Back in April, we all covered a surprising nomination. When voting came out for the nominees to be the next class of New Jersey Hall of Famers, Jack Hughes’s name was surprisingly on the list.
Hughes was one of the most famous hockey players in the world at that time. He just scored the Golden Goal to give Team USA its first gold medal in men’s hockey in 46 years. He immediate came back to the U.S. and made a rousing speech about how important New Jersey is to him.
Hughes has always represented the Garden State well. Despite issues with the Devils and the NHL Standings, the middle Hughes brother seems more than satisfied where he gets his mail.
And that follows what New Jersey residents want to see. They just want our athletes to buy into New Jersey culture. Don’t pretend it’s New York or Philadelphia. Don’t act like it’s just a way to avoid taxes and find property. Hughes has embraced New Jersey, from the Jersey Shore to Hoboken and everything in between.
So, when he was named a candidate for New Jersey Hall of Fame despite his young age and relatively short career, it was still an honor that made sense.
Jack Hughes isn't a Hall of Famer, but Dr. John McMullen will be honored
Yet, the Devils superstar wasn’t chosen to represent the Garden State. When the NJ HOF announced their winners, there were plenty of great names on the list. Former New Jersey Giants great Lawrence Taylor was one of the highlighted honorees. Signer SZA, Tom Weatherall, the CEO of Make-A-Wish New Jersey, and former Governor Christine Todd Whitman.
They also named Dr. John McMullen to the Hall of Fame. He is already in the Devils Ring of Honor, the only name in it for a long time. Now, posthumously, he gets another honor.
McMullen brought the Devils to New Jersey after a history in engineering. He got into sports at first by being a limited partner in the New York Yankees, but his frustrations with George Steinbrenner forced him to sell.
He eventually focused on hockey, the sport he played at the Naval Academy. Despite a ton of rumors, McMullen bought the Devils and delivered them home. Now, more than 40 years later, the Devils are the last remaining major New Jersey team that calls themselves by the state in which they play (yeah, we’re talking to you Jets, Giants, and Red Bulls).
Dr. McMullen and the rest of the nominees will be honored on September 24th in an awards show hosted by Danny DeVito. Here is a list of all the other candidates as listed in the press release:
Arts & Letters
Big Joe Henry, “Livin’ Large and Lovin’ Life” New Jersey radio personality and philanthropist
Education, Research, Engineering & Science
Geraldine R. Dodge*, author, philanthropist, and benefactor of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
Thomas M. Eastwick, Founder and President of Eastwick College and the HoHoKus School of Trade and Technical Sciences
Enterprise
James E. Burke*, Former CEO of Johnson & Johnson
Robert C. Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest health network
Christopher J. Paladino, President of New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO)
Performing Arts & Entertainment
SZA, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and Academy Award nominee
Edward Brigati, Jr., American singer and songwriter
David Brigati*, American singer
Dino Danelli*, American drummer
Public Service
Donald Milford Payne Sr.*, New Jersey’s first African American elected to Congress
Governor Christine Todd Whitman, writer, former Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and New Jersey’s 50th Governor
Sports
Dr. John J. McMullen*, Former owner of the New Jersey Devils and Houston Astros
Lawrence “LT” Taylor, Former New York Giants linebacker for 13 seasons
Unsung Hero
Tom Weatherall, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish® New Jersey
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