From civic leaders and philanthropic residents to business leaders and entertainers that put small cities on the map, this year’s Orange County Hall of Fame inductees was a testament to the region’s growing diversity.
Orange County’s Hall of Fame was created by county supervisors in 2023 to “honor the brilliant minds, influential leaders, and remarkable talents that have shaped the cultural, economic, and social fabric of Orange County, California.”
While its inaugural year was criticized for its lack of diversity, this year’s nominees included Orange County civic and philanthropic leaders such as former President Richard Nixon, civil rights leader Sylvia Mendez, labor and veterans leader Nick Berardino and former County Supervisor Bill Steiner.
Each OC Hall of Fame inductee is nominated alongside a specific category for which they have made significant contributions to: Music, Arts & Entertainment, Sports, Business, Philanthropy and Civics.
Despite having the same categories as this year, the previous OC Hall of Fame class featured 7 out of the 10 candidates from the sports or entertainment category.
The 2023 inductees and their respective categories are as follows: Amanda Beard for Sports, Kobe Bryant for Sports, Walt Disney for Music, Art and Entertainment, Frank Jao for Business, Greg Louganis for Sports, General William Lyon for Civics, Bill Medley for Music, Art and Entertainment, Henry Segerstrom for Philanthropy, Gwen Stefani for Music, Art and Entertainment and Tiger Woods for Sports.
This year only one inductee was a part of a Music, Arts & Entertainment category, Clarence “Leo” Fender.
“I think it’s great to celebrate athletes and performers, but it’s also important to celebrate people like the Mendez family as well,” said OC Second District Board of Supervisor Vincente Sarmiento.
Given that some of the largest cities do not have their own Hall of Fame, Sarmiento noted that county officials have an opportunity to showcase not only celebrities but other individuals that are long due for recognition.
“I hope [the OC Hall of Fame] becomes a reflection of what the county looks like today,” said Sarmiento. “For there to be people who come from different backgrounds, [including] racial, ethnic and gender, and we can all see that the county has evolved quite a bit in the last five, ten, twenty years.”
The OC Board of Supervisors oversee the nomination process and an ad hoc committee selects a maximum of 10 inductees annually.
In order to be nominated, nominees must have a minimum of 10 years as a resident or business in Orange County, have had a major life experience in Orange County, been recognized through major awards or recognized as a civic leader in Orange County.
Elvia Susana Rubalcava, Executive Director of the Fullerton Museum Center, was in attendance at the ceremony for the recognition of Clarence “Leo” Fender.
Rubalcava reflected on the broader impact of the Hall of Fame for future generations.
“It really was a great honor today to listen to all the stories from all walks of life,” said Rubalcava. “People were born in different countries or different areas, but we all call Orange County our home. It was really inspiring to hear all these stories and what an honor, and what pride I have for Orange County”
“As someone who grew up and was born in Orange County, it makes me really proud for future generations to learn about all these people and people that we haven’t met yet.”
Let’s take a deeper look at the 2024 inductees to the Orangy County Hall of Fame.
Nick Berardino (Civics)
Serving as a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran in Vietnam, Nick Berardino is a longtime advocate of the Orange County veteran community and has been a leader in the effort to establish a veterans cemetery in OC. Berardino joined the Orange County Employees Association in 1973 and helped membership grow from 2,000 to 18,000 members from 25 out of the 34 cities. A noted organized labor leader, most recently, AmeriCorps and President Joseph R. Biden jointly presented Mr. Berardino with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his lifelong commitment to fostering a stronger nation through volunteer service.
Clarence “Leo” Fender (Music, Arts & Entertainment)
Clarence “Leo” Fender lived and worked his entire career in Fullerton, and helped bring international attention to the City of Fullerton. Fender is most well known for producing instruments such as Telecaster (1950) and Stratocaster (1954) electric guitars, and the Precision Bass (1950). Fender was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and awarded a Grammy in 2009.
Carl N. Karcher (Business)
Born in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Carl Karcher moved to Anaheim, Calif. in the late 1930s where he and his wife would later open the first Carl’s Jr. restaurant in Anaheim. Carl Karcher enterprises became one of the largest fast food chains in the United States. His entrepreneurial spirit, innovative approach and commitment to quality, led to a lasting impact on the fast food industry.
Wing Lam and the Lee Family (Business)
Ching Lee and Cheong Kwong Lee came to the United States from Brazil, originally hailing from China, in pursuit of a better life for their family. Their sons, Mingo, Ed, and Wing, grew up fully immersed in the family’s restaurant business, learning the values of hard work, quality, and community from their parents. The Lee brothers created the first Wahoo’s Tacos in Costa Mesa, Calif. Over the years, Wahoo’s has become known not only for its quality food but also for its close ties to the action sports community and the friendships they’ve built with loyal customers.
Sylvia Mendez (Civics)
Sylvia Mendez is a civic advocate for equal rights to education. Sylvia is the daughter of Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, immigrants from Mexico and Puerto Rico who were deeply committed to their children’s education. In the face of ongoing discrimination, Gonzalo filed a federal lawsuit, Mendez v. Westminster alongside four other families — the Estrada, Guzman, Palomino and Ramirez families — experiencing similar challenges to equal access to education in 1945. This historic ruling laid the groundwork for Brown v. Board of Education, a decision that led to the desegregation of schools nationwide. Sylvia has continued to advocate for a more equitable education system by travelling across the country for speaking engagements sharing her family’s story.
President Richard Nixon (Civics)
Born in Yorba Linda, Calif., Richard Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 until his resignation in 1974 in the wake of the Watergate scandal. In his 20 years after leaving the White House, Nixon was an adviser to his Oval Office successors and influenced foreign affairs until his passing in 1994. His state funeral took place in Yorba Linda, in front of the home in which he was born. The Richard Nixon Foundation, based at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Museum in Yorba Linda, works to keep his enduring contributions alive and relevant today.
Edward Paul (Civics)
Ed Paul joined the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Long Beach field office as an auditor in May of 2005. Paul worked on many projects that included enforcing the Intellectual Property Rights of U.S. companies and assisting Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents in investigating various criminal organizations. He was responsible for organizing and emceeing the Loma Vista Memorial Day program in Fullerton for 16 years.
William G. Steiner (Philanthropy)
William G. Steiner and his family moved to Southgate and then Bell during World War II. In his twenties, Steiner founded and became the director of the Good Samaritan Boys home, which expanded over the years to include several group homes across California. Steiner – a former Orange County supervisor – received countless accolades and recognition for his tireless devotion to his community and to the well-being of abused and neglected children. He helped raise $8.5 million to found the Orangewood Children’s Home and later became the first director of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation.
Charles Zhang (Business)
Charles Zhang came to America in 1980 from Shanghai and transcended many obstacles to gain achievement in and outside of business. His life journey in America took him from dishwasher and gas station attendant to founding the successful Pick-Up Stix, the popular Chinese fast-food chain; Aseptic Solutions USA, the top beverage manufacturer; and Zion Enterprises, a real estate company dedicated to revitalizing communities.
