NJ Hall of Fame Announces 50 Nominees for 2021 Public Vote
On May 5, 2021
New Jerseyans have another chance to choose their heroes as the New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) announces its 50 nominees for the 2021 public vote in five categories: Arts & Letters, Enterprise, Performing Arts, Public Service, and Sports.
The public is invited to vote at ChooseHeroes.com from May 5 through Memorial Day. Those nominees receiving the most votes in each category are automatically inducted.
The final inductees will be announced in June, with the induction ceremony taking place in October. The 13th annual New Jersey Hall of Fame induction ceremony will once again be a virtual event as it was last year, in an abundance of caution amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. It will be broadcast on television, radio and social media platforms, bringing the event closer to the public.
“We are excited to once again highlight the depth and variety of the Garden State,” said Jon F. Hanson, chairman of the NJHOF. “New Jerseyans will truly have their work cut out for them in choosing among these incredible nominees.”
“The 50 nominees included in this year’s public vote reflect the best that New Jersey has to offer,” said Steve Edwards, president of the NJHOF. “We’re honored to carry on our longstanding tradition of promoting the many deserving role models in our great state and bring recognition to their amazing talent and work.”
Full biographies of the nominees, as well as the ballot, can be found at ChooseHeroes.com.
ARTS & LETTERS
George Walker, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, pianist and organist
Gay Talese, writer and journalist
Alfred Stieglitz, photographer and modern art promoter
Dorothy Porter Wesley, librarian, bibliographer and curator
Anne Lindbergh, author and aviator
John F. Nash Jr., mathematician who made fundamental contributions to game theory, differential geometry, and the study of partial differential equations
Dorothea Lange, documentary photographer and photojournalist
Thomas Fleming, historian and author of over forty nonfiction and fiction titles
Junot Díaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who focuses on the immigrant experience in America
Margaret Bourke-White, the first American female war photojournalist
ENTERPRISE
Paul A. Volcker Jr., 12th Chair of the Federal Reserve under Presidents Carter and Reagan
Sara Spencer Washington, founder of Apex News and Hair Company named one of the “Most Distinguished Businesswomen” at the 1939 New York World’s Fair
Louise Scott-Roundtree, established successful chain of beauty salons in Newark and city’s first African-American female millionaire
Henry Rowan, engineer and philanthropist
Denise M. Morrison, former president and CEO of Campbell Soup Company
The Mars family, owners of confectionery company Mars, Inc.
Madeline McWhinney Dale, first female officer and vice-president of the Federal Reserve Bank
Clive Cummis, founder of one of NJ’s largest law firms and influential Democratic fundraiser
Elizabeth Coleman White, agricultural specialist who developed the first cultivated blueberry
James E. Burke, former CEO of Johnson & Johnson
PERFORMING ARTS
Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye: Smith is a singer-songwriter, musician, author and poet who was part of the New York City punk rock movement in the 1970s; Kaye is a musician, writer, record producer and guitarist for Smith from her band’s inception in 1974
Bebe Neuwirth, Emmy winning-actress, singer and dancer
Marilyn McCoo, lead female vocalist of The 5th Dimension
Buddy Hackett, actor and comedian
Lesley Gore, singer, songwriter, actress, and activist
Brian De Palma, film director and screenwriter
Sarah Dash, award-winning vocalist who co-founded Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles
David Copperfield, magician
The Jonas Brothers, popular pop band made up of brothers Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas
George Benson, jazz guitarist, singer, and songwriter
PUBLIC SERVICE
Loretta Weinberg, New Jersey State Senate Majority Leader
Richard Stockton, lawyer, jurist, legislator and a signer of the Declaration of Independence
George P. Shultz, economist, diplomat, and businessman serving under three GOP presidents
Antonin Scalia, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1986 until his death in 2016
Gustave F. Perna, U.S. Army four-star general & CEO of the federal COVID-19 response for vaccine and therapeutics
William Paterson, signer of the U.S. Constitution, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and 2nd Governor of New Jersey
David Mixner, political activist and author
Richard J. Hughes, 45th Governor of New Jersey, Chief Justice of the NJ Supreme Court
Margaret Bancroft, founder of the Haddonfield Bancroft Training School for the multiply disabled
Alexander Hamilton, founding father and first secretary of the treasury
SPORTS
Lawrence Taylor “L.T.”, former linebacker for the New York Giants
Phil Simms, two-time Super Bowl champion and quarterback for the New York Giants
Bill Parcells, two-time Super Bowl head coach for the New York Giants
Heather Ann O’Reilly, three-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup winner for the U.S. women’s national soccer team
John J. McMullen, naval architect, businessman, marine engineer and former owner of the New Jersey Devils and Houston Astros
Ron Jaworski, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and NFL analyst
Monte Irvin, left and right fielder in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball who played with the Newark Eagles, New York Giants and Chicago Cubs
Craig Biggio, seven-time National League (NL) All-Star second baseman, outfielder and catcher for the Houston Astros
Al Attles, longtime basketball player and coach for the Golden State Warriors
Valerie B. Ackerman, first president of the Women’s National Basketball Association