Halls of fame for caddies, baseball park groundskeepers, Christmas tree growers

Halls of fame aren’t just for professional sports and major music genres. There are over 400 physical halls of fame in the North America and likely hundreds more virtual halls of fame that exist online.
I’ve documented some interesting virtual halls of fame on Tech-media-tainment. (See links at bottom of this article.) In this article, I’ll document 13 more.

Caddie Hall of Fame

The Caddie Hall of Fame was created in 1999 by the Professional Caddies Association. The Western Golf Association took over administration of the hall in 2011.
Notable members of the Caddie Hall of Fame include: Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Charles “Chick” Evans, and the Murray brothers (Andy, Bill, Brian, Ed, Joel and John Murray’s experiences as caddies at Indian Hill Club in Winnetka, Illinois, inspired the 1980 comedy classic “Caddyshack.”)
“The Caddie Hall of Fame highlights the tradition and importance of caddying by recognizing and celebrating individuals who have devoted their lives to the game of golf through caddying or by supporting the role of caddies,” the organization’s website says.

Major League Baseball Groundskeepers Hall of Fame

The Association of Major League Baseball Groundskeepers has a hall of fame.
“To be considered for induction to the Major League Baseball Groundskeepers Hall of Fame, a person must have ceased employment in the profession for at least five years, and have made a significant contribution to groundskeeping and/or the sports turf industry at the Major League level. An individual’s impact on the community is also considered,” the association says.
Last month, the group announced that it will induct Steve Wightman, a longtime former groundskeeper and Sports Turf Managers Association past-president as its newest hall of fame member.
(Photo: Nicole Sherry, head groundskeeper for the Baltimore Orioles, in May 2012. Photo by Keith Allison.)

Christmas Tree Growers Hall of Fame

Christmas tree farming is a big business in Michigan and it has its own hall of fame. The Michigan Christmas Tree Association Growers Hall of Fame most recently inducted the late Rudy Fuehring for his lifetime of service to Michigan’s Christmas tree industry. (See article by Oceana’s Herald-Journal in Oceana County, Michigan.)

Waterfowlers Hall of Fame

Established in 1990, the Waterfowlers Hall of Fame honors individuals who have actively displayed sportsmanship and sponsored or participated in the sport of waterfowl hunting and conservation, in and around the Squaw Creed National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri.

California Outdoors Hall of Fame

The California Outdoors Hall of Fame honors individuals for achievements in the great outdoors that have impacted others and improved the lives of Californians. It inducted its first class of inductees in 2002.
The most recent inductees included world champion archer Paige Pearce-Gore and noted rock climber Royal Robbins. (See article by the San Francisco Chronicle.)

Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame

The Society of Illustrators has chosen artists for its hall of fame since 1958. Artists are selected by former presidents of the Society and are chosen based on their body of work and the impact it has made on the field of illustration.
The 2017 class of the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame included Mort Drucker, Bart Forbes, Burne Hogarth, Anita Kunz, George Petty, Ralph Steadman and Gustaf Tenggren.

Gaming Hall of Fame

The American Gaming Association’s Gaming Hall of Fame honors achievements and contributions to the gambling industry.
The most recent inductees included John Breeding, the visionary behind the electronic card shuffler and proprietary table games, and Joe Kaminkow, the legendary slot game designer who pioneered the industry in licensing branded games such as “Wheel of Fortune.” (See press release and article by Las Vegas Review-Journal.)

World Waterpark Association Hall of Fame

The World Waterpark Association Hall of Fame honors people who have made noteworthy achievements in the development and advancement of the water attractions industry.

International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Hall of Fame

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions has a hall of fame to honor people who have made significant and lasting contributions to the worldwide attractions industry.
The IAAPA Hall of Fame was established in 1990 and includes such honorees as Walt Disney, Milton Hershey of Hersheypark and Jay Stein of Universal Studios Florida. It inducted its most recent class in November.

World Floor Covering Association Hall of Fame

The World Floor Covering Association Hall of Fame acknowledges individuals who have made a lasting impact on the industry.
In December, the group inducted Jeffrey Lorberbaum, chairman and chief executive officer of Mohawk Industries, the world's biggest floorcovering company. (See article by the Chattanooga, Tenn., Times Free Press.)

New Mexico Film & TV Hall of Fame

The New Mexico Film & TV Hall of Fame will honor its first class of inductees on Feb. 11 at a ceremony in Santa Fe. The group honors people who have helped build the New Mexico film and television industry, along with the industry’s rising stars. The inaugural class includes New Mexico screenwriter and author George R. R. Martin and the makers of TV series “Breaking Bad.”

Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency honors individuals in the geospatial intelligence enterprise with its Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame. Its most recent class included six former leaders and geospatial pioneers.

Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame

The Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame honors individuals in the U.S. military forces that provide air mobility services required to implement national security strategy and to provide humanitarian relief.

Related articles:

10 interesting virtual halls of fame, 2017 edition (July 15, 2017)

10 more unusual virtual halls of fame (Feb. 26, 2016)

12 unusual virtual halls of fame (Feb. 20, 2016)