HOF 6.8.25 - Flipbook - Page 4
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Baltimore Sun Media | Sunday, June 8, 2025
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
2025 HALL OF FAME CLASS
Now in its 10th year, The Baltimore Sun’s Business and Civic Hall of Fame continues to recognize
individuals who have made meaningful, long-term
contributions to Baltimore and Maryland. The 2025
class has 13 new honorees, bringing the number of
recipients to 122 since the award’s inception. Their
work spans business, public service, education,
philanthropy and other areas that help to improve
and shape this region.
The Baltimore Sun has served
this region since 1837, committed to holding public figures and
powerful institutions accountable. Readers rely on The Sun’s
role as a watchdog — one that our
news organization views as essential to identifying solutions for the
region’s most pressing challenges.
Part of The Sun’s mission also
includes celebrating the people
here, their unique stories and the
progress they make to improve
Baltimore and Maryland. The Hall
of Fame is one way The Sun highlights those achievements. Other
special recognitions throughout
the year include Baltimore’s Best (July), Women
to Watch (October), Top Workplaces (December)
and Black Marylanders to Watch (February). We
always are looking for new ways to showcase what’s
special about our region, so please reach out with
any suggestions.
Members of our first nine Hall of Fame classes
include the late Peter G. Angelos, attorney, philanthropist and once owner of the Baltimore Orioles
(2016); 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 Pres-
ident 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);
and William H. “Billy” Murphy Jr., a former judge
and a civil rights lawyer who fights for the underprivileged (‘24).
This year’s class is made up of: Sandra and
Malcolm Berman, philanthropists who have supported
regional health care organizations and cultural institutions;
Maria Broom, a dancer and
actress known for her roles on
“The Wire” and “The Corner”;
George L. Bunting Jr., whose
decades of philanthropy have
benefited several Baltimore institutions; Scott Dorsey, chairman
and CEO of Merritt Companies,
who has promoted regional
economic development and serves
on nonprofit boards; Rhea Feikin,
a fixture on Maryland television
who became famous for the pledge
drives she hosted for Maryland Public Television;
William J. “Bill” McCarthy Jr., retiring executive director of Catholic Charities of Baltimore,
who serves on a host of nonprofit boards; Diana
Gribbon Motz, retired U.S. 4th Circuit Court of
Appeals judge; Alan Rifkin, a lawyer whose work
has touched state government and focused on
the development of Oriole Park at Camden Yards,
redeveloping Maryland’s racetracks and establishing the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network; George
A. Roche, retired chairman and CEO of T. Rowe
Price; Thomas M. Scalea, physician in chief of the
University of Maryland Medical Center’s Shock
Trauma Center; Stuart O. “Stu” Simms, former
chief counsel for Maryland Legal Aid, a former
Baltimore City state’s attorney, and secretary of the
Department of Juvenile Services and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services;
and Walter Scott Thomas Sr., who stepped down
last year as pastor of New Psalmist Baptist Church
after half a century of leadership.
The selection process for this year’s honorees
began with a public call for nominations. A committee of past honorees, alongside members of The
Sun’s editorial board, reviewed submissions. Nominees were evaluated on their leadership, professional accomplishments and efforts to strengthen
their communities. Final decisions were made by
The Sun’s leadership team.
As in previous years, a portion of the proceeds
from this publication will go to charity. This year’s
partner is The Baltimore Station, which offers
programs and services to meet the needs of veterans. Local businesses and nonprofit organizations
sponsor the Hall of Fame each year, and their advertisements can be found throughout this section and
at baltimoresun.com.
Profiles of this year’s honorees appear in the
pages of this magazine. Their names will also be
added to the permanent Hall of Fame display at The
Center Club in downtown Baltimore, which I hope
you can visit sometime soon.
During the past decade, The Sun has recognized
the individuals who are shaping the future of Baltimore and Maryland. Their work offers a glimpse
of what’s possible through leadership, vision and
sustained community engagement. As a Baltimore
native and someone who has attended each of our
Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, I am pleased
to see how this special recognition has blossomed
across the region. It’s a testament to the strength of
The Sun’s brand and to our loyal readers and advertisers who consistently have supported us during
the past 188 years.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
Page 6 Advisory committee
Page 24 Rhea Feikin
Page 46 Thomas M. Scalea
Page 8 Sandra and Malcolm Berman
Page 30 William J.“Bill”McCarthy Jr.
Page 50 Stuart O.“Stu”Simms
Page 12 Maria Broom
Page 34 Diana Gribbon Motz
Page 52 Walter Scott Thomas Sr.
Page 16 George L. Bunting Jr.
Page 38 Alan Rifkin
Page 54 Prior inductees
Page 20 Scott Dorsey
Page 42 George A. Roche
Trif Alatzas
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
INSIDE THIS SECTION
COVER ILLUSTRATION BY KEVIN RICHARDSON
PHOTOS BY KARL MERTON FERRON, KENNETH K. LAM, LLOYD FOX AND KIM HAIRSTON
