Not many Valley people have been named to the California Hall of Fame in its three years, and we think there are several worthy nominees from our region. The Bee's editorial board urges Valley residents to contact the selection committee to nominate people who are worthy. Click here to read today's editorial.
Obvious nominees who come to mind are author William Saroyan, Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, Olympians Bob Mathias and Rafer Johnson and Barbara Morgan, the first teacher in space.
Mike Lukens at the Web site San Joaquin Valleyfornia raised this issue the other day. Here's part of his original post: "Since the California Hall of Fame started three years ago, Valleyfornians have been noticeably left out. Of the 38 total inductees, three -- Ansel Adams, Cesar Chavez and John Muir -- have had recognizable personal or professional connections to the Valley."
You can nominate people for the California Hall of Fame by going to the California Museum Web site by clicking here. Consideration for 2009 inductees begins in January so move quickly.
IM NOT SURE OF THE NAME BUT I THINK IT IS RICK HUSBANDS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AN FSU ALUM THAT WENT INTO SPACE.
I nominate former Senator John Krebs. Without him, the Sierra Nevada's Mineral King Wilderness would be a skiers' Disneyland by now.
Without a doubt "The Central Vally Farmer', without whom there would not be much goodness in California. Like the TIME 'Man of the Year', why not just honour the contribution to the area that THE FARMER has given.
Mind, always admired Bob Mathias and am clueless why he is not on the list, talk about a chap who gave inspiration to many young people.
No one personifies the California Dream more than former Fresnan Kevin Federline.
Broke, marries well, divorces better, turns a negative public image into multiple "Father of the Year" awards, now just living the good life.
The man has given hope to lazy, weed-soaked deadbeats everywhere -- and there's nothing more motivational than hope.
How about Earl Warren, George Lucas and Henry Mancini? Not from Fresno, but certainly from the San Joaquin Valley.
Earl Warren is already in. Here's the complete list:
2008 inductees:
Dave Brubeck, Jane Fonda, Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, Robert Graham, Quincy Jones, Jack LaLanne, Dorothea Lange, Julia Morgan Jack Nicholson, Linus Pauling, Leland Stanford, Alice Waters.
2007 inductees: Ansel Adams, Milton Berle, Steve Jobs, Willie Mays, Robert Mondavi, Rita Moreno, Jackie Robinson, Jonas Salk, John Steinbeck, Elizabeth Taylor, Earl Warren, John Wayne, Tiger Woods.
2006 inductees: Ronald Reagan, Cesar Chavez, Walt Disney, Amelia Earhart, Clint Eastwood, Frank Gehry, David D. Ho, Billie Jean King, John Muir, Sally Ride, Alice Walker, The Hearst Family, The Packard Family.
How about Sister Ruth Marie Nickerson and the Sisters of the Holy Cross?
Cher. Sure, she lived in Fresno, what?, six months or something? She's an Oscar-winning icon, who's always been candid and funny. The current crop of starlets can't hold a candle to her.
I would love to see Merle Haggard and Buck Owens on that list.
Colleague Marc Benjamin suggested several names, including Buck Owens; Joe Shell, an independent oil producer from Kern County and former state assemblyman, and former Congressman Bill Thomas of Bakersfield.
I think Owens should get in for sure -- if for no other reason than his "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail." He had with 20 No. 1 hits on the country music charts, both as a solo artist and with his band, the Buckaroos.
How about "The California Taxpayer" who has had to shoulder the burden for all the Legislative giveaways for so long.Kind of like "Atlas" only instead of shrugging...he's about to puke.
Fresno Pan Handlers keeping our Fresno image the way it is, better or worse, your judgement call.
Fresno Sign Twirlers on Blackstone and Shaw as well as other City intersections. The latest advertisment fad that will stay with us for decades to come.