Historical
The Historical Category is open for deceased New Jerseyans whose contributions transcend any one particular category.

Grover Cleveland Caldwell (b.1837 – d. 1908)
The only President to serve two non-consecutive terms, he is still praised by historians for his honesty, independence and good character.

Molly Pitcher Trenton (b. 1754 - d. 1832)
Legendary “Molly Pitcher,” from the important Revolutionary War’s Battle of Monmouth, was actually Mary Hays McCauley who is an indelible part of New Jersey lore. Photo Source: Library of Congress

Paul Robeson Princeton (b. 1898 - d. 1976)
Celebrated scholar, actor, athlete, singer and political activist whose radical views at one time overshadowed the legacy of his talents and accomplishments; outspoken in fight against racism.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Tenafly (b. 1815 - d. 1902)
Women’s rights activist, who worked alongside Susan B. Anthony as the architect and author of the suffragette movement’s most important documents.

Walt Whitman Camden (b.1819 – d. 1892)
Considered by most critics to be the most influential poet in U.S. history, although his work was controversial at the time.

Woodrow Wilson Princeton (b.1856 – d.1924)
The 28th president of the United States also served as president of Princeton University and Governor of New Jersey; awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1919.

Enterprise
The Enterprise Category is open to scientists, business leaders, inventors, leaders in medicine, entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

Milton Friedman Rahway (b. 1912 – d. 2006)
A Rutgers graduate, this Nobel Prize winning economist became one of the most influential and honored economists of the 20th Century.

Guglielmo Marconi Wall Township, New Brunswick (b. 1874 – d. 1937)
An Italian born inventor who won the Nobel Prize for his “contribution to the development of wireless technology” and did much of his pioneering work in New Jersey.

Mary G. Roebling Trenton (b.1905 – d.1994)
Broke the glass ceiling for women in business in general and in the financial services industry specifically, becoming the first female bank president.

Carl Sagan Rahway (b. 1934 – d. 1996)
World famous astronomer, scientist, and author of popular science books and award-winning television series; Rahway High School graduate.

David Sarnoff Princeton, Camden, Harrison, Somerville, Moorestown (b. 1891-d.1971)
Father of electronic communications, from radio and television broadcasting to color TV and flat-panel displays, created under his leadership by RCA in New Jersey.

Wally Schirra Hackensack (b.1923-d.2007)
Following graduation from the Dwight Morrow School and NJIT, Schirra became one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts and the only pilot to fly in all of America’s first three space programs (Mercury, Gemini and Apollo).

Arts & Entertainment
The Arts & Entertainment Category includes musicians, singers, songwriters, actors & actresses, artists, dancers and those who work in the related fields.

Bud Abbott Asbury Park (b.1898 – d.1974) & Lou Costello Paterson (b.1906 – d.1959)
Famed comedy duo whose routines transcended the vaudeville stage into radio and television.

Count Basie Red Bank (b.1904 - d.1984)
The “Kid from Red Bank” became one of the leading figures of the swing era and one of the most beloved jazz musicians of all time.

Jon Bon Jovi Perth Amboy/Sayreville (b. 1962)
This New Jersey native is a rock musician superstar who has won scores of awards for his music and for his humanitarian work.

Jerry Lewis Newark (b.1926)
Respected actor, comedian, film producer, writer, film director and philanthropist who is known for his charity fund-raising telethons and for his sometimes controversial comments.

Jack Nicholson Neptune (b. 1937)
A Manasquan High School graduate who has become an internationally renowned actor with three Academy Awards out of 12 nominations, seven Golden Globe Awards and a Kennedy Center Honor.

Sarah Vaughan Newark (b. 1924 - d. 1990)
Growing up in Newark, she attended East Side High and Newark Arts High before starting her career as a celebrated jazz singer, winning multiple Grammy Awards and the NEA Jazz Masters Award.

Sports
The Sports Category is open not only to athletes, but also to coaches and others in the field of sports.

Larry Doby Paterson (b.1923-d.2003)
Second African-American Major League Baseball player and first in the American League, this Hall of Fame baseball player grew up in Paterson and played for the Newark Eagles.

Althea Gibson East Orange (b.1927-d.2003)
First African-American to win a Grand Slam Tennis Event when she captured French Open in 1956, she is often called the “Jackie Robinson of tennis.”

Carl Lewis Willingboro (b. 1961)
Dominant Olympic athlete and nine time gold medal winner whose lifetime accomplishments earned him the “Sportsman of the Century” award by IOC, among many other accolades.

Shaquille O’Neal Newark (b. 1972)
Born in Newark and spending his youth in the Central Ward, this all-star basketball player continues an association with his hometown through his philanthropic and property development efforts.

Phil Rizzuto Hillside (b. 1916 - d. 2007)
Beloved Baseball Hall of Famer and New York Yankees shortstop, “The Scooter” became equally famous as a radio and television announcer.

Joe Theismann N. Brunswick (b. 1949)
A South River High School graduate who achieved gridiron greatness at Notre Dame, in the Canadian Football League and eventually with the Washington Redskins.

General
The General Category is a large category encompassing educators, military leaders, writers, poets, scholars, religious leaders, civil servants, politicians and others not specifically falling into the other categories.

William J. Brennan Newark (b.1908-d.1997)
A Barringer High School graduate who became a highly respected jurist, serving as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice from 1956-1990.

F. Scott Fitzgerald Hackensack, Princeton (b.1896-d.1940)
Regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th Century, his work embodied the “jazz age” and continues to be revered today.

Admiral William Halsey Elizabeth (b. 1882 - d. 1959)
This highly decorated 5-star Navy Admiral commanded the U.S. Third Fleet during World War II; his flag flew on the USS Missouri when Japan signed their formal surrender.

Dorothy Parker Long Branch (b. 1893 – d. 1967)
With a formal education ending at 14 when she dropped out of Morristown’s Miss Dana School, this writer and poet rose to acclaim with her wit, wisecracks and literary output; long associated with the New Yorker Magazine, she was an Algonquin Round Table founding member.

Philip Roth Newark (b. 1933)
Weequahic High School graduate whose best selling novels have made him one of the most celebrated living American writers.

William Carlos Williams Rutherford (b. 1883 - d. 1963)
Doctor and writer, publishing poetry, novels, stories, essays, plays, autobiographical works, and letters; his many awards include the first National Book Award for poetry, the Bollingen Prize, and a Pulitzer Prize.