back to top
back to top

Connecticut Hall of Fame
Connecticut Hall of Fame
History of the Connecticut General Assembly Hall of Fame (Brochure)

2016 Hall of Fame

Induction Ceremony

Online Nomination Form

Printable Nomination Form

2014 Hall of Fame

(Ceremony on September 22, 2014)

2014 Connecticut Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
2014 Connecticut Hall of Fame Inductees Announced Senator Joe Crisco listens during the induction ceremony for the 2014 Connecticut Hall of Fame at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. This year's inductees were: Judge John T. Downey; composer and musician David Brubeck; architect Frederick Law Olmsted; aviation pioneer Frederick Rentschler; composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim; and Judge Constance Baker Motley.
Catherine Brubeck Yaghsizian
Catherine Brubeck Yaghsizian, daughter of Dave Brubeck speaks after the famous jazz pianist and composer was inducted into the Connecticut Hall of Fame at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Margaret Jean McKee
Margaret Jean McKee, a descendant of Fredereck Law Olmsted speaks after the famous landscape architect was inducted into the Connecticut Hall of Fame at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Celebrating the induction of Judge Constance Baker Motley
Celebrating the induction of Judge Constance Baker Motley to the Connecticut Hall of Fame at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford are: Senator Joe Crisco, Judge Motley's nieces Constance Royster and Marsha Royster, and New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.
Constance Royster
Constance Royster, niece of Judge Constance Baker Motley, speaks after her aunt was inducted into the Connecticut Hall of Fame at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Listening in the lower right is fellow inductee Judge John Downey.
Mayor Toni Harp congratulates Constance Royster
Mayor Toni Harp congratulates Constance Royster, niece of Judge Constance Baker Motley after the Judge Motley was inducted into the Connecticut Hall of Fame at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Donald Williams listens to Margaret Jean McKee
Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams listens to Margaret Jean McKee, a descendant of Frederick Law Olmsted after the famous landscape architect was inducted into the Connecticut Hall of Fame at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Judge John T. Downey
Judge John T. Downey speaks after being inducted by Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney into the 2014 Connecticut Hall of Fame at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Martin Looney congratulates Judge John T. Downey
Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney congratulates Judge John T. Downey after inducting him into the 2014 Connecticut Hall of Fame at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Senator Fasano
Senator Fasano speaks at the 2014 ceremony.
Senator Fasano presents award to Catherine Brubeck Yaghsizian
Senator Fasano presents award to Catherine Brubeck Yaghsizian, daughter of Dave Brubeck.

2013 Hall of Fame

Geno Auriemma
Geno Auriemma, head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women’s basketball team. He was born in Montella, Italy in 1954. During his illustrious tenure, Auriemma transformed the UConn women’s basketball program into the standard by which all other programs are measured, both on and off the court. Under his coaching the women Huskies have gone from a team with only one winning season to one with eight national titles, 14 Final Fours, four perfect seasons and 37 Big East titles.
Jim Calhoun
Jim Calhoun, coached men’s basketball for 40 years, 26 of which he spent coaching the University of Connecticut Huskies. He coached the Huskies to three national titles and led four teams to the Final Four. Jim Calhoun was named Big East Conference Coach of the Year four times and in 2005 was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He retired in 2012 and resides in Pomfret, CT with his wife Pat. The couple are known for their philanthropy, including the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center at UConn.
Alfred Carlton Gilbert
Alfred Carlton Gilbert, American inventor, athlete, toy-maker and businessman was born in 1884. He graduated from Yale Medical School, and helped pay his tuition by performing as a magician. He also founded Mysto Manufacturing, which sold magic kits for kids. In 1908 he competed in the IV Olympaid in London, England, winning the gold medal in the pole vault. In 1911, while commuting on the New Haven railroad, Mr. Gilbert was inspired by the new electrification catenary and designed the Erector Set, which quickly became the most popular construction toy in the United States. Mr. Gilbert died in 1961.
Roger Sherman
Roger Sherman, American lawyer and politician. Mr. Sherman served in both the Connecticut House of Representatives and the United States Congress. He also represented Connecticut in the Continental Congress. He is especially notable for being the only person to sign all four great state papers of the United States; the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and the Continental Association. He was elected as the first Mayor of New Haven, CT in 1784 and held that office until his death in 1793. Sherman, Connecticut is named for him.

2010 Hall of Fame

(Ceremony on May 5, 2011)

Program for the Connecticut Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Press Release

2010 inductees
Senator Joseph Crisco with the 2010 inductees into the Connecticut Hall of Fame: Noah Webster, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Deane Keller and Robert Ballard. (May 5, 2011)
Presenters and representatives
A group photo of the presenters and representatives accepting the award on behalf of those inducted into the Connecticut Hall of Fame. Left to right: Katherine Kane, Executive Director of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center; Senator Tony Guglielmo; Dr. Stephen Coan, President and CEO of Sea Research Foundation (which operates Mystic Aquarium); Senator Andrew Maynard; Robert Reed, Professor of Painting, Yale University School of Art; Senator Joseph Crisco; Christopher Dobbs, Executive Director of the Noah Webster House; Representative Betty Boukus. (May 5, 2011)

2009 Hall of Fame

ACTING LEGEND AND HUMANITARIAN PAUL NEWMAN INDUCTED INTO CONNECTICUT HALL OF FAME

Thursday, April 16th at 10:30 a.m.

Press Release for the April 16, 2009 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Group photo
Representative Joseph Mioli of Westport, former Senator Judith G. Freedman of Westport, Representative Themis Klarides, Representative Elizabeth "Betty" Boukus, Robert Forrester, the President of Newman's Own Foundation, Senator Joseph Crisco and Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams.
Newman's Own
Senator Joseph Crisco, Senator President Pro Tempore Donald Williams, Representative Themis Klarides, former Senator Judith G. Freedman of Westport, Representative Joseph Mioli of Westport, and Robert Forrester, the President of Newman's Own Foundation.
Newman's Own
Representative Elizabeth "Betty" Boukus, House Majority Leader Denise Merrill, Senator Joseph Crisco, former Senator Judith G. Freedman of Westport, Robert Forrester, the President of Newman's Own Foundation, Representative Joseph Mioli of Westport, Representative Themis Klarides, and Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams.
Group photo
Representative Elizabeth "Betty" Boukus, House Majority Leader Denise Merrill, Senator Joseph Crisco, former Senator Judith G. Freedman of Westport, Robert Forrester, the President of Newman's Own Foundation, Representative Joseph Mioli of Westport, Representative Themis Klarides, and Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams
Unveiling of the honoree
Unveiling of the honoree.

2007/2008 Hall of Fame

CT Hall of Fame Report for 2007-2008

CONNECTICUT HALL OF FAME MEMBERS ANNOUNCE SECOND SET OF INDUCTEES
Honors for Marian Anderson, Harry Gray, Jackie Robinson and Ralph Sturges

Photos from the June 18, 2008 Ceremony

Rep. Boukus with Brigid Guertin
Rep. Boukus with Brigid Guertin of the Danbury Museum and Historical Society (Marian Anderson Studio)
Rep. Caron with Paul Sturges
Rep. Caron with Paul Sturges
Sen. Caligiuri with Harry Gray
Sen. Caligiuri with Harry Gray
Senator Crisco with Della Britton Baeza
Sen. Crisco with Della Britton Baeza of the Jackie Robinson Foundation
Group photo
Harry Gray, Sen. Caligiuri, Paul Sturges, Sen. Williams, Della Britton Baeza, Brigid Guertin, Rep. Caron, Sen. Crisco, Rep. Boukus
Jackie Robinson Foundation
Officials from the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Gary Schueller, Allison Davis, Della Britton Baeza and Sen. Crisco

2006 Hall of Fame

SENATOR CRISCO AND CONNECTICUT HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE ANNOUNCE FIRST SET OF INDUCTEES

Plans unveiled

Plans Unveiled for the Connecticut Hall of Fame at the Legislative Office Building