profit organization boards, and Vatican missions. One such example is the Knight Commission that overhauled college sports from 1990 to 1996. Hesburgh was a major figure in US politics and the Catholic Church from the 1950s to 1990s, and he is still influential today.