First all female class inducted into California hall of fame
First all female class inducted into California hall of fame
Seven California women were inducted into the states Hall of Fame Thursday night. The late Tina Turner, Julia Child, Alice Piper, Dian Fossy, Ina Coolbrith, Mitsyua Endo and Vicki Draves, now have have their names etched into California history forever.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Seven California women were inducted into the state's Hall of Fame Thursday night.
The late Tina Turner, Julia Child, Alice Piper, Dian Fossy, Ina Coolbrith, Mitsyua Endo and Vicki Draves now have their names etched into California history forever.
"Each of these honorees represent the spirit of California," said Gov. Gavin Newsom. "They pushed boundaries transcended societal norms and inspired progress that continue to resonate with people everywhere."
Many of the women are from the Bay Area, including Vicki Draves, a competitive diver who overcame racism and sexism to become the first woman to win gold medals in 10 meter platform diving and three-meter springboard.
Draves was introduced to the coach at the Fairmont Hotel's swimming and diving club, and while he told her he could not admit a Filipino, he agreed to create a new club with Draves as its only member.
Draves, was born and raised in San Francisco, her legacy not only cemented in the hall of fame, but also in a mural in the city she called home.
"You see somebody like Vicki who overcame so much in her own life to become such an accomplished athlete, it just gives you inspiration," the artist who painted the mural told KTVU.
Ina Coolbrith also broke barriers, serving as the first librarian in Oakland and state's first poet laureate. She used literacy to inspire the next generation.
The legacies of each woman will inspire generations to come.