The Oneida County Historical Hall of Fame has named four individuals to its 2023 inductee class: Robert Everett, Welsh preacher, abolitionist, and printer; Norman Hill, Utica’s first African-American real estate broker; Shirley Waters, pioneering newspaperwoman and arts advocate; and Colonel Marinus Willett, Revolutionary War hero. The Hall of Famers will be inducted alongside the 2023 Richard W. Couper ‘Living Legends’ class: Richard Alexander, entrepreneur and philanthropist; Evon Ervin, African American community, government, and cultural leader; Hon. Anthony J. Garramone, a respected judge and public servant; and Frank Giotto, business leader and founder of Fiber Instrument Sale. Biographies for each inductee are attached.

 

The Historical Hall of Fame was started in 1946 and honors individuals from Oneida County who made an impact on our community and the world. Its goal is to ensure that noteworthy people in our community and their achievements are recorded in local history. The Living Legends category was added in 2001 to celebrate our present-day models of people making a difference. Oneida County History Center is excited to continue this tradition and celebrate remarkable individuals from and in our community.

 

The inductees will be honored during the annual Historical Hall of Fame and Living Legends Awards Celebration at the Irish Cultural Center, Utica on Thursday, October 19, 2023, starting at 5:00 pm. Tickets are $60 for current History Center members and $70 for the general public. Tickets should be purchased before October 11 and are available on-site at the History Center, online through its e-Bookstore, or by calling 315-735-3642.  Proceeds from the event will be used to support exhibit enhancements and facility improvements. Sponsorship and advertisement opportunities are available. Contact rmclain@oneidacountyhistory.org for more information.

 

Oneida County History Center is a private 501(c) (3) not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to preserving the history, heritage, and culture of the Greater Mohawk Valley for present and future generations. Please contact the History Center at 315-735-3642 or visit the HISTORY CENTER website (www.oneidacountyhistory.org) for additional information.

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