The California Museum & Comcast Announce the 2011 California Hall of Fame Inductees

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2011 California Hall of Fame inductees, as selected by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. and First Lady Anne Brown, were announced today by The California Museum and Comcast, continuing the rich tradition of honoring legendary people who embody California's innovative spirit. The inductees of the sixth annual event all have made distinct marks on history.

The 2011 California Hall of Fame inductees are: Moon explorer and astronaut Buzz Aldrin; surf rock legends The Beach Boys; Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn; community activist Father Gregory Boyle; entrepreneurs and philanthropists Doris and Donald Fisher; basketball superstar Magic Johnson; disability rights advocate Ed Roberts; guitar visionary Carlos Santana; celebrated contemporary novelist Amy Tan; and social justice champion California Supreme Court Justice Roger Traynor.

“The California Hall of Fame is honoring ten outstanding individuals who exemplify the creative and pioneering spirit of California,” said Governor Brown. “These men and women have enriched our lives and pointed the way to a future of unimagined quality.”

The 2011 California Hall of Fame inductees join 63 remarkable Californians who have made monumental achievements across a variety of disciplines including science, philanthropy, sports, business, entertainment, literature, technology, activism and politics. The California Hall of Fame highlights a broad range of California interests through honoring Golden State trailblazers who have broken barriers in not just one field or talent, but have impacted the world with the courage, determination and creativity of their achievements.

"I'm lucky to have grown up in California," said 2011 inductee Mike Love of the Beach Boys. "There may be no other group more closely associated with California than the Beach Boys.  Because of that association, I'm honored to be an inductee into the California Hall of Fame."

All living inductees and family of posthumous inductees are scheduled to participate in the presentation of the California Hall of Fame awards by the Governor and First Lady on Thurs., Dec. 8, 2011 at the Memorial Auditorium, located at 1515 J Street in Sacramento. Formerly held at The California Museum's 1020 O Street location, the new venue will accommodate a much larger audience of 3,000, including 500 balcony seats which will be reserved for California Hall of Fame level members of The California Museum.

"The 2011 California Hall of Fame is shaping up to be The California Museum's most exciting event yet," said Phil MacDougall, Deputy Director of the California Hall of Fame. "We're thrilled to be able to invite a larger portion of the Sacramento community as well as members of the Museum to join us in honoring yet another class of extraordinary Californians."

Comcast, the exclusive multimedia sponsor of the 2011 California Hall of Fame, will air a live broadcast of the red carpet arrivals and induction ceremony on Comcast Hometown Network to 2.4 million subscribers on Thurs., Dec. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. as hosted by Lisa Ling, member of The California Museum Board of Trustees and correspondent of Oprah Winfrey Network's "Our America With Lisa Ling."

To date, the 2011 California Hall of Fame presenting sponsors include the California Travel and Tourism Commission and Comcast.

For more information, inductee biographies and press images, download the 2011 California Hall of Fame press kit available online at: CaliforniaMuseum.org/About/Press-center

About The California Museum

The California Museum – home of the California Hall of Fame – engages, educates and enlightens people about California's rich history and its unique contribution to the world through ideas, innovation, art and culture. Through captivating, interactive and innovative experiences, the Museum seeks to inspire men, women and children to dream the California dream and dare to make their mark on history. Open Mon.-Sat. 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Sun. 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Adults: $8.50, Students/Seniors: $7.00 with valid ID; Youth: 6-17: $6.00; Children 5 & under: free. For more information, please visit: CaliforniaMuseum.org.

ABOUT COMCAST HOMETOWN NETWORK

Comcast Hometown Network (CHN) is a regional cable network produced by Comcast and available in the San Francisco Bay Area and Central California on Digital Channel 104. Available to more than 2 million homes in Northern and Central California as a part of Comcast's commitment to the communities that it serves, Comcast Hometown Network is a 24/7 channel that includes original regional programming, Comcast Hometown Sports (CHS), and unique local content that you can't get anywhere else. For more information, please visit: ComcastHometown.com.

SOURCE The California Museum