Atlantic City Free Public Library Heritage Collection/Sarah Spencer Washington founded the Apex News & Hair Company and became one of the nation’s first Black female millionaires.
Atlantic City historical figure Sara Spencer Washington, founder of Apex News and Hair Company, is among those being inducted into the 2021 Class of the NJ Hall of Fame.
Danny DeVito is set to host the 13th annual Induction Ceremony, with special appearances by President George W. Bush, Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Snyder-Murphy, Chelsea Handler, Patti LaBelle, Quincy Jones, Keith Richards, Robin Roberts, Judith Light, Al Leiter, Nona Hendryx, and many more.
The one-hour ceremony will premiere at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16 on My9NJ and on the Hall of Fame’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, with re-airings on Sunday, Oct. 17, Saturday, Oct. 23, and Sunday, Oct. 24. It will also air at 8 p.m., Oct. 20, 22 and 23 on NJ PBS.
This year’s class showcases the depth and variety of talent of the Garden State, ranging from founding father Alexander Hamilton to Baseball Hall of Famer Monte Irvin. Other inductees include singer Mary Chapin Carpenter, dynamic businesswoman Louise Scott, famed photographer Dorothea Lange, and the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
The ceremony will also pay tribute to the late Sarah Dash, who passed away on Sept. 20 before she was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
And as the nation marked 20 years since the devastating Sept. 11,2001 attacks, the Hall of Fame is proud to announce that this year’s Unsung Heroes are the thousands of first responders who have suffered complications and passed away due to their service.
The New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2021 is:
Arts & Letters
Dorothea Lange*, Hoboken, documentary photographer
Anne Morrow Lindbergh*, Englewood, author and aviator
Performing Arts
George Benson, Englewood, jazz guitarist, singer, and songwriter
Sarah Dash*, Trenton, co-founder of Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles
Mary Chapin Carpenter**, Princeton, country music singer
Enterprise
Madeline McWhinney Dale*, Middletown, first female officer/vice-president of the Federal Reserve Bank
Madame Louise Scott*, Newark, founder of Scott School of Beauty Culture & chain of beauty salons
Paul Volcker*, Cape May, 12th Chair of the Federal Reserve
Sara Spencer Washington*, Atlantic City, founder of Apex News and Hair Company
Sports
Val Ackerman, Pennington, first president of the Women’s National Basketball Association
Monte Irvin*, Orange, left and right fielder in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball who played with the Newark Eagles, New York Giants and Chicago Cubs
Public Service
Margaret Bancroft*, Haddonfield, founder of Bancroft, nonprofit serving individuals with disabilities
Alexander Hamilton*, Elizabeth, founding father and first secretary of the treasury
David Mixner, Elmer, political activist and author
William Paterson*, South Branch, signer of the U.S. Constitution, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and 2nd Governor of New Jersey
Gustave F. Perna, Rockaway, U.S. Army four-star general/COO of the federal COVID-19 response
Antonin Scalia*, Trenton, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1986 until his death in 2016.
*Being honored posthumously.
**Previous inductee, but being formally inducted this year.
The 17 inductees in the five categories were chosen out of 50 nominees after a public vote during the month of May.
