University Honors Nicaraguan Leader

Nicaraguan President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro received the 1991 Thomas Wade Landry Humanitarian Medal on Thursday from officials of California Lutheran University during a ceremony attended by stars such as Charlton Heston and Chuck Norris.

Chamorro, who is visiting Los Angeles this week at the invitation of the Thousand Oaks-based university, was selected by the Landry Medal committee “in recognition of her strong Christian leadership as she strives for national reconciliation, geographic economic stability, a free and fair democracy, and world peace.”

The award is named for the longtime Dallas Cowboys football coach, and is presented to those who “provide leadership and inspiration,” university officials said.

Previous recipients of the Landry Medal, awarded annually, include Gov. Pete Wilson, former President Gerald R. Ford, Bob Hope, Nancy Reagan, Times sports columnist Jim Murray and Danny Thomas.

Chamorro, 61, is the 12th recipient of the award and the first head of state to be honored. She received the medal during ceremonies held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.