George R.R. Martin to be Honored by Northwestern University on Saturday

A Song of Ice and Fire author and Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin is taking a small break from writing (we’re assuming) to travel to Evanston, Illinois, so he can be honored by Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Martin is set to receive the Medill Hall of Achievement Alumni Award, as he announced on his Livejournal.

"I will be returning to Evanston, Illinois this weekend in search of my lost youth to receive an alumni award from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. I’ll also be doing an interview and Q&A open to the Northwestern community."

Northwestern University announced the news as well on its website. The Medill award will be presented at a private ceremony that starts at 4 p.m. CST at the Cahn Auditorium. According to the site, the event is open to Northwestern students, faculty, and staff. Free tickets will be available through the Norris Box Office.

The Medill School of Journalism was founded in 1921, and named after Joseph Medill (1823–1899), who was the owner/editor of the Chicago Tribune. Martin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University, where he graduated summa cum laude, before going on to complete his Master’s degree in Journalism in 1971, also at Northwestern.

Northwestern has also announced that Martin will be honored on Saturday’s football game between the Wildcats and Penn State Nittany Lions. George is a huge football fan, often rooting for his beloved New York Jets and Giants and against the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys.

There are several instances in his works where he has incorporated his love of football into his characters. For example, the giant Wun Wun was named for former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, who wore the number 11 on his jersey. In A Dance with Dragons, Wun Wun kills a knight called called Ser Patrek of King’s Mountain, who’s heraldry is a blue star on a silver field, which is little like the heraldry of the Dallas Cowboys. That character is based on Martin’s friend and Cowboys fan Patrick—Martin lost a football-based wager to Patrick, and had to kill him horribly in the books as a result.