The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans. The Hall of Fame honors people (1) who were born in Nebraska, (2) who gained prominence while living in Nebraska, or (3) who lived in Nebraska and whose residence in Nebraska was an important influence on their lives and contributed to their greatness.
The Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission, with members appointed by the governor, is permitted to nominate one person to the Hall of Fame every two years. In 1976, the nation's bicentennial year, the commission selected four people to be honored. No person can be considered until at least 10 years after his or her death. The Nebraska Hall of Fame display is located on the second floor of the State Capitol in Lincoln.
George W. Norris (1861-1944), U.S. House of Representatives 1903-13, U.S. Senate 1913-43. Initiator of reform of House rules, anti-injunction law for labor, Tennessee Valley Authority, rural electrification and 20th amendment to U.S. Constitution and sponsor of Nebraska Unicameral Legislature. Lived in Beatrice, Beaver City and McCook. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1961.
Willa Cather (1873-1947), Author. "The history of every country begins in the heart of a man or a woman" (from Cather's book O Pioneers!). Lived in Red Cloud. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1962.John J. Pershing (1860-1949), soldier. Commandant of cadets, University of Nebraska, 1891-1895; founder, Pershing Rifles; service, Indian Wars, Cuba, Philippines; commander, Mexican Border, 1916; commander, American Expeditionary Forces, France, 1917-1919; General Armies of the United States, 1919; and Army chief of staff, 1921-24. Lived in Lincoln. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1963-64.
Edward J. Flanagan (1886-1948), founder of Father Flanagan's Boys Home, Boys Town. "I have never found a boy who really wanted to be bad." Lived in Omaha and Boys Town. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1965-66.
William Frederick Cody ("Buffalo Bill") (1846-1917), a.k.a. "Buffalo Bill," soldier, buffalo hunter, Army scout, actor, rancher, irrigationist and showman of the West. Lived in North Platte. Inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame in 1967-68.
William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), three-time Democratic Party nominee for president of the United States, U.S. congressman, U.S. secretary of state, orator, religious leader and author. Lived in Lincoln. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1969-70.
Bess Streeter Aldrich (1881-1954), author. Aldrich, narrator of Nebraska, gave literary life to Nebraska pioneer memories and honored the trials and dreams of settlers, that all may realize and cherish their heritage. One Aldrich novel, A Lantern in her Hand, was translated into many languages. Lived in Elmwood and Lincoln. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1971-72.
John Gneisenau Neihardt (1881-1973), named Nebraska Poet Laureate in 1921. Epic poet of the West, historian, philosopher and friend of the American Indian. "My God and I shall interknit as rain and ocean, breath and air; and O, the luring thought of it is prayer" (from Neihardt's poem "L'Envo"). Lived in Wayne and Bancroft. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1973-74.
J. Sterling Morton (1832-1902), father of Arbor Day, U.S. secretary of agriculture, editor, farmer, legislator and Nebraska territorial secretary. "Other holidays repose upon the past. Arbor Day proposes for the future." Lived in Nebraska City. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1975-76.
Grace Abbott (1873-1939), social reformer and social worker. A native Nebraskan internationally honored for her courageous and effective championship of children and mothers and for her promotion of pioneer social legislation of enduring benefit to Americans. Born and raised in Grand Island. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1975-76.
Mari Sandoz (1896-1966), novelist, historian and friend of the Indian. "The real frontier lies in the stimulation of the creative mind of man." Born in Sheridan County near Gordon; lived in Lincoln. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1975-76.
Nathan Roscoe Pound (1870-1964), botanist, pioneer ecologist, dean of University of Nebraska Law College and dean of Harvard Law School. Born and raised in Lincoln. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1975-76.
Standing Bear (1829-1908), Ponca Indian chief, symbol for Indian rights. "I have found a better way" (Standing Bear). "An Indian is a person within the meaning of the law" (Judge Elmer Dundy). Probably born in northeast Nebraska; lived near the mouth of the Niobrara River in present Knox County at the time of his death. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1977-78.
Robert W. Furnas (1824-1905), newspaperman, soldier, historian, Nebraska governor 1873-75 and agriculturist. Lived in Brownville. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1979-80.
Edward Creighton (1820-1874), telegraph pioneer and banker. Lived in Omaha. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1981-82.
Susette LaFlesche Tibbles (1854-1903), Omaha Indian, a.k.a. "Inshata Theumba" or "Bright Eyes," speaker and writer for Indian rights. Born in Bellevue; raised on Omaha reservation in Thurston County near Macy; lived in Lincoln; died in Bancroft. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1983-84.
Gilbert M. Hitchcock (1859-1934), newspaperman and politician. Founder of the Omaha World-Herald in 1889; U.S. House of Representatives 1902-04 and 1906-11; U.S. Senate 1911-22. Born in Omaha; lived in Omaha. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1985-86.
Loren Eiseley (1907-1977), anthropologist, poet and philosopher of science. Born in Lincoln; lived in Lincoln. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1987-88.
Hartley Burr Alexander (1873-1939), anthropologist, poet, philosopher, educator and authority on North American Indian mythology. Best known as author of the symbolism and inscriptions on the Nebraska state capitol building and other buildings across the United States. Born in Lincoln; raised in Syracuse; lived in Lincoln. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1989-90.
Arthur Weimar Thompson (1886-1970), premier auctioneer. In a 46-year career, Thompson called more than 7,500 livestock sales from New York to California and from Canada to Mexico. World's Who's Who recognized Thompson as "the leading purebred livestock auctioneer in the United States and Canada." Born in Bradshaw; lived in Lincoln. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1991-92.
Dwight Palmer Griswold (1893-1954), banker, publisher, Nebraska governor 1941-47, U.S. senator 1953-54, chief of the American mission for aid to Greece 1947-48. Born in Harrison; raised in Gordon. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1993-94.
Nathan J. Gold (1894-1970), businessman, civic leader, philanthropist and Nebraska booster. Lived in Lincoln. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1995-96.
| Civil War | |
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Bates, Delavan Bourke, John G. Coates, Jefferson Duncan, James K. L. Flanagan, Augustin Hanks, Joseph Henry, Guy V. Howe, Orion P. Johnson, David Josselyn, Simeon T. |
McConnell, Samuel Miller, Jacob C. Miller, James P. Prentice, Joseph R. Shapland, John Traynor, Andrew Vifquain, Victor Widick, Andrew J. Williams, William H.
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| Indian Campaigns | |
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| Babcock, John B. Butler, Edmund Canfield, Heth Co-Rux-Ah-Kah-Wah-Dee (Traveling Bear) Day, Matthias W. Denny, John Foley, John H. Grant, George Herron, Leander Heyl, Charles H. Himmelsback, Michael Hubbard, Thomas Johnson, Henry |
Jordan, George Leonard,Patrick J. Leonard, Patrick T. Lewis, William B. Lohnes, Francis W. Lytton, Jeptha L. McMahon, John Mott Miller, George Stance, Emanuel Strayer, William H. Thompson, George W. Vokes, Leroy H. Wilson, William O.
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| War with Spain |
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Ehle, John W. Meredith, James
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| 1901-1911 |
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Schmidt, Otto Diller
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| Philippines, 1911 |
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Volz, Jacob Jr.
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| World War I |
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Holderman, Nelson M. Rickenbacker, Edward V.
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| World War II | |
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Baker, Vernon Bauer, Harold W. Booker, Robert D. Cowan, Richard E. Hansen, Dale M. |
Lindstrom, Floyd K. Parle, John J. Powers, Leo J. Tominac, John J. Treadwell, Jack L.
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| Korean Conflict |
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Gomez, Edward Kouma, Ernest
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| Vietnam Conflict | |
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Coker, Ronald L. Fous, James W. Hagemeister, Charles C. Hibbs, Robert J. |
Keith, Miguel Kerrey, Joseph R. Young, Gerald O.
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Clarke F. Ansley (1869-1939), educator, editor and encyclopedist.
Richie Ashburn (1927-97), major league baseball Hall of Fame outfielder.
Fred Astaire (1899-1987), dancer, actor and singer.
Max Baer (1909-59), world heavy-weight champion boxer in 1934.
Bil Baird (1904-87), puppeteer.
Howard Malcolm Baldridge Jr. (1922-87), U.S. secretary of commerce and business executive.
George Beadle (1903-89), Nobel Prize-winning biologist and pioneer in biochemical genetics.
Walter D. Behlen (1905-94), founder of Behlen Manufacturing and Horatio Alger Award winner.
Charles E. Bessey (1845-1915), botanist, educator and author.
James F. Bonner (1910-96), molecular biologist and co-inventor of harvesting oranges mechanically.
Robert "Bob" Boozer (1937- ), professional basketball player and Olympic gold medalist.
John Gutzon Borglum (1867-1941), painter, sculptor and designer of Mount Rushmore National Monument.
Marlon Brando (1924- ), Academy Award-winning actor.
Herbert Brownell Jr. (1904- ), political strategist and U.S. attorney general.
Samuel M. Brownell (1900-90), U.S. commissioner of education.
Charles W. Bryan (1867-1945), U.S. vice presidential candidate and Nebraska governor.
Warren Buffett (1930- ), investor, business executive and one of the wealthiest people in the world.
Johnny Carson (1925- ), comedian and host of "The Tonight Show."
Dick Cavett (1936- ), entertainer.
Berlin Guy Chamberlin (1894-1967), professional football Hall of Fame player.
Richard B. Cheney (1941- ), Secretary of Defense, White House Chief of Staff, Vice President of the U.S. (2001- ).
Montgomery Clift (1920-66), actor.
Donald O. Clifton (1924- ), founder of Selection Research Institute and chairman of the Gallup Organization.
James Coburn (1928- ), actor.
George E. Condra (1869-1958), conservationist, geologist and educator.
Samuel Earl "Wahoo Sam" Crawford (1880-1968), major league baseball Hall of Fame outfielder.
Crazy Horse (1842-1877), war chief of Oglala Sioux.
Sandy Dennis (1937-92), Academy Award-winning and Tony Award-winning actress.
George H. Dern (1872-1936), U.S. secretary of war.
David Doyle (1929- ), actor.
John Ray Dunning (1907-75), nuclear physicist who recorded first measurement of energy released from splitting the uranium atom.
Mignon Good Eberhart (1899-1996), mystery novelist.
Harold "Doc" Edgerton (1903-1990), electrical engineer and inventor best known for developing high-speed, stop-action strobe photography.
Val L. Fitch (1923- ), Nobel Prize-winning physicist.
Henry Fonda (1905-82), Academy Award-winning and Tony Award-winning actor.
Gerald R. Ford (1913- ), U.S. president and vice president.
Jay Wright Forrester (1918- ), electrical engineer who invented magnetic core memory for computers.
Bob Gibson (1936- ), major league baseball Hall of Fame pitcher.
Harold Gifford (1858-1929), opthalmologist and educator.
Robert F. Gilder (1856-1940), archaeologist, journalist and painter.
Alfred M. Gruenther (1899-1983), U.S. Army general, commander of NATO and Red Cross president.
Joyce Clyde Hall (1891-1982), founder of Hallmark Cards and Horatio Alger Award winner.
Howard H. Hanson (1896-1981), composer, teacher and conductor.
Stanley K. Hathaway (1924- ), U.S. secretary of the interior.
Marg Helgenberger (1958- ), Emmy Award-winning actress.
Robert Henri (a.k.a. Robert Henry Cozad) (1865-1929), painter, teacher and pioneer of American Modernism.
Edgar Howard (1858-1951), newspaper editor and politician.
David Janssen (1930-80), actor.
William M. Jeffers (1876-1953), Union Pacific Railroad president.
H. Weldon Kees (1914-55), writer, poet and painter.
Theodore A. Kiesselbach (1884-1964), agronomist and pioneer in the development of hybrid corn.
Peter Kiewit (1900-79), construction magnate and philanthropist.
Moses P. Kinkaid (1850-1922), Nebraska congressman who sponsored the Kinkaid Act authorizing homesteads in western Nebraska.
Rollin Kirby (1875-1952), Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist.
Frederick D. Kirsch Jr. (1899-1981), painter and educator.
Lawrence Klein (1920- ), Nobel prize-winning economist.
Swoosie Kurtz (1944- ), Tony Award-winning actress.
Francis LaFlesche (1857-1932), ethnologist, author and advocate for American Indian rights.
Melvin R. Laird (1922- ), U.S. secretary of defense.
Harold C. Lloyd (1893-1971), silent-film actor and comedian.
William Roy "Link" Lyman (1898-1972), professional football Hall of Fame player.
Francis P. Matthews (1887-1952), U.S. secretary of the Navy.
Dorothy McGuire (1918- ), actress.
Samuel R. McKelvie (1881-1956), farm publisher and Nebraska governor.
Butler B. Miltonberger (1897-1977), postwar commander of U.S. Army National Guard bureau.
Richard A. Moores (1909-86), author and illustrator of Gasoline Alley comic strip.
Wright Morris (1910- ), writer.
Paul Morton (1857-1911), business executive and U.S. secretary of the Navy.
Nick Nolte (1934- ), actor.
Tillie L. Olsen (1913- ), writer.
Lawton S. Parker (1868-1954), portrait painter.
Peter G. Peterson (1926- ), U.S. secretary of commerce.
Louise Pound (1872-1958), educator, folklorist and athlete.
Red Cloud (1822-1909), chief of Oglala Sioux who helped lead Indian resistance to white encroachment in the northern Great Plains.
Elmo Burns Roper Jr. (1900-71), public opinion analyst and early developer of modern opinion polls.
Gale Sayers (1943- ), professional football Hall of Fame player.
William Sessions (1930- ), director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Theodore C. Sorensen (1928- ), advisor to President Kennedy and author.
Robert Taylor (a.k.a. Spangler Arlington Brugh) (1911-1969), actor.
George F. Train (1829-1904), promoter.
Arthur C. "Dazzy" Vance (1891-1961), major league baseball Hall of Fame pitcher.
Harold Warp (1903-94), plastics manufacturer, founder of Pioneer Village and Horatio Alger Award winner.
Charles Weidman (1901-75), American modern dance pioneer.
Paul Williams (1940- ), actor, singer and composer.
Julie Wilson (1923- ), singer.
Irene Worth (1916- ), actress.
Malcolm X (a.k.a. Malcolm Little) (1925-1965), civil rights activist.
Clayton K. Yeutter (1930- ), U.S. trade representative and U.S. secretary of agriculture.
Darryl F. Zanuck (1902-1979), motion picture producer and co-founder of 20th Centure Fox movie studio.
