California Hall of Fame – Inductees (Part 1 of 2)

(UPDATED 3/7/18)  Description of the 10th Annual California Hall of Fame and the inductees who were awarded the Spirit of California metal.

On November 30^th Governor Brown and First Lady Anne Gust presented to the 10^th class of California Hall of Fame inductees the Spirit of California metal.  The ceremony took place at the California Museum in Downtown Sacramento.

As it was a bit chilly out I opted to watch the evening ceremony on-line in the comfort of my home instead of attending in person.  It was nice to have that option.

Californian’s who have made remarkable achievements in science, philanthropy, sports, business, entertainment, literature, technology, activism and politics are eligible to be so honored.  Living inductees are required to attend in person to claim their metal.

The members of the 10^th class of inductees are:

Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende (b.1942), author.  Allende has lived in the San Francisco Bay area since 1987.  Allende’s books, written in her native Spanish, have been translated into more than 35 languages and have sold over 67 million copies.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford (b.1942), actor.  Ford has lived and worked in California since 1964.  He has starred in some of the most successful films in cinema history.  Ford launched his career in American Graffiti.  Among his major roles are Han Solo (Star Wars) and Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark).

Tony Gwynn

Tony Gwynn (1960-2014), Major League Baseball Hall of Famer.  Gwynn, a native Californian, spent his entire career of 20+ seasons with the San Diego Padres.  He was one of the greatest hitters in the history of MLB. The team retired his number 19 jersey in 2004.

Corita Kent

Corita Kent (1918-1986).  Kent, an artist, educator and advocate for social justice, spent most of her life in Southern California.

William J. Perry

William J. Perry (b.1929), former U.S. Secretary of Defense and nuclear deterrence expert.  Perry, who was one of Silicon Valley’s early entrepreneurs (digital technologies and satellite reconnaissance systems) is currently Professor Emeritus at Stanford University.

Maria Shriver

Maria Shriver (b.1955), journalist and former California First Lady (2003-2010).  Shriver has a long list of accomplishments including as an award-winning journalist and producer as well as a best-selling author.  Shriver, during her tenure as California First Lady, was key to the creation of the California Hall of Fame.

Russ Solomom

Russ Solomon (1922-2018), music business pioneer.  Solomon was a California native who resided in Sacramento.  Founder of Tower Records, the first music retailer to offer a comprehensive selection of music in a variety of genres in one location.  See related post:  Tower Records – A Sacramento Story.

Update

(3/7/18) Russ Solomon died on March 4, 2018 at the age of 92.  The Sacramento Bee reported that Solomon was drinking whiskey and watching the Oscars when he suffered an apparent heart attack.

George Takei

George Takei (b.1942), actor and activist.  Takei is a California native who resides in Los Angeles.  Best known for portraying Mr. Sulu on Star Trek, Takei is also a social justice activist.  Takei has also been recognized with a star on the Sacramento Walk of Stars.  He also has a direct Sacramento connection – his mother was born here.

See related post:  Sacramento’s Walk of Stars – First Inductees.

To Sum Up

Interested in learning more about these and other California Hall of Fame inductees? You can watch the ceremony for the 10^th class of California Hall of Fame inductees, as well as all previous ceremonies here.

Comments on the 10th Annual California Hall of Fame?

Did you attend or watch the 10^th Class of the California Hall of Fame be inducted?  Do you have a favorite inductee?  What was your favorite quote of the evening?

Up next:  California Hall of Fame – Artifact Exhibit (Part 2 of 2)

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