California Floriculture Hall of Fame

California Floriculture Hall of Fame Awards

Since 1986, California's most distinguished leaders have been recognized for their contributions to their industry by induction into the California Floriculture Hall of Fame. Recipients are honored at each of the California floral markets where their names appear engraved on permanent plaques located at: San Francisco Flower Market, the Los Angeles Flower Market and the San Diego International Floral Trade Center.

The Trustees of the Kee Kitayama Research Foundation solicit nominations on an annual basis for Floriculture Hall of Fame recipients. Individuals nominated must have contributed for a minimum of 15 years, their leadership and organizational skills to the development and permanent betterment of the California floral industry in the areas of: Production, Marketing, Transportation, Research and Legislative Activity.

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California Floriculture Hall of Fame

1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2007

1986

James Bonocorsi William A. Enomoto John Fukushima Frank Kuwahara Yoshimi Shibata Joseph Shinoda Eiichi Yoshida William Zappettini, Jr.

1987

Seward Besemer
Donald Briggs
Paul Ecke, Sr.
Ray Hasek
The Leong Family
Yosh Nishimoto
Sam Sakai
Hidco Jibo Satow
Hank Sciaroni
E.G. Thornton
Robert Weidner
Hank Van Wingerden

1988

Francis Aebi
Charles Hum
The Oku Family

1989

Paul Ecke, Jr.
James Nakano

1990

Mike Mellano, Sr.
Arne Thirup

1991

Harry Fukutome

1992

Kee Kitayama
Paul Nielson

1993

Jack Bivens
Shiz Namba

1994

Horace Anderson
Neil Canine
Elmer Fisher
The Frazee Family
Harry Higaki
Carl Perlstein

1995

Marilu Johnson
David L. Pruitt
Sharon Suyeyasu

1996

Eugene Frederick
Dramm

1997

The Domoto Family

1998

Ronald Akio Enomoto

1999

Evelyn Weidner

2000

Howard Asper, Sr.

2001

LeRoy Franzoia, Jr.

2002

Dr. Clyde Elmore
Dr. Albert Paulus

2003

Dr. Anton Kofranek

2007

Hardy Neuendorff

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Request for Nominations

Nominations for the award will be accepted from any member or group of members of any ornamental association. All nominations will stay active for a period of three (3) years. A unanimous vote of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee's five (5) members will determine the recipient(s). This award may be given posthumously.

Taken into consideration will be the nominee's:
  • Personal contribution to the permanent improvement of the California floral industry

  • Extent of experience and activities

  • Leadership and achievements within the industry

  • Personal character and integrity

Need More Information

For more information, please contact Michael A. Mellano at (760)807-4292 or send us an email.