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RISD Alumni Magazine
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award trophy was designed by RISD alum Daniel Bennett Schwartz 49 IL. A gifted illustrator and painter, Daniel began illustrating articles for Sports Illustrated in 1959. Many more magazine illustrations followed, with assignments for Esquire, McCall's, Fortune, Redbook and Time magazine. He had a prolific career as a painter and illustrator and his works are held in numerous public and private collections.
The Man of the Year trophy, depicting a linebacker on the sidelines, was created in 1969 and awarded for the first time in 1970. The award honors a player's commitment to philanthropy and community impact. It was renamed in 1999 after Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton.
