Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and First Lady Anne Gust Brown joined the California Museum to award the Spirit of California medal to eight Californians inducted into the 12th class of the California Hall of Fame this evening.

The inductees of the California Hall of Fame 12th class are: musician Joan Baez; mountaineer and scientist Arlene Blum; journalist Belva Davis; chef Thomas Keller; former San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee; public servant Nancy McFadden; Hollywood icon and environmentalist Robert Redford and former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela.

“We are honoring people who did their utmost and exceeded the ordinary,” said Governor Brown at the California Museum this evening. “Whatever you folks have done, don’t stop now, keep going – and I say the same thing about California.”

Governor Brown delivers remarks at 2018 California Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. 

From left to right: Joan Baez; Arlene Blum; Belva Davis; Thomas Keller; First Lady Anne Gust Brown; Governor Brown; Brianna Lee (representing Ed Lee); Anita Lee; Tania Lee; Bill McFadden (representing Nancy McFadden); Robert Redford; and Fernando Valenzuela.

 Governor Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown at the California Museum.

Inductees and family members of posthumous inductees received the Spirit of California medal from the Governor and First Lady in the official state ceremony this evening at the California Museum. In addition to the ceremony, inductees will be commemorated with an exhibition of artifacts highlighting their lives and achievements, which opens to the public at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, December 5 at the California Museum.

This year’s recipients join 113 inspirational Californians previously inducted for making remarkable achievements across a variety of California industries and areas of influence, including science, philanthropy, sports, business, entertainment, the arts, literature, technology, activism and politics.

For more information on the California Hall of Fame, visit http://www.californiamuseum.org/california-hall-fame.

Photo Credit: Joe McHugh, California Highway Patrol.