Spokane Citizen Hall of Fame to recognize city’s best dead, living

Spokane has more than 200,000 people living within its borders. In its history, the city has had many more people conducting business, writing stories, creating art, helping the needy and tending to the sick.

Now, with the creation of a Spokane Citizen Hall of Fame, there’s a way to recognize these residents of yesterday and today, with an eye toward educating those who will lift Spokane up tomorrow. Nominations are being solicited in six categories: Economic development and business, education, public service and philanthropy, innovation and leadership, arts and letters, and science and medicine.

City Councilman Mike Allen, who is credited with first pushing the idea, and who helped the Spokane Library Foundation and the city to form the hall of fame, said it was a way to “recognize citizens who have gone before us to make Spokane what it is today.”

Council President Ben Stuckart said the city has a “diversity of awesomeness.”

“We have so much to celebrate as a community, collectively and individually,” he said. “It recognizes citizens from all walks of life; our writers and artists, our business leaders, philanthropists, educators, innovators and scientists. It takes all walks of life and all kinds of talent to make a city special.”

The Hall of Fame will double as a fundraising operation for the library foundation. The funds will be used “for the purpose of facilitating a place, transitioning the Spokane Public Library from bricks and mortar and books, to thought processes,” said Nathan Smith, chair of the library board.

To nominate someone – living or dead – for the Spokane Citizen Hall of Fame, go to SpokaneLibraryFoundation.org/nominate. Fill out the  nomination form and return it to the Library Foundation at foundation@spokanelibrary.org. The nomination period closes Monday, Feb. 16.

There will be a breakfast Thursday, April 2 at the Davenport Hotel to announce the first inductees.