The Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission requested that each nominator who submitted a nomination provide a three hundred word description and a photograph of the nominated individual. The descriptions and photographs appear on this website as they were submitted to the Commission.
Grover Cleveland Alexander"I see great things in baseball. It's our game---The American game" Walt Whitman
I nominate Grover Cleveland Alexander to the Nebraska Hall of Fame because he represents Hope. I never knew Grover although I grew up just a few miles from where he lived his first and last years. I recall dad, grandpa and others speaking of him. Grover loved baseball, constantly talked baseball and played "for love of the game" in an era without televisions, computers, ATM's, interstates, artificial grass, fast foods or cell phones. Life then was saturated with picket-fences, clothes lines, knowing your neighbor, taped-up bats, penny candy, sandlots, and ma and pa establishments. Foreign wars beckoned and Grover and countless men and women of great virtue,' changed uniforms', said yes, went overseas, and life would never be the same.
"Old Pete" is more than 'some of' his records of 373 victories, 90 shutouts and 16 of those strikeouts in a season, winning 28 games as a rookie and also the '26 World Series, a Major League Hall of Famer and being one of Nebraska's greatest athletes.
During the Depression, War years and the Dirty Thirties, baseball brought Hope, excitement, energy, commerce, brotherhood and unity to villages, main streets, neighborhoods, ballparks and cities. Grover is a symbol of what can happen when you put together goal-minded individuals and groups, a bat, ball and glove, in spite of our human-condition and personal battles.
I believe Nebraska is a better state because of Grover, baseball, and what sports represent.
In conclusion, I believe this quote, again by Walt Whitman, says it best, "Baseball will take our people out of doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger stoicism, tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set, repair out losses and be a Blessing to us"
Charles Edwin BesseyProfessor Bessey made a lasting impact on the University of Nebraska and our state through his conviction that the University of Nebraska should be a state university for the benefit of the public. His motto, "Science with Practice" succinctly states his guiding philosophy that scientific discovery is most useful when put into practice. A nationally known University of Nebraska professor of botany and horticulture from 1884-1915 and gifted administrator, he served as Acting Chancellor twice from 1888-1891 and in 1899. When he arrived in 1884, the University of Nebraska was only 15 years old with 373 students. Within two years, Bessey convinced the Board of Regents to establish an agricultural experiment station to take university research to Nebraska's citizens. He wrote Congressional legislation requiring land-grant universities to distribute new knowledge and research to the public through agricultural experiment stations. He established one of the top botany programs in the country, developed modern plant classification, was president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and mentored many students who became leaders and pioneers in their own fields including: plant ecology, entomology, law, medicine, and parasitology. Bessey served on national, state, and community groups promoting public education and environmental stewardship. He started the only man-made forests in the nation: Nebraska National Forest near Halsey and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest near Valentine, and convinced President Theodore Roosevelt to designate them as national treasures in 1902. Called a "great harmonizer," Professor Bessey believed that Nebraska's university should provide both classical and practical education; he fought efforts in 1889 and 1915 to create two separate state universities like many other states for these purposes. Nebraska is indebted to Professor Bessey for laying the foundation of our single, unified, state university serving the public.
Georgia Arbuckle FixGeorgia Arbuckle was born April 26,1852, in Princeton, Missouri. Her mother and stepfather, Tom Reeve, encouraged Georgia to get an education and she earned a teacher's certificate when only fifteen. After her mother died, Georgia resided with Dr. and Mrs. Dinsmore, who sparked her interest in medicine. When the Dinsmores moved to Omaha, Georgia went along and in 1881 entered the first class at the Omaha Medical School with eight male students. She was the first female graduate of the school. She worked as a doctor in Omaha for about 3 years, and was elected vice-president of the Douglas County Medical Society in 1884. When her stepfather decided to move to Sidney, Georgia couldn't resist the lure of the west.
Georgia settled on a homestead near Minatare, Nebraska, and established a practice, which she later moved to Gering. She was the only doctor in a 75-mile radius and spent much of her time in a buggy traveling to visit sick patients. She was respected for her skill as a healer, her ingenuity with medications, and her determination to help her patients. She married Gwen Fix but the marriage was never a happy one and they were later divorced.
Georgia was active in the community and her involvement in service organizations led to the establishment of a library, a city park, a school, churches, and other improvements. She was especially beloved as the teacher of Sunday school classes for two churches. Gering continues to benefit from trees she planted, and parks and churches she helped establish.
Georgia Arbuckle Fix died in 1918 in California, where she had gone to recuperate from an illness. She was buried in Gering. Mari Sandoz's book, Miss Morissa, was based on the life of Georgia Arbuckle Fix, lady doctor on the frontier.
I am writing to enthusiastically endorse Andrew Jackson Higgins for inclusion in the Nebraska Hall of Fame. No other native Nebraskan contributed more to defeating Nazism than Andrew Higgins while never forgetting the state roots that formed the solid foundation for his future successes.
From his birth in Columbus in 1886 and through his service in the Nebraska Army National Guard Higgins distinguished himself at an early age by innovations to amphibious operations that were first demonstrated with crossings over the Platte River. He would earn the rank of Captain; but more significantly, his experiences in across-water operations would lead to a vital role the World War II allied victory in Europe.
Andrew Higgins proclaimed his Nebraska work ethic proudly after embarking on a success career in lumber and shallow draft water craft. Through determination and skill he developed a fast and inexpensive way to manufacture landing craft for the invasion into Normandy on June 6, 1944. Higgins Industries would build over 20,000 landing craft (known as the "Higgins Boat") consistently shattering production records by using innovative management methods and paying its diverse workforce according to skill level.
President and Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower gave Higgins the ultimate compliment by saying that he "was the man who won the war for us . . . if he had not built those landing craft, the whole strategy of the war would have been different".
Higgins always credited his Nebraska upbringing for his success. Visiting Omaha in 1943 he said: "If it had not been for the Missouri River at Omaha there would have been no Higgins Industries of New Orleans, turning out ships, planes, engines, and guns and what have you for the Army and Navy." Despite fame and fortune Andrew Higgins promoted his Nebraska roots until his death in 1952.
Battling Bill JeffersWilliam M. "Bill" Jeffers was a Nebraska native who lived most of his life in this state. He was president of a railroad that played a large part in the history and economy of Nebraska.
This nomination for the Hall of Fame, however, rests mainly on his role in helping arm America and its allies during World War II. That contribution had national and international significance.
The Japanese had cut off the natural rubber supply. Attempts to start a synthetic rubber program were snagged on an ineffective bureaucracy and an inefficient priority system.
A committee chaired by Bernard Baruch had labeled this "our most critical problem."
Jeffers was asked by President Roosevelt to direct the rubber program. The press soon dubbed him the "Rubber Czar."
His first act was to fire the existing staff. Then he ordered nationwide gasoline rationing and a 35-mile-an hour speed limit.
He had to solve huge technical problems and resistance by some of the most powerful bureaucrats in Washington. In less than a year, synthetic rubber plants were producing all the rubber needed.
The job done, he resigned and returned to his UP president's office in Omaha. "The press and government officials alike heaped praise on his performance," historian Maury Klein writes ."The czar's legend had gone national."
It is difficult to appreciate now what an important role Jeffers played for the country at large. The Baruch report had said "If we fail to secure quickly a large new rubber supply, our war effort and our domestic economy both will collapse."
Bill Jeffers was more than a colorful and dynamic president of the railroad that shaped this state and continues to do so. He was also a national hero in a time of crisis.
Malcolm X (Malcolm Little)At Christmas time, we sing, "O Little Town of Bethlehem." But, Bethlehem was only the town where Jesus Christ was born. In fact, because of discrimination, his mother had to give birth in a filthy, stinking stable. Yet, Bethlehem is sacred to all Christians.
Nazareth was a backwater village where Jesus spent his childhood. When he returned with healing miracles and wisdom, he was ridiculed and told to get lost. That's why Christ said, "A prophet is always without honor in his own land." Yet, Nazareth is sacred to all Christians.
Malcolm X was born in Omaha in 1919. He was driven from Nebraska as a small child after racist violence against his family. But nothing can change the fact that he was born in Nebraska. Yet this seems to give Nebraska an iconic status to everybody in the world except Nebraskans.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X has been one of the most widely-read autobiographies in the world since 1965. His life is recognized as one of the greatest examples of human redemption from criminality and degradation to global leadership and respect. There are colleges, schools, streets, parks, boulevards and postage stamps, in America, Africa and Europe commemorating Malcolm X.
Moreover, Malcolm X single-handedly redirected a profoundly angry generation of African-American activists away from hating the entire Caucasian race and created a new vision of interracial cooperation that redefined the civil rights movement. And only Malcolm X had the stature and personal integrity to change that direction.
Malcolm X is the largest historical figure to be born in the state of Nebraska. His legacy is ours to claim for the one reason nobody else can. He's a Nebraskan. It's time to induct him. Bethlehem and Nazareth did it. Why shouldn't we?
Evelyn Genevieve SharpEvelyn Genevieve Sharp is a pioneer in aviation history. Recording her first flight at fifteen in Ord, Nebraska, she earned her private, transport, and instructor's re-rated certificates by twenty. In 1942, Evelyn qualified as the seventeenth member of the original group who proved women could fly military airplanes.
Evelyn Sharp was born in Melstone, Montana, on October 20, 1919. Graduating from Ord High, she lived seventeen of her twenty-four years in Nebraska. Ordites supported her earliest flying endeavors including a down payment on a new airplane.
Evelyn gave over 5000 people an introduction to flight. Newspapers published photos of their communities from the air. The State Aeronautics Commission asked her to make recommendations for Nebraska's future landing sites. She flew the 20th Anniversary Commemorative Airmail Flights.
Evelyn taught over 350 men to fly in the Civilian Pilot Training Programs in South Dakota and California, many of them serving during WWII. In 1940, she was one of ten women flight instructors.
From October, 1942, until April, 1944, Evelyn transitioned into 24 different military models, including trainers, cargos, bombers, and pursuits. She is buried in the Ord Cemetery, a half mile southeast of Evelyn Sharp Field. A Nebraska State Historical marker stands beside Evelyn Sharp Road, and Evelyn Sharp Days are celebrated annually.
Evelyn did not let role expectations, struggles, or disappointments stand in her way. She was skillful and courageous, living intensely and honorably. She rose above meager circumstances with a determination and focus which earned her the respect and support of many. She was instrumental in bringing aviation to the forefront in this country as a means of transportation, whether it was for business, the military, or recreation. Evelyn Sharp, who gave her life for our country, left us a legacy which remains a source of Nebraska pride and inspiration.
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