This story is taken from Sacbee / Capitol and California


Published Wednesday, Dec. 02, 2009

The red carpet was rolled out once again Tuesday for Sacramento's annual night of stars, as the 13 newest members of the California Hall of Fame were inducted in ceremonies at the California Museum.

Carol Burnett let loose one of her trademark Tarzan yells for 350 gathered onlookers, including four young girls from Fair Oaks who shouted in unison, "We love you, Miss Hannigan," referring to her role in "Annie" (1982), a movie she made long before they were born.

"She's one of my favorites," Elvie Belson, 8, said breathlessly.

Burnett was joined on the red carpet by such fellow honorees as filmmaker George Lucas ("Star Wars"), former Intel CEO Andrew S. Grove, former Oakland Raiders coach and TV commentator John Madden, author Danielle Steel, bodybuilding pioneer Joe Weider and Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier.

"It's very significant," Olympic decathlete Rafer Johnson said of the honor as he made his way through the crowd. "I was raised in Kingsburg, and I had some skills and abilities as did other kids in my school. No matter how good you are, you can't be the best you can be unless somebody helps you. The people in my community helped me, and I try to do that in my life."

Johnson founded California Special Olympics.

Five individuals were inducted posthumously: industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, philanthropist Joan Kroc, artist Fritz Scholder, slain gay rights advocate Harvey Milk, and California Gov. and U.S. Sen. Hiram Johnson.

Each of the deceased honorees was represented by family or friends, other than Johnson, California's 23rd governor.

"It's the poignancy of life that you can be so great, so important, and one, two, three generations later, there is nobody," said Kevin Starr, California's state librarian emeritus who stepped up to represent Johnson.

"We're living off, almost 100 years later, the reforms of the Progressive era. He got California ready for the 20th century, he and his colleagues in the Senate and Assembly. I'm thrilled he was nominated for this," Starr said.

Actor Sean Penn, who won an Academy Award for his big-screen portrayal of Milk in "Milk" (2008), was expected to attend the ceremonies but canceled at the last minute.

In his stead were Milk's nephew Stuart Milk, his campaign manager Anne Kronenberg and campaign staff member Gwen Craig, among others. Milk was elected to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors in 1977, becoming the first openly gay person to serve in a significant public office.

The Milk entourage noticed but ignored silent protesters holding up negative signs about the late politician.

"It's offensive, but it's expected," said California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, "and I think the vindication is the fact that Harvey is being acknowledged in a very respected and dignified way at this ceremony."

The inductees themselves or their relatives have loaned personal artifacts to the California Museum, to remain on display for the next year.

Museum-goers will see such things as an interactive display about the Intel microprocessor (Grove), an entire art gallery (Scholder), the Raiders' 1977 Super Bowl trophy and game ball (Madden), 1984 Olympic torch (Johnson) and kettlebell weights (Weider).

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and first lady Maria Shriver presided over the evening's events. "Despite a global economic crisis, California still remains a beacon for dreamers and risk-takers," Schwarzenegger said.

This was the fourth "class" inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

"Every year, I wonder what the next class is going to look like and wonder how they can be as good as the class before, but they always are," said Claudia French, the museum's executive director.

"When I sit in that auditorium and I see those 13 people up there - 13 people who have changed the world in their particular field - the hair on my neck raises. It literally does. It gives me absolute chills."

http://www.californiamuseum.org/

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you make them feel...
~Unknown~

Edited 1 time by ldyb2 12/02/09 11:34.