Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announced the newest class of the California Hall of Fame, honoring prominent figures in sports, entertainment, literature and public service whose achievements have shaped the state’s culture and influence.
The inductees will be formally honored during a ceremony March 19 at the California Museum in Sacramento. State officials said the 19th class celebrates individuals whose work reflects California’s tradition of creativity, resilience and innovation.
Among the honorees is Olympic track and field legend Carl Lewis, widely regarded as one of the greatest American athletes. Lewis won 10 Olympic medals (nine gold, one silver) across four Olympic Games and dominated sprinting and long jump competitions during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Best-selling author Terry McMillan is also among the inductees. McMillan wrote influential novels including Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back, works that helped elevate stories centered on Black women and reshaped contemporary American literature.
Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will also be inducted. The Austrian-born bodybuilder rose to global fame as a Hollywood action star before serving as California’s 38th governor. He later became known for environmental advocacy and philanthropy.
Other members of the class include actor and humanitarian Jamie Lee Curtis, Olympic swimming champion Janet Evans, longtime California lawmaker John L. Burton, chef and restaurateur Nobuyuki Matsuhisa and author and systems scientist Riane Eisler.
The all-female musical group Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“From the State Capitol to Los Angeles, from bestselling books to Olympic triumphs, the inductees of the 19th class of the California Hall of Fame have reshaped our culture and our communities,” said Newsom in a statement.
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said the group reflects California’s spirit of creativity and community, noting that many of the honorees have deep ties to Los Angeles, a city whose cultural influence reaches audiences around the world.
Launched in 2006, the California Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose contributions have changed California and influenced the nation and the world.
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Article By: Bo Tefu
