ENTERTAINMENT HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

Shea’s Board of Trustees established the Western New York Hall of Fame in 1989 to honor WNY natives who are recognized successes in the entertainment field.  Each inductee is presented with a crystal award, designed by Victor Trabucco of Clarence and named in honor of the first inductee, Jamestown native, Miss Lucille Ball.  Miss Ball’s Lucy Award is proudly on display in our Petite Lobby.  Kenmore, New York artist George Palmer creates a portrait of the honored recipient.  Both the award and portrait are unveiled at a dinner ceremony.  The portrait is then placed in Shea’s lobby to forever grace the walls for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

In addition to Lucille Ball, actors Conrad John Schuck, James Whitmore, Nancy Marchand, Jay Silverheels; political satirist Mark Russell; television pioneer Buffalo Bob Smith; director/choreographer Michael Bennett; jazz great Grover Washington, Jr.; composer Harold Arlan; legendary Broadway director/producer George Abbott; and television writer and producer Tom Fontana are members of the WNY Hall of Fame.

Our most recent honoree, Ray Evans, was born and raised in Salamanca, NY.  Known for his Academy Award winning movie songs Que Sera Sera, Mona Lisa, and Silver Bells (recorded by Bing Crosby), Ray was a Motion Picture Academy honoree, four time Oscar nominee, and recipient of three Academy Awards for Best Song In A Motion Picture.  Mr. Evans also wrote songs for Bonanza and Mr. Ed.  Ray Evans, along with his composer, produced twenty-six songs which sold a million or more records.