Politics

Public Input Sought For Nominees To Hall Of Famous Missourians

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,

Marshall Griffin

Published August 21, 2013 at 5:43 PM CDT

After a controversial inductee last year, Missouri residents are being given the chance this year to nominate two of the next three inductees for the Hall of Famous Missourians.

House Speaker Tim Jones (R, Eureka) says he made the decision to seek citizens' input, in part, to see if someone who's worthy of induction has been forgotten over time or overlooked.

"Missouri has been around since 1821 as an official state," Jones said. "Is there someone in our past that was maybe great back in their time, in the 1800's (or) early 1900's, who has been forgotten, who was truly great and should be an outstanding Missourian in the Hall?"

Missouri residents who want to suggest someone for the Hall have until September 13th to do so, and can submit their suggestions here.

"Andthen I intend to boil that down to a top 10 list," Jones said. "Then we'll have another round of voting and see if we can narrow it down to a couple of really significant choices."

In 2012, former House Speaker StevenTilley(R,Perryville) inducted conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh into the Hall of FamousMissourians, which generated lots of controversy and led to calls by Democrats for changes into how members of the Hall are selected. Jones says last year's uproar had nothing to do with his decision to seek public input.

The Speaker of the Missouri House has sole authority to induct people into the Hall of Famous Missourians.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter: @MarshallGReport

Politics

Marshall Griffin

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.

See stories by Marshall Griffin

Marshall Griffin

St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.