Voting is open for the 12th Class of the NJ Hall of Fame.
Who's your hero?
New Jersey residents have the opportunity to choose the hero they would like to see inducted into the 12th Class of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the State of New Jersey.
This year's nominees include several notable South Jerseyans, including author Gay Talese of Ocean City, baseball great Mike Trout of Millville, and engineer and philanthropist Henry Rowan for whom Rowan University is named.
Fifty New Jerseyans who have overcome unimaginable obstacles and challenges have been nominated to the state's top honor in five categories Arts and Letters, Enterprise, Performing Arts, Public Service and Sports. They have survived war, overcome poverty, conquered fear and disability, and rebounded from untold rejections and failure.
Now it's time for your voice to be heard by voting for the candidates of your choice. Voting is open until the end of June at the New Jersey Hall of Fame website, www.njhalloffame.org/2019-nominee-voting/.
The nominees are:
Arts and Letters - Charles Addams, Stephen Crane, Paula Kassell, Joyce Kilmer, Fran Lebowitz, Ann Morrow Lindbergh, John Forbes Nash Jr., Gay Talese, Mort Pye and George Theophilus Walker.
Enterprise The Borg family, Linda Bowden, James E. Burke, Fairleigh S. Dickinson, Steve Kalafer, Denise Morrison, Henry Rowan, Joseph Simunovich, John Scher and Paul Volcker.
Performing Arts Danny Aiello, John Amos, Paul Anka, George Benson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Buddy Hackett, Cissy Houston, Ernie Kovacs, The Nelsons and Flip Wilson.
Public Service Dr. Virginia Apgar, Sister Jane Frances Brady, Margaret Bancroft, Michael Chertoff, Martin Dempsey, Alfred Driscoll, Milton Friedman, William Livingston, William Patterson and Richard Stockton.
Sports Rick Barry, Craig Biggio, Gerry Cooney, Tim Howard, Monte Irvin, Eli Manning, Robert E. Mulcahey III, C. Vivian Stringer, Mike Trout and Sue Wicks.
Their biographies can be found on the voting page of the website.
The individual receiving the most votes in each category will automatically be inducted. The Foundation Board will then deliberate to determine who else should be inducted. Inductees will be chosen by July 15. Honorees will be formally inducted in a virtual red carpet ceremony in October. Last year's induction ceremony was held at The Paramount theater in Asbury Park.
Other South Jerseyans who have been inducted include philanthropist Lewis Katz, a summer resident of Longport, Class of 2015; Peace Pilgrim (born Mildred Norman) of Egg Harbor City, Class of 2016; and soccer great Carli Lloyd of Delran, Class of 2017.
To recommend someone for nomination, see https://njhalloffame.org/recommend-a-njhof-nominee/
