The Old Grad Award was created in the mid-1940s by George and Joe McCabe, the award was retroactively applied to previous generations of athletes with the help of Atlantic City Press sports writer Eddie Nichterlein. By researching archives and sports files, the group established a complete history of the best athletes in Atlantic County, dating back to 1894.

George & Joe McCabe and Nichterlein worked on the award for the remainder of their lives, with George dedicating over 60 years to leading and financially supporting the entire organization. The McCabe family continues to raise the majority of the money to support the scholarship for the award winners, with the Committee continuing the legacy of organizing the award banquet and selecting the winner on an annual basis.

This prestigious and historic award continues the tradition of recognizing outstanding athletic accomplishments at the conclusion of each school year. The award luncheon, held annually attracts over 100 attendees each year.