Jerry West won a Gold medal as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team.
 
Fifty-nine years later, West earned an even more prestigious medal.
 
President Donald Trump presented the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to the former West Virginia University and NBA great on Thursday in the White House.
 
West was an All-American player at WVU who led the Mountaineers to the national championship game in 1959 before embarking upon a 14-year Hall of Fame career in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers.
 
His career was so successful and so admired that a silhouette of the current NBA logo is modeled after West.
 
West's success continued as front office executive for the Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors where he constructed numerous NBA championship teams. Now 81, West's involvement with professional basketball continues in an advisory capacity with the Los Angeles Clippers.
 
"He made plays that will forever be remembered," Trump said of West.
 
Trump also recognized the "millions of dollars" in charitable contributions West has made through the years, which most recently included a leadership-level donation to the WVU Medicine Children's "Grow Children's" Capital Campaign.
 
"This is so richly deserved," Trump said before presenting West the award.
 
"It never ceases to amaze me the places you can go in this world by chasing a bouncing ball," West said. "I was a dreamer, and my family didn't have much."
 
Among friends and family on hand to celebrate Thursday's ceremony was lifelong friend and WVU teammate Willie Akers.
 
Daughter-in-law Michelle Wie, wife of West's son Jonnie, a former WVU basketball player, also attended Thursday's event.
 
West is among a number of former sports stars Trump has awarded the Medal of Freedom. Two weeks ago, Boston Celtics star Bob Cousy was recognized and last spring golf legend Tiger Woods was also honored.