Hall of Fame

The American Legion California Boys & Girls State Hall of Fame

The American Legion California Boys & Girls State Hall of Fame was established in 2010 under the leadership of Chief Counselor Emeritus Joe Cenoz. The original intent was to recognize Alumni of The American Legion California Boys State Program who went on to The American Legion Boys Nation Program and were then elected Boys Nation President.

In 2012, the eligibility for induction into The American Legion California Boys State Hall of Fame redefined and expanded into three categories:

Distinguished Alumni: Inductees in this category are eligible if they attended The American Legion California Boys State Program and have gone on to make major contributions to their communities and industries as a result of what they learned during their Boys State experience.

Staff: Inductees in this category are eligible because of their significant contribution to The American Legion California Boys State Program as a member of the Staff. Factors for consideration include years of service to the Program, contributions to changes and enhancements to the Program and roles in which they have served.

Posthumous: Inductees in this category are no longer living but were either Distinguished Alumni, Staff or someone who contributed greatly to the Program during their lifetime.

Selection of honorees is done in February of each year by The American Legion California Boys State Hall of Fame Selection Committee and affirmed by the members of the Hall of Fame. A maximum of one inductee in each category is awarded annually. The Distinguished Alumni is inducted at the Opening Program of The American Legion California Boys State Program. Staff and Posthumous inductions are done at the Staff Appreciation Dinner prior to the opening of each year’s Boys State Session.

Commencing with the 2023 Session of American Legion California Boys & Girls State, the Hall of Fame is now the American Legion California Boys & Girls State Hall of Fame.

Jonathan Shapiro
Distinguished Alumni

Year Inducted: 2010
Delegate: 1980
Boys Nation President 

Joseph Cenoz
Staff

Year Inducted: 2012
Staff: 1953 - 2016

Stanley Dunn
Staff / Alumni

Year Inducted: 2012
Staff: 1950 - 2011
Delegate: 1944

Gaddi H. Vasquez
Distinguished Alumni

Year Inducted: 2013
Delegate: 1972

John Perez
Distinguished Alumni

Year Inducted: 2013
Delegate: 

Barney LaRue
Staff

Year Inducted: 2013
Staff: 2004 - current

Richard Shick
Staff

Year Inducted: 2013
Staff: 1970 - current

Douglas Hopper, M.D.
Distinguished Alumni

Year Inducted: 2014

Timothy D. Aboudara, Sr.
Staff / Alumni

Year Inducted: 2014
Staff: 1975 - current
Delegate: 1972

Lee Haley, Sr.
Staff / Posthumous

Year Inducted: 2014
Staff: 1958 - 2005

Frank Baker
Staff / Posthumous

Year Inducted: 2015
Staff: 1955 - 2004

Barbara “Chic” Devault
Staff

Year Inducted: 2015
Staff: 1989 - 2017

Jeffrey Pash
Distinguished Alumni

Year Inducted: 2016
Delegate: 1972

Ron Rivera
Distinguished Alumni

Year Inducted: 2016
Delegate: 1979

Philo Chambers
Staff / Posthumous

Year Inducted: 2016
Staff:

Mark Takano
Distinguished Alumni

Year Inducted: 2017
Delegate: 

James Alcorn
Staff / Alumni

Year Inducted: 2017
Staff: 1974 -  current
Delegate: 1963

William Denson
Staff

Year Inducted: 2017
Staff: 1988 - current

Bud Lutz
Staff / Posthumous

Year Inducted: 2017
Staff: - 2003

Delegate: 1939

Vincent Shuttera
Distinguished Alumni

Year Inducted: 2018
Delegate: 1937

Richard Kearns
Staff

Year Inducted: 2018
Staff: 2006 - current

Jim Hurley
Staff / Posthumous

Year Inducted: 2018
Staff: 

Peter Sims
Distinguished Alumni

Year Inducted: 2019
Delegate: 1993

Gary Gummersheimer
Staff

Year Inducted: 2019
Staff: 1991 - current

Ryan Silver
Staff / Alumni

Year Inducted: 2019
Staff: 1997 - current
Delegate: 1996

Gerald Richards
Staff

Year Inducted: 2020
Staff: 1996 - current

William "Bill" Smelko
Staff / Alumni

Year Inducted: 
Staff: 1971 - current
Delegate: 1970