Superb program for the 1982 American Academy of Achievement 'Banquet of the Golden Plate' award ceremony, 8.5 x 11, eight pages, boldly signed on the front cover in blue ballpoint by two of the honorees, "steven jobs," and "Herschel Walker, #34." Also signed inside by Gerald Coffee, James Dozier, Gordon Fullerton, Bobby Inman, Paul MacCready, Reuben Mattus, and Ralph Sampson. Inside the program, Jobs is described as "Co-Founder/Chairman of Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, Calif.—spotlighted recently on Time's cover as the remarkable 26-year-old 'computer whiz' who helped launch his company…in his parents' garage only six years ago." In fine to very fine condition. Accompanied by full letters of authenticity from PSA/DNA and Beckett Authentication Services. Also includes a letter of provenance from the original recipient, who was invited to attend the banquet after winning a VFW 'Voice of Democracy' essay contest. In part: "The highlight for me was hearing Steve Jobs talk at the event. I was just starting to get into computers. And while most of the speakers were titans of industry or military leaders—all very conservative, all dressed formally, all talking about working hard and following rules—Steve Jobs was completely different. He wore a sports jacket that he just dropped on the floor as he began his presentation."
A Washington Post article about the event published on July 13, 1982, describes the Academy of Achievement as a 'kind of walking, talking People magazine,' dedicated to inspiring America's youth with the stories of great achievement in a variety of fields. This diversity is evidenced by the signatures on this unique program—from football stars to computer whizzes to ice cream executives, the Academy welcomed high achievers from any aspect of American life. The article goes on to take note of Jobs's speech at the ceremony: 'Steven Jobs, from Silicon Valley, Calif., threw off his jacket and told a rapt audience of 340 teen-agers: 'You might want to go to Paris and be a poet, or go to a Third World country. I strongly suggest that one. Go see lepers with their hands falling off. Or fall in love with two people at the same time…And don't walk away from Zen Buddhists—sit down and buy them lunch and talk.' Jobs is the 26-year-old guru godfather of Apple Computers. To a lot of the kids present, he was the real hero.'
