RALEIGH -- Two organizations and 11 individuals were inducted into the Raleigh Hall of Fame on Tuesday night.
This year's class of inductees, the sixth for the Hall of Fame, was honored at a ceremony at the Raleigh Convention Center.
The individual inductees are:
Earl Johnson Jr. and Margery Scott "Margie" Johnson. Johnson, founder of Carolina Crane, has been a longtime supporter of Raleigh cultural institutions and was instrumental in developing RTI International, the nonprofit research organization. His wife has been an advocate for the N.C. Symphony, the Junior League, United Way, Rex Hospital and the Lineberger Cancer Center.
Dr. Abram Kanof. A physician and educator, Kanof established the Judaic Art Gallery at the N.C. Museum of Art.
John D. "J.D." Lewis. A community activist, mentor and leader of the Garner Road YMCA, Lewis also was the first African-American host of a local television program, WRAL's "Teenage Frolics."
James Murchison Peden Sr. The founder of Peden Steel, Peden drove the creation of the Raleigh Junior Chamber of Commerce and was a business and civic leader in the Raleigh of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
Edward Nelson "Ed" Richards. A visionary real estate developer, Richards played a key role in the evolution of the N.C. Ports Authority and developed 18 shopping centers, including the original North Hills Mall, and many Raleigh neighborhoods, including North Ridge,Biltmore Hills and Ridgewood.
Dr. Prezell Russell Robinson. An ambassador to the United Nations and a U.S. Department of State emissary to 20 foreign countries, Robinson also was a long-standing visionary president of St. Augustine's College.
Louise "Scottie" Scott Stephenson. A pioneering matriarch of Capitol Broadcasting Co., a patron of the arts and a champion of the underprivileged, Scott helped win Raleigh's first VHF license.
Dr. Banks C. Talley Jr. Talley has been instrumental in shaping the cultural life of Raleigh through the expansion of arts programs at N.C. State University, including the creation of the Friends of the College performing arts series, development of the N.C. Symphony Foundation and the conservation of historic buildings through Preservation North Carolina.
Wilbert Allen "Pete" Wilder Sr. A journalist, athlete, religious educator and advocate for housing assistance, Wilder secured legislative support for the Wake County Council on Aging.
Ira David Wood III. An award-winning author, playwright and actor, Wood is the founder of Theatre in the Park and the beloved Ebenezer Scrooge each holiday season in "A Christmas Carol."
The organizations inducted are:
Hospice of Wake County. Hospice addresses the needs of critically ill and dying residents and their families through a program that includes medical care, counseling and spiritual support.
Raleigh Jaycees. The Jaycees have provided much service to Raleigh, including holiday outreach through Goodfellows, the longest running Jaycee project in the world.
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