Kroc Star: Joan Named to Hall of Fame

Philanthropist joined by George Lucas, Carol Burnett, Danielle Steel and others

Local philanthropist and peace activist Joan Kroc, the widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver unveiled the list of 2009 inductees on Tuesday. They said the latest 13 "embody California's innovative spirit and have made their mark on history."

Among other notable contributions, Kroc left a bequest of $200 million to National Public Radio. She also helped fund The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center and the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice on the campus of the University of San Diego.
     
Slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk, "Star Wars" creator George Lucas and feisty football commentator John Madden are also among the newest inductees to the California Hall of Fame. The others are entertainer Carol Burnett, former Intel chief executive Andrew Grove, former Gov. Hiram Johnson, decathlete and philanthropist Rafer Johnson, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, artist Fritz Scholder, author Danielle Steel, bodybuilder and Schwarzenegger mentor Joe Weider and Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager.

The nominees will be inducted in a Dec. 1 ceremony at the California Museum in Sacramento.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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