New Jersey Hall of Fame Inaugural Class of Inductees Announced By Governor Jon Corzine

New Jersey Hall of Fame Inaugural Class of Inductees Announced By Governor Jon Corzine

TRENTON, N.J., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinatra, Springsteen and Streep were three prominent names announced today as Governor Jon S. Corzine introduced the New Jersey Hall of Fame's inaugural class. The fifteen leaders and legends in the categories of Arts & Entertainment, Sports, Historical, Enterprise and General all share one common denominator: a close relationship to New Jersey.

Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra and Meryl Streep were elected into the Arts & Entertainment Category. In the Historical Category, Thomas Alva Edison is joined by scientist Albert Einstein and humanitarian Clara Barton.

The three sports figures entering the Hall of Fame are Yankee great Yogi Berra, Senator Bill Bradley and legendary football coach Vince Lombardi.

The Enterprise Category, open to business leaders, scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs and philanthropists, includes astronaut Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin and business leaders Malcolm Forbes and Robert Wood Johnson II.

In the General Category are General Norman Schwarzkopf, award winning novelist Toni Morrison and Harriet Tubman, the historic abolitionist.

The Hall of Fame nomination process began in mid-2006 when a panel of experts, comprised of university professors, scientists, editors, authors and other authorities, compiled a list of more than 125 potential Hall of Famers. Organized into five categories, the list was presented to the Voting Academy, made up of 150 of the state's most prominent organizations.

The Voting Academy selected the top five nominees in each category. Then the public was invited to vote during which time, schools across the state used the voting as an opportunity for learning, with classes running mock elections.

"The response from teachers and students," said Bart Oates, Chairman of the Commission and center for the 1986 and 1990 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, "reinforces our belief that the Hall of Fame will become an important educational experience for young people and families."

The New Jersey Hall of Fame will hold a gala red carpet induction ceremony with many New Jersey celebrities in attendance on Sunday, May 4, 2008.

Although supported by private donations, the Hall of Fame is operating under the auspices of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) and is overseen by an Advisory Commission.

Major sponsors of the museum include NJSEA, J.H. Cohn, the New Jersey Education Association, the Star-Ledger and sanofi-aventis.

The public can learn more about the New Jersey Hall of Fame on-line at www.njhalloffame.com.

Source: New Jersey Hall of Fame

CONTACT: Don Jay Smith, +1-908-832-1020, donjaysmith@patmedia.net, for
New Jersey Hall of Fame

Web site: http://www.njhalloffame.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment