The Elk Grove Hall of Fame program honors individuals who have contributed significantly to the City of Elk Grove through their outstanding accomplishments in Arts, Education, Community Service, Literature, Science, Sports and more.

The Inaugural Elk Grove Hall of Fame event will be held on November 1, 2017. Details below:

Elk Grove Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Falls Event Center, 8280 Elk Grove Boulevard.
Tickets $25, purchase here.

The Hall of Fame program was created to honor individuals who have “contributed significantly to the city of Elk Grove through their outstanding accomplishments in arts, education, community service, literature, science, sports and more,” according to the council’s program.

Roy Herburger

Herburger, a dedicated journalist and a prominent community member with a commitment to education, purchased the Elk Grove Citizen and Galt Herald in 1959.

He has served as president of the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Elk Grove and the California Newspaper Publishers Association (now California News Publishers Association), as well as on various boards and committees.

Herburger, who received many awards and other recognition, including the Key to the City, resolutions from the California Legislature and an elementary school named in his honor, also created the city’s shop-local effort with the slogan, “Think, Shop, Live Elk Grove.”

Bill Cartwright

The most widely recognized sports star to come out of Elk Grove High School is a basketball player named James William “Bill” Cartwright.

Standing at 7 feet 1 inch tall, Cartwright led championship teams and delivered a state scoring title to Elk Grove High before playing for the University of San Francisco and later the NBA for 16 years.

While in the NBA, Cartwright was named as an all-star during his rookie season with the New York Knicks in 1980, and he played center on the 1990s Chicago Bulls championship teams, which also included Michael Jordan.

His post-playing years have included coaching in the NBA, Japan and Mexico.

Shawn Sullivan

As a visual-arts teacher, Sullivan founded the Sheldon High School animation program and K9 Studios, and received awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He had students who became professional animators for Pixar, Disney, and the Cartoon Network.

Terry Wolff

Wolff, who had a distinguished, 34-year military career, served with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon.

This 1975 Elk Grove High School graduate served as deputy commanding general/chief of staff of the United States Army in Europe and the 7th Army in Germany.

Wolff was also named joint staff director of strategic plans and policy in Washington, D.C., and dedicated time to the Elk Grove Historical Society.

Marielle Tsukamoto

Another Elk Grove High School graduate, Tsukamoto is a former administrator in the Elk Grove Unified School District.

Tsukamoto, who was 5 years old when she was placed in a Japanese-American internment camp, is co-president of the Florin Japanese American Citizens League.

She has conducted volunteer work for the Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation, the Elk Grove Multicultural Festival, and other organizations and events.

Stephanie Cox

As a star soccer player, Cox played on several teams, including the Elk Grove High School girls team, the University of Portland women’s team, and professional teams. She won a gold medal in the sport as a member of the women’s national team in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Cox’s knowledge and experience in the sport led to her hiring as an assistant coach of Seattle Reign FC of the National Women’s Soccer League.

The selection process

The criteria includes accomplishments that generate a source of pride to the community.

To be eligible for nomination for the Hall of Fame, a nominee must have been born in Elk Grove; made their mark within Elk Grove; or lived in Elk Grove and gone on to high levels of achievement elsewhere.