TRENTON - Actor Jack Nicholson, baseball pioneer Larry Doby, and Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Grover Cleveland are among 30 nominees to the New Jersey Hall of Fame announced yesterday.
Members of the public will help select the inductees for the hall's third class by voting online through Nov. 20. The winners will be announced in early December, with induction ceremonies scheduled for May. To vote, go to www.njhalloffame.org.
"As with our first two classes of nominees, this assemblage of New Jersey Hall of Fame nominees is indeed impressive," said Bart Oates, chairman of the hall's board of commissioners. "The people of our state should be proud of these individuals who have attained remarkable success. We hope that the Hall of Fame inspires young people to strive to be the best they can."
The nominees include those from the arts and entertainment, sports, history, and enterprise. Only people who lived in the Garden State for at least five years and have a significant association with the state are eligible, though current residency is not required, said hall spokesman Don Smith.
The hall inducted 15 members into its inaugural class in 2008, including Bruce Springsteen, Yogi Berra, and Frank Sinatra. This year, they were joined by rock-and-roller Jon Bon Jovi and 12 others, including NBA star Shaquille O'Neal and civil-rights activist, actor, and concert star Paul Robeson.
Besides Nicholson, Doby, and the two presidents, this year's nominees include guitar legend and musical innovator Les Paul, who died last month; writers Philip Roth and Judy Blume; entertainers Count Basie and Frankie Valli; and track star Carl Lewis.
The nominees were culled from a list of more than 200 potential Hall of Famers, which was trimmed to 125 names and presented to the organization's Voting Academy. That group, made up of about 100 state organizations and former governors, then whittled the list to 30 names - six in each of five categories.
Public voters will elect one person in each category, and the commissioners will choose five other inductees based on the final vote totals, Smith said.
The goal of the hall is to highlight the often-derided Garden State's positive contributions, a lofty endeavor for a state renowned for corrupt politicians, belching refineries, stereotypical gangsters, and novel smells.
The hall has a virtual home (www.njhalloffame.org) but no permanent physical location. However, plans are in place to create a mobile museum that will take exhibits to schools and communities around the state. In addition, the Hall of Fame will be regionally located in Trenton, Newark, and Atlantic City.
"With the construction of a mobile museum, we will be able to take the Hall of Fame to the people of New Jersey," Smith said. "Families can easily pay a visit either to the trailer when it comes to their area or to one of our regional sites not only to teach their children about New Jersey history, but also to inspire them to excel."
The hall is supported by private funds but operated under the auspices of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.
How to Vote
To choose the third class of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, go to www.njhalloffame.orgEndText