NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The National WWII Museum announced the 2025 recipients of the American Spirit Award, the museum’s highest honor. The award recognizes individuals who, through their life’s work, exemplify the outstanding qualities of the American spirit and inspire these values in others.
This year’s American Spirit Awards will kick off the museum’s 25th anniversary celebration. Fittingly, the 2025 award recipients include three individuals who have played pivotal roles in the growth and development of the museum and have made contributions to their communities and country: New Orleans businessman Donald T. “Boysie” Bollinger, WWII veteran C. Paul Hilliard, and Museum Founding President & CEO Emeritus Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller. Honorees will be recognized at the annual American Spirit Awards on the museum’s campus in New Orleans on May 29–30. The festivities begin Thursday evening with a recipient and patron reception and culminate in the American Spirit Awards Gala on Friday night.
“This year’s American Spirit Award honorees have helped build this museum into what it is today and have ensured the history of World War II is kept alive,” said Stephen J. Watson, president & CEO of The National WWII Museum. “Without question, their vision, grit and tenacity paved the way for the Museum’s ambitious growth over the past 25 years. Their leadership will continue to guide our institution as we mark this milestone anniversary and begin an exciting new chapter.”
The 2025 American Spirit Award honorees are leaders whose life’s work reflects the values and spirit of those who served our country during World War II:
- Donald T. “Boysie” Bollinger has been among The National WWII Museum’s strongest champions since its earliest days. As the longtime Chairman and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards, a family business launched after World War II, Bollinger presided over shipbuilding and repair facilities from New Orleans to Houston — evoking for many the memory of iconic WWII shipbuilder Andrew Higgins. He joined The National D-Day Museum’s Board of Trustees in 1995 and became Chairman shortly after the Grand Opening in 2000. Since then, Bollinger has committed substantial time and resources to making the Museum one of the best in the world, rallying vital support from government officials, prospective donors, community leaders and friends. Bollinger’s advocacy, generosity and leadership have had a transformative impact on this institution.
- C. Paul Hilliard is a WWII veteran, entrepreneur, corporate executive and philanthropist who embodies the values of commitment, sacrifice and patriotism. At 17 years old, Hilliard joined the US Marine Corps, flying 45 combat missions in the Pacific during World War II as a radioman and gunner in Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers. Following the war and college, he entered the oil and gas industry and founded Badger Oil in Lafayette, Louisiana. Over nearly two decades, he has become one of The National WWII Museum’s most ardent advocates, supporting its educational mission and the preservation of oral histories and aircraft. He served as Chairman of the Board from 2018 to 2020, bringing a unique perspective to the role as a veteran of World War II.
- Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, PhD, a historian and former Vice Chancellor at the University of New Orleans, serves as Founding President & CEO Emeritus of The National WWII Museum. In his time as an educator and administrator at UNO, Mueller played a key role in developing new programs and founding the UNO Research and Technology Park. He served as Board Chairman of The National D-Day Museum from 1998 to 2000, guiding the institution through its Grand Opening. He then led the Museum as President & CEO for 17 years, working to expand its mission, campus, and educational initiatives—establishing the Museum as one of our nation’s top cultural institutions. Mueller’s dedication to preserving WWII history has ensured that the service and sacrifice of the WWII generation are never forgotten.
As part of the American Spirit Awards events, the museum will also bestow the annual Billy Michal Student Leadership Award to one student from each state and the District of Columbia who embodies the American spirit in their community. The award is named after Michal — a Louisiana native and winner of the Museum’s Silver Service Medallion in 2017 — who at the age of six helped his one-room school win a statewide scrap metal-collection contest during World War II, proving that every citizen could contribute to Allied victory. The students who receive the honor have a strong record of volunteerism, school and community activism, and implementing creative solutions to recognized problems. These honorees will travel to the Museum for a weekend of leadership activities, including a community service project, exclusive Museum guided touring, and a question-and-answer session with the 2025 American Spirit Award honorees.
The American Spirit Awards will kick off the museum’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, a week of events that will honor the WWII generation and the values they embody, reflect on the museum’s achievements over the past two decades, and share how the institution plans to care for what has been created and build upon its incredible impact to reach new audiences. Among the week’s festivities will be the launch of Mueller’s new book, “Preserving the Legacy: Creating The National WWII Museum,” and a 25th Anniversary Family and Member Day at the Museum. The focal point will be June 6, as the Museum officially marks its 25th anniversary and the 81st anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy with commemorative events and a special concert.
For details on the 25th Anniversary Celebration and American Spirit Awards, visit nationalww2museum.org/25thAnniversary.
