The St. Louis Walk of Fame’s induction ceremonies are lively, entertaining and frequently moving. A live band plays ragtime and Dixieland jazz, setting the celebratory mood.
Presenters and accepting inductees delight the crowd with their words which have been spoken in all sorts of styles.
Comedienne Phyllis Diller and baseball great Yogi Berra each had the audience doubled over in laughter. Olympic athlete Jackie Joyner‑Kersee and author and professor Gerald Early gave profound, stirring speeches. Jazz musician Clark Terry pulled out his fluegelhorn and began playing.
Inductees have said that being inducted into their hometown’s Walk of Fame is a particularly special honor to receive in their careers. Whether the ceremonies are larger like those from 1989 through 2004 with five to ten inductees and a keynote speaker, or whether they’re more intimate like the ceremonies since then that honor and focus on one inductee, St. Louis’ culture and history are celebrated and everyone is invited.
Keynote Speakers
- 1989 Harriett Woods women’s activist and Missouri Lt. Governor
- 1990 William Danforth Chancellor, Washington University
- 1991 William Woo Editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- 1992 Gwen Stephenson Chancellor, St. Louis Community College
- 1993 Stan Musial baseball Hall of Famer and Cardinals great
- 1994 Greg Freeman columnist, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- 1995 Blanche Touhill Chancellor, University of Missouri-St. Louis
- 1996 Clarence Harmon Chief of Police and Mayor of St. Louis
- 1997 Bill McClellan columnist, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- 1998 Karen Foss news anchor, KSDK-TV
- 1999 Ray Hartmann Editor, Riverfront Times
- 2000 Robert Guillaume star of television, theater and film
- 2001 Nan Wyatt KMOX radio journalist
- 2002 Julius Hunter author and KMOV-TV news anchor
- 2003 Jill McGuire Executive Director of the Regional Arts Commission
- 2004 Dr. Henry Givens President of Harris-Stowe State College
