In the late 1960s, several Washington faculty proposed that the Alumni Board establish an honor for GWHS alumni with exceptional achievement and leadership in their professions and/or communities deemed worthy of emulation by current Washingtonians. On February 25, 1970, scheduled to coincide with the observance of George Washington’s birthday, the inaugural Hall of Merit induction ceremony took place in the George Washington High School Auditorium. 

The charter inductees were world-renowned violinist David Abel, celebrated pianist Roy Bogas who is best known for providing Schroeder’s piano-playing in Charles Schultz’ Peanuts television cartoons, influential U.S. Representative and Golden Gate National Recreation Area champion Phillip Burton, Olympic swimming medalist Ann Curtis, world-famous vocalist Johnny Mathis, Olympic track and field medialist and NFL Hall of Fame running back Ollie Matson, and Miss America 1955 and accomplished actress of stage, screen and television Lee Meriwether. Since that time the Hall of Merit has grown to over a hundred alumni distinguished in fields including activists, authors, educators, entrepreneurs, performers, scientists and more. 

The Alumni Association Board of Directors thoroughly reviews candidates from nominations received each fall, and elects those who will be inducted for recognition of their accomplishments. In 2024 we welcomed Jean Arrigo and Zaretta Hammond into the Hall. The complete list of Hall of Merit inductees is below.

All are invited to join alumni including Alumni Board members, inductees’ classmates and family, and past Hall of Merit honorees at the annual awards event in May. 

If you believe you know of an extraordinary alumni worthy of this honor, nominations are accepted from August 15 to October 31 here.

Hall of Merit Nominee Requirements:

1. Candidate must be a graduate of GWHS.

2. At least fifteen (15) years must have elapsed since candidate’s graduation.

3. Candidate must be worthy of emulation by current Washingtonians for extraordinary professional accomplishments and/or community leadership.

4. Candidate must satisfy at least two of the following criteria:
   a. candidate must be known and recognized by public at large.
   b. candidate’s achievement or position is such that it merits recognition in or of itself.
   c. candidate must have the endorsement of his/her peers.

5. Candidate must be able to personally attend the Awards Dinner and Student Awards Assembly in May.

6. Candidate may not self-nominate or campaign for nomination.

Information for Nominators:

1. Be specific and concise about area of endeavor, titles/honors/awards earned or conferred, or other pertinent information about candidate’s accomplishments. Extreme brevity or excessive length makes a nomination less effective.

2. Nominator must disclose all relationships between nominator and candidate.

3. Nominators must make reasonable efforts to verify the accuracy of all statements on the nomination form. The committee may set aside any nomination found to contain material inaccuracies.

4. It is the nominator’s responsibility to obtain and supply supporting documentation for candidate. Documentation must accompany the nomination form. Documentation consists of, but is not limited to, media articles, resume/CV, publications, etc. Referrals to website(s) are not documentation.

5. Nominators may not make public statements about the nomination or selection process. The committee may set aside a nomination which violates this rule.

6. Complete nomination form with supporting documentation (PDF, PNG or JPEG formats only) for consideration of induction the following spring.

7. Nominations are not carried from year to year. Candidates not selected for induction must be re-submitted for nomination.

If you believe you know of an extraordinary alumni worthy of this honor, nominations are accepted only from August 15 to October 31 here.

Inductee, Class, Endeavor(s), Details, Year Inducted

David Abel S'53 - Performing Arts - concert violinist - 1970

Harold Abend S’71 - Journalism/Community Service - sports reporter, preps specialty, girls sports advocate - 2023

Diane Amos '75 - Performing Arts - actress, comedian, "Pine Sol Lady" - 2004

George Sumner (Anderson) S'58 - Creative Arts - environmental impressionist fine art painter - 2017

* Maya Angelou (Marguerite Johnson) F’45 - Creative Arts/Education - author, screenwriter, actress, advocate, professor - 1975

* Jean Maria Arrigo, Ph.D. F'61 - Public Service, Advocacy - social psychologist and oral historian, fought 10-year battle to reverse APA's collusion with national security torture - 2024

* Marty Balin (Martyn Buchwald) S'59 - Performing Arts - musician/songwriter/vocalist, Jefferson Airplane co-founder - 1982

* Marilyn Barnett Borovoy S’39 - Public Service - S.F. Social Services Commissioner, Parliamentarian - 1989

* Josiah “Joe” Beeman S’53 - Public Service - political aide & advocate, U.S. Ambassador - 1984

* Raymond Bell S'45 - Education - Tam High & North Tahoe High Principal, Tahoe-Truckee & Pierce Joint USD Superintendent - 2002

Mark Berger S'60 - Creative Arts/Education - sound enginieeer for over 170 feature films, 4-time Oscar winner - 2016

Myron Bernstein S’64 - Creative Arts - award-winning landscape/cityscape photographer - 1979

James Bindon, Ph.D. S'65 - Sciences/Education - anthropology researcher, award-winning professor - 2010

Morris “Morrie” Bobrow S’57 - Performing Arts - award-winning musical revue composer, lyricist and writer - 1988

Roy Bogas S'50 - Creative Arts - concert & S.F. Ballet pianist, Masterguild Series Director - 1970

Hon. Gail Brewster Bereola - S’72 - Public Service - Alameda County Superior Court Justice - 1998

Bob "Dr. Color" Buckter S'64 - Creative Arts - architectural colorist for over 22,000 Victorian homes & other buildings - 2019

Stanley “Stan” Burford S’60 - Public Service/Media - Emmy-nominated broadcast reporter, author - 2002

* Phillip Burton F'43 - Public Service - U.S. Representative, authored legislation creating Golden Gate National Recreation Area - 1970

Carlos Carvajal S’49 - Performing Arts - Dance Spectrum Founder & Principal Choreographer - 1978

Rosemary "Rosie" Casals S'66 - Athletics - multiple Grand Slam Doubles tennis champion - 1982

* Aldo Casanova F’46 - Creative Arts - sculptor, professor, multiple Fellowships - 2004

Darren Chan '89 - Broadcasting Arts - L.A. Lakers/Anaheim Angels/S.F. Giants on-site Producer/Engineer - 2022

Hon. George Choppelas S’50 - Public Service - S.F. Superior Court Justice; Court of Historical Review - 1982

Harry Chuck, M. Div. S'53 - Public Service/Advocacy - Chinatown housing advocate, Donaldina Cameron House Executive Director - 1989

Prof. Marvin Cohen F’52 - Sciences/Education - physics researcher, professor - 1988

Ronald Coleman, Ph.D. S'61 - Education - Ethnic Studies professor, African-American history in Utah expert, author - 1987

* Harry Cordellos S'55 - Athletics/Advocacy - pioneering vision-challenged athlete, author - 1978

* Carlos Cornejo S’47 - Public Service/Education - 2-time SFUSD Schoolmaster of the Year Award; SFUSD Interim Superintendent - 1986

Richard Correa '75 - Public Service - SFPD Commander, 2 Medals of Honor - 2014

* Ann Curtis Cuneo S'44 - Athletics - London 1948 Olympics U.S. swim team, 2 gold medals, 1 silver medal - 1970

* John del Carlo S’69 - Performing Arts - operatic Bass-baritone with S.F. Opera, N.Y. Metropolitan Opera, Opera Bastille & many others - 1994

* Prof. John Edwards S'40 - Education - SFSU 1960-1991 English professor, Department Chair, Executive Vice President - 1973

* Lester Embree, Ph.D. F’55 - Education - phenomenology researcher, professor - 1990

* Maxime "Max" Faget, Ph.D. - Sciences - NASA engineer, Project Mercury capsule designer - 1995

Dianne Fukami S’73 - Creative Arts/Journalism - Emmy-winning CBS5 (KPIX) and independent producer - 2007

Aaron Glantz '95 - Journalism - Emmy-nominated investigative journalist, Peabody-awarded author - 2017

Danny Glover S’64 - Performing Arts - multiple award-winning film/television actor, activist - 1986

Jon Greenberg S'58 - Public Service - basketball coach for at-risk S.F. youth, S.F. Pro-Am Tournament founder - 1987

Noah Griffin S’63 - Public Service/Performing Arts - media writer/broadcaster, vocalist & lyricist - 2013

Zaretta Hammond ’77 - Education - former teacher, author/researcher/coach/consultant of culturally responsive teaching techniques - 2024

Melvin Heyman, M.D., M.P.H. F'67 - Medicine - leading pediatric gastroenterology specialist & researcher - 2013

* Edwin Hoffman S’42 Creative Arts/Journalism - AP & UPI photographer, 1st Korean War journalist to cross 38th Parallel - 1999

* Richard Hongisto F'54 - Public Service - S.F. Sheriff, SFPD & Cleveland PD Chief, S.F. Supervisor - 1992

Demothenis “Danny” Hountalas F’52 - Entrepreneurship - restauranteur, Cliff Chalet and Cliff House - 1994

Barbara Huberman Liskov, Ph.D. S’57 - Technology/Education - distributed computing, languages & methodology researcher - 2015

Lt. Gen. Jan Huly S'66 - Public Service - USMC Commander, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Somalia, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Legion of Merit - 2022

Richard Hyman, Ph.D. S’58 - Sciences - Stanford Human Genome Project senior researcher; Guggenheim Fellow 1988 - 2018

Margaret Jenkins F'59 - Performing Arts - modern dance & ballet choreographer & teacher, dance company director - 1995

Damon Keeve '78 - Athletics - 3-time National Judo Champion; Atlanta 1996 Olympics US Judo Team - 1993

* Elbert Kimble S'43 - Public Service - WWII Marine Corps gunner, Distinguished Flying Cross - 2000

Robert Kleinberg S’67 - Energy Tech/Economics - Global Energy Policy senior research scholar, lecturer - 2023

* Adele Kleinhaupt Corvin S’39 - Public Service - volunteer, philanthropist, gerontology advocate - 1984

* Daniel Kurzman S'40 - Journalism - foreign correspondent for Washington Post & NBC, author - 1985

Munson Kwok, Ph.D. S’58 - Sciences/Advocacy - aerospace scientist, Chinese American community leader & philanthropist - 1977

Russell Levi S'60 - Community Leadership - fundraiser, coordinator & volunteer - 1992

Kenneth Lloyd, Ph.D. F'62 - Personal Development - organizational behavior consultant and author - 2016

Richard Lonergan S’60 - Technology/Business - developed secure technologies for automatic deposits & credit card use - 2019

Gilman Louie '78 - Technology/Entrepreneurship - Spectrum Holobyte founder, Falcon flight simulator designer - 1994

Harvard Lyman, Ph.D. S’49 - Sciences - biochemistry and cell biology researcher & professor - 1992

* Princeton Lyman, Ph.D. S'53 - Public Service - Foreign Service officer, U.S. Ambassador, Africa specialist - 1986

* Stanford Lyman, Ph.D. - S’51 - Education - sociologist, author, professor - 1984

* Sen. Gordon Mailloux F'37 - Public Service - oldest freshman in Guam State Legislature (age 70 at oath) - 1993

Alec Mapa '83 - Performing Arts - film, stage & television actor - 2002

* Del Martin (Dorothy Taliaferro) F'37 - Community Leadership - pioneering lesbian advocate, activist, author - 1991

Johnny Mathis F'53 - Performing Arts - over 20 Top 30 hits, 2003 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award - 1970

* Ollie Matson S’48 - Athletics - 14-year NFL career, College Football & NFL Pro Halls of Fame - 1970

John McConnell S'72 - Creative Arts - award-winning radio executive - 2007

Lee Meriwether S’53 - Performing Arts - Miss America 1955; film, television & stage actress - 1970

Frank Meyskens, M.D. S'63 - Medicine - clinical oncologist researcher & professor - 1995

Spencer Michels S’55 - Journalism - Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist & producer - 1988

* Margaret Miller Kaplan, M.D., M.P.H. S'39 - Medicine - trailblazing "woman doctor," public health advocate, started S.F.'s fluoridation - 2017

Hiroshi Motomura, J.D. S'70 - Education/Public Service - immigration law scholar & author, award-winning professor - 2009

* Albert Nalbandian F’39 - Performing Arts/Public Service - film character actor, legendary S.F. flower stall vendor - 2009

Deon Nielsen Price, D.M.A. S’51 - Performing Arts - concert pianist, composer, author, teacher - 1988

Arthur Nonomura, Ph.D. F'68 - Sciences/Education - botany researcher with many patented discoveries, professor - 2010

Thornton “Ted” Oglove S’50 - Economics - respected Wall Street financial analyst, author, columnist - 1990

Allen Okamoto S'61 - Community Leadership - first Asian-American President of S.F. Realtors, Silver SPUR Award 2000 - 2005

Rep. Barbara Okamoto Marumoto S’57 - Public Service - State of Hawaii House of Representatives 1978–2012 - 1986

* Prof. Nathan Oliveira F’46 - Creative Arts - watercolor & sculpture artist, Stanford Professor - 1985

* Betty Ann Ong S'73 - Public Service - 9/11 heroine on American Airlines Flight 11 - 2002

* Percy Pinkney F’56 - Public Service - youth social worker & probation officer, political aide & activist - 1977

Prof. Katie Quan S'70 - Community Leadership - female garment workers advocate, author, professor - 1995

James Quen F’65 - Public Service - law enforcement, first Asian American in Calif. Correctional Dept., Medal of Valor - 2004

Anthony "Tony" Ribera Sr., Ph.D. S'63 - Public Service - SFPD Chief, USF Institute of Criminal Justice Leadership Director - 1993

Martha Richards S’67 - Advocate for Women Artists - WomenArts & SWAN Day founder - 2017

Ruth Ann Rosenberg S'48 - Community Leadership - philanthropist, volunteer, senior advocate - 2005

John Rothmann F’66 - Community Leadership - Jewish community leader & scholar; author, radio broadcaster - 1989

* Col. John Roush, Jr. S'41 - Public Service - highly decorated U.S. Army officer, community leader - 2007

* Prentice Earl Sanders S’56 - Public Service - SFPD Vice Crimes, Homicide Inspector, Asst. Chief, Chief - 2003

Marcia Savin S'53 - Creative Arts - award-winning author, playwright & educator - 2005

Paul Schwarzbart S’51 - Public Service - Holocaust “hidden child” survivor/Nazi historian, author, teacher - 1989

Allan Seid, M.D., M.A. F'53 - Community Leadership - founder, Pathway Society, AACI & other South Bay Asian service organizations - 2014

Karl Seyer-Ochi '82 - Education - national award-winning high school teacher - 2010

Gary Shapiro S'59 - Community Leadership - Trustee & Chair, Palo Alto University; director & officer for many organizations - 2017

Karen Shigezumi Sakata S’69 - Education - Contra Costa County's first Asian & female school superintendent with 42-year teaching career - 2023

William Silen, M.D. F'43 - Medicine - gastroenterology & breast cancer researcher - 1985

David L. Simon S’67 - TV Production Trailblazer - Fox, Disney & DreamWorks production executive; Simon Bros Media - 1998

Deborah Simon S'67 - Education - nationally recognized Forensics (speech) coach & teacher - 1998

* Edith Simon Coliver F’39 - Public Service - translator at Nuremburg trials and UN founding conference - 2000

Lateefah Simon '96 - Community Leadership - womens’ development leader, MacArthur Fellowship Awardee 2003 - 2011

David Miln Smith S'56 - Athletics/Education - award-winning marathon swimmer & extreme athletics pioneer, author - 2007

* Phil Smith F’69 - Athletics - USF All-American, 9-year NBA career, Golden State Warriors 1974–75 Champs - 2000

* James Sochor, Ph.D. F'55 - Athletics - UC Davis football coach, 18 straight championships, College Football Hall of Fame - 1980

* George Solomon, M.D. S'48 - Medicine - pioneering psychoneuroimmunology practitioner/researcher - 1991

* Hyron Spinrad, Ph.D. S’51 - Sciences - galactic evolution and comet researcher, professor - 1973

Darlene Spira Solomon, Ph.D. '76 - Technology - Agilent Technologies Senior VP/CTO; Women in Tech Internationall Hall of Fame - 2018

Garret Tom '78 - Public Service - SFPD Captain, Commander, Deputy Chief; Bronze Medal of Valor - 2017

Barry Tompkins S'57 - Journalism - TV sports commentator, four Emmy Awards, International Boxing Hall of Fame - 2011

Irving Tragen, J.D. S’39 - Public Service - 55-year diplomat/Foreign Service officer, Latin American specialist - 2013

Cheryl Ulrich Jennings S’66 - Journalism - Award-winning reporter & anchor (ABC7), first on-air after Loma Prieta - 2016

Jerry White S'70 - Athletics - 11-year career in MLB and 2 years in Japan, Minnesota Twins coach 1998-2011 - 2000

Fannie Wiley Preston, Ph.D. S'54 - Education - university professor & Dean, literacy advocate - 2006

* Alan Wong S’49 - Community Leadership - Self-Help for the Elderly co-founder, Chinatown community advocate/leader - 2009

Lope Yap, Jr. S'70 - Creative Arts - award-winning independent film & TV producer/director - 2006

* Al Young F’63 - Motorsports/Education - first Asian-American world champion auto racer; award-winning high school teacher - 2019

Connie Young Yu S'59 - Community Leadership - Chinese-American historian/author/advocate, Promontory Point 150th anniversary keynote speaker - 2022

* deceased

Inductee, Class, Details, Year Inducted

George Choppelas S’50, co-founder and co-coordinator of wildly popular GW Faithful quarterly luncheons from 1982 to 2011 (only person to date who has received both HoM and AMP honors)

Kris Kimball S’1958, co-founder of Bell Game Party from 2005 to 2015, chaired/co-chaired five class reunions, established and maintains class website/blog, fundraised to establish Effie Pandell Scholarship

Steven Kovacs S’1964, recruited to chair class reunions starting with 40-year and continues to hold one every five years, fundraised $20,000 to establish a Tech Fund

Bernie LaPedis S'57 and * Esther Schwartz LaPedis S'57, chaired eight class reunions, fundraised over $15,000 for direct support to GWHS

Lula Tamaras Ossipoff F’53, Alumni Director 1956-58 and 1983-2001, AlumniScope newsletter's second editor, chaired 14 reunions and milestone birthday events for her tight-knit half-year class, fundraised for the Principal's Cup trophy case as well as the Rita Clark Endowment and Phyllis Lee Panelli Scholarship

* Paul Wallace F’41, founder and sole coordinator of Leith's Guys & Gals bimonthly luncheons from 1992 to 2014; researched GWHS WWII casualties for inclusion, and fundraised for, war memorial plaque which was installed in front of the Main Office in June 1995

* deceased