The New Jersey Hall of Fame has announced it’s class of 2024 and two of my favorite things are in: Jersey Mike’s Subs and film maker and Red Bank native Kevin Smith! How cool is this?! OK, so it’s not the actual sub that will be in the NJ Hall of Fame, it’s the founder of Jersey Mikes, Peter Cancro. In all there are 18 inductees for 2024. Check them out.

What Is The New Jersey Hall of Fame?

The hall of fame became what it is today in 2005 when then interim Governor Richard Cody signed a bipartisan bill that removed the state’s Sports and Exposition Authority from management of the program and created a Board of Directors. The first nominees were inducted in 2008 and included Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Albert Einstein, Buzz Aldrin, Yogi Berra, and Harriet Tubman.

The rule is that a person must have resided in New Jersey for a minimum of five years in order to be considered. An expert panel creates a list of potential nominees in each of five fields. That list is narrowed down to just six people in each of the five fields. Phase three of the nomination process is voting by the general public, followed by final selection by the Board of Directors. A full list of previous New Jersey Hall of Fame inductees can be found here.

The five fields that the Board nominates in are: Historical, Enterprise, Arts and Entertainment, Sports, and General.

Where Is The NJ Hall of Fame?

In 2013 the New Jersey Hall of Fame was mobile, which seems appropriate based on how much time we New Jerseyans spend behind the wheel. However, these days the Hall of Fame is located in the American Dream Mall in the Meadowlands.

Here’s the 2024 Class, to be honored in a pre-taped television special on November 13, 2024:

• Kevin Smith

  Do I sincerely have to tell you who Kevin Smith is? LOL! The Red Bank native has created some of our most beloved cult classic films. Clerks (both of ’em), Mall Rats, Dogma, Chasing Amy and more! His iconic characters Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and himself) have entertained us since their inception. Plus, lets mention the lore of the Silent Stash comic store in Red Bank. His work reflects a part of New Jersey culture that captures the essence of ourselves.

  And let us not forget that his humor extends pretty far. Like when he turned up to a protest of his own film in Eatontown. LOLOLOL.

• Meryl Streep

  Actress Meryl Streep also is one who needs zero introduction.  However, I Was Today Years Old when I learned that Meryl Streep was from New Jersey.  She is!  The actress was born in Summit, New Jersey and raised in Basking Ridge.  Streep’s acting experience began in junior high school and continued when her family moved to Bernardsville.  Meryl Streep has had a long and storied career.  After appearing in many Broadway shows, she was inspired by Robert DeNiro’s performance in “Taxi Driver” and decided to try acting in film.  Meryl has been at minimum nominated for excellence in film by the Academy for a mind-blowing 39 years.

  Meryl Streep’s film career boasts multiple award nominations and multiple wins for performances in films like “The Deer Hunter”, “Silkwood”, “Kramer vs Kramer” in the beginning of her film career.  A resurgence brought other awards and nominations for films like, “The Devil Wears Prada”, “Doubt” and “The Post”.  Most recently, Meryl Streep has appeared in season three of the hit Hulu show, “Only Murders In The Building” which starts comedians Martin Short and Steve Martin and singer/actress Selena Gomez.  I love this entertainment report where the cast of season 3 totally geek out at her inclusion.  Meryl Streep is truly acting magic.

• Jersey Mike's Founder: Peter Cancro

  Dude.  This guy rocks.  You may night know the name, but you know his sub sandwich.  The Jersey Mike’s sub sandwich chain started here in our backyard:  Point Pleasant.  Peter was an early employee of the original location and he bought out the original owner at the age of just 17.  From such humble beginnings the Jersey Mike’s chain has grown through franchising to feature over 2800 locations.  So ubiquitous is the Jersey Mike’s brand that almost everyone knows what the question, “Mike’s way?” means.  Lettuce, onions, tomato, oil/vinegar and spices.  All served up on a sub sandwich roll that was baked earlier that day.

  Not only are the sub sandwiches great, but the chain takes a day out of their year and donates their profit to a chosen charity.  They give back to the community, which is pretty cool.  Here’s a short bit that a food channel did on the chain.  Paul turns up at the 1:36 mark in this video.

• Phil Simms

  New York Giants Quarterback Phil Simms of Franklin Lakes was the MVP of Superbowl 21 after he led the New York Giants to a 39 – 20 victory over the Denver Broncos.  In that game he set a record for completion percentage by a quarterback in the Superbowl.  He completed 88% of his passes in that big game, a record that stands to this day.  Simms moved to the broadcast booth after his playing career where he provided color commentary for both NBC and CBS.  He left CBS earlier this year.  All in all, Simms was New York Giants quarterback for 14 seasons.  In 2001, Simms was listed as one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL by Sports Illustrated.

  Phil Simms did not grow up in New Jersey, he is a native of Kentucky.  However, the rules of the New Jersey Hall of Fame state that nominees must live in the state for a minimum of five years.   Here’s a video compilation of when Phil Simms set a Giants franchise record for yards thrown at 513 yards.  This happened in 1985.  This record stands to this day.

• Paul Rudd

  Ok, so how weird is THIS? Meryl Streep (see above) is inducted this year. Paul Rudd is inducted this year. Paul Rudd was most recently in the 3rd season of Hulu’s “Only Murders In The Building” as well. That’s some crazy coincidence, isn’t it?!

  Paul Rudd makes a big thing out of being a “Kansas City guy” but he was born in New Jersey. Passaic, New Jersey to be exact. He spent his first decade in the Garden State, so that makes him eligible. Rudd’s film credits include “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”, “40 Year Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up” all directed by Judd Apatow.

  He’s been a Marvel super-hero (Ant Man), a classic call back humor dude on Conan O’Brien’s show and so much more. Here’s the first time that gag went down:

• Other Notable Inductees

  Other inductees in the New Jersey Hall of Fame for 2024 include:

  Gay Talese, Ocean City, author-journalist

  Elizabeth Coleman White, Whitesbog, botanist who developed the nation’s first cultivated blueberry

  John Forbes Nash, Princeton, genius mathematician who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for Economics

  Avi Wigderson, Princeton, computer scientist, mathematician, and Turing Award winner, known for his groundbreaking insights in computer science

  George Cooney, Bogota, chairman emeritus of EUE/Screen Gems Ltd, a visionary who built industry-leading entertainment service businesses for over 50 years catering to Madison Avenue and Hollywood

  Donald Katz, Newark, founder of Audible, Inc., award-winning journalist, and author

  Lesley Gore, Tenafly, singer-songwriter known for top-chart hits including “You Don’t Own Me” and “It’s My Party,” she received an Academy Award nomination for “Out Here On My Own” from the movie FAME and three Grammy Award nominations

  Warren Littlefield, Montclair, NBC Entertainment president who oversaw the groundbreaking “Must See TV” lineup, including “Seinfeld”

  Father Edwin D. Leahy, Newark, Benedictine monk and Catholic priest, headmaster of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark

  Geraldine Thompson, Lincroft, social reform pioneer and founder of VNA Health Group who earned the nickname “First Lady of New Jersey” due to her philanthropic and social service activities

   

  Dick Button, Englewood, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in figure skating, five consecutive gold medals from the World Championships, and an Emmy Award-winning former TV Sport Commentator

  Tim Howard, New Brunswick, former goalkeeper for the United States Men’s National Team, regarded as one of the greatest American players of all time

  Ron Johnson, Madison, All-American running back and captain at the University of Michigan, twice earned All-Pro honors with the New York Giants, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and served as chairman of the National Football Foundation

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