Hall of Fame 6.7.26 - Flipbook - Page 4
4 Hall of Fame | Sunday, June 7, 2026
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
2026 HALL OF FAME CLASS
When The Baltimore Sun launched its Business
and Civic Hall of Fame in 2016, we set out to recognize leaders whose work was shaping Maryland in
significant ways. Each year since, we have partnered
with community leaders to identify individuals
whose achievements across business, philanthropy,
the arts and public service have strengthened the
Baltimore region.
Now in its 11th year, the Hall of
Fame stands as a lasting tribute to
the individuals whose work has
shaped Baltimore and Maryland —
not just today, but across decades.
And it has become one of our modern-day traditions at The Sun, which
celebrated its 189th anniversary last
month.
The 2026 class welcomes 13 people, bringing the total number of inductees to 135 since the Hall of
Fame’s founding. They are builders
of institutions, stewards of communities and leaders whose influence will be felt well beyond their
lifetimes.
Since 1837, The Baltimore Sun has chronicled the
defining moments of this state — its challenges, its
resilience, its accomplishments, its transformation
and more. Central to that mission is recognizing the
people behind that progress — those whose vision
and perseverance create important change, and
whose leadership serves as a model for future generations.
The Hall of Fame is one of the ways The Sun rec-
ognizes that kind of dedication. Throughout the year,
we also celebrate achievement through programs
such as Baltimore’s Best (June), Women to Watch
(October), Top Workplaces (December) and Black
Marylanders to Watch (February). Each reflects our
commitment to highlight excellence in the present,
but also to shine a light on legacies in the making.
As always, we appreciate hearing
from readers who believe we should
honor the community in other ways,
so please reach out with suggestions.
This year’s class was selected
through a deliberate process that began with a public call for nominations. A panel of past inductees and
members of The Sun’s editorial
board evaluated candidates based
on leadership, a record of achievements and their contributions to the
region. Final selections were made
by The Sun’s leadership team.
This year’s class includes James Brinkley; the Rev.
William Calhoun Sr.; Ben and Myrna Cardin; Benjamin Griswold; Catherine Hamel; Robert Hillman; David Hornbeck; Bruce Jarrell; Brenda
Brown Rever; Joyce J. Scott; Carl Snowden; and
Bonnie B. Stein. Profiles of each of them are outlined in this special section. Thanks to our sponsors
who supported this section as well as our annual induction event, which was held earlier this week.
As in past years, a portion of the event’s proceeds
are donated to charity.
This year we are recognizing Helping Up Mission,
which provides faith-based recovery services for
adults fighting addiction, poverty and homelessness
in the Baltimore region.
The 2026 honorees join members from our first
10 Hall of Fame classes, which include the late John
Paterakis Sr., owner of H&S Bakery, Harbor East
developer and philanthropist (‘16); Nancy S. Grasmick, former Maryland state schools superintendent (’16); philanthropists Eddie and Sylvia Brown
(’16); former U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (’17); Harbor Bank of Maryland co-founder Joseph Haskins
Jr. (’18); former Baltimore Mayor and current University of Baltimore President Kurt Schmoke (’19);
former UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski
III (’20); the Rev. Alvin C. Hathaway Sr. (’21); former journalist and museum director Wanda Q.
Draper (’22); Sherrilyn Ifill, president emerita and
director counsel emerita of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (’23); William H. “Billy” Murphy Jr., a
former judge and a civil rights lawyer who fights for
the underprivileged (‘24); and Diana Gribbon Motz,
who recently retired after more than 30 years as a
judge on the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals (‘25).
The Sun’s Hall of Fame and the leaders included
in it are on permanent display through our partnership with The Center Club in downtown Baltimore.
We hope you get a chance to visit it someday soon.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026. Their work
helps to shape the future of Baltimore and Maryland.
Page 6 Advisory committee
Page 22 Catherine Hamel
Page 38 Joyce J. Scott
Page 8 James Brinkley
Page 26 Robert Hillman
Page 42 Carl Snowden
Page 12 William Calhoun Sr.
Page 28 David Hornbeck
Page 44 Bonnie B. Stein
Page 16 Ben and Myrna Cardin
Page 30 Bruce Jarrell
Page 46 Prior inductees
Page 18 Benjamin Griswold
Page 34 Brenda Brown Rever
Trif Alatzas
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
INSIDE THIS SECTION
COVER ILLUSTRATION BY KEVIN RICHARDSON/STAFF
