Before Gwen Stefani entertained the world, she was just a girl in an Anaheim ska band; before Greg Louganis started collecting gold medals, he was diving into the Santa Ana College pool; and before Amanda Beard broke a world record in the Olympics she spent long days in an Irvine pool.
For the achievements these three and seven other Orange County greats went on to make, they were inducted Friday as the inaugural class of the OC Hall of Fame in a ceremony hosted by the OC Board of Supervisors. Friends and family gathered with county leaders for the celebrations as they accepted their plaques and posed for pictures, including country star Blake Shelton, Stefani’s husband.
“I grew up on a cul de sac in westside Anaheim, across the street from a strawberry field and Tom’s Farm’s market. My entire world was between Euclid Street and Harvard Boulevard,” Stefani said in her acceptance speech before the audience gathered in a hearing room usually used for government meetings.
“Orange County is where my dreams were born and the foundation that shaped my life. Anaheim, California is my roots,” she said. “It’s my culture, and I’ve never left Anaheim behind. It’s always been with me. I’ve been able to share it with the world through my songs, through my style, and I’ve always had such pride and gratitude from where I’ve come from.”
Orange County is known for many things including its universities, sports teams, beaches and a thriving business community, Third District Supervisor Don Wagner said, all of which has been made possible by innovative leaders in the community.
“Orange County has been home to renowned scientists, actors, musicians, philanthropists, engineers, builders, athletes, soldiers, civic leaders, educators, innovators and so many more,” Wagner said during his opening remarks Friday. “They are decorated individuals, and the Orange County Hall of Fame was established to honor the world-changing contributions from those…
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