SURF EXPO, Orlando, Florida, Thursday, January 6, 2022 – The East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame is proud to announce the 25th Anniversary Class of 2022 has been inducted during a gala ceremony held Wednesday evening, January 5, 2022,
Photo: Mez ESM
in front of a mostly masked crowd, which included 11x World Champion Kelly Slater, at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, following a day of business at the Surf Expo Trade Show held in the same location.
The Class of 2022 were inducted in five categories through a rigorous four-step process, which begins with public application submissions, and included:
Culture—-Chris Lundy, Florida
Industry—John Parton, Florida
Media –– Matt Walker, North Carolina
Legends—Jeannie Chesser, Florida; Spyder Wright, Maryland; Bill Hixon, Florida
Surfers—–Danny Melhado, Florida; Eric Penny, New York; Kristy Murphy, Florida; Clifton James “CJ” Hobgood, Florida
Also Inducted in the biennial ceremony was Kathy Phillips, Maryland, who was selected by the Board of Directors to receive the prestigious Cecil Lear President’s Award, named to honor the Hall of Fame’s co-founder and 20-year President (1996-2016), and is awarded to an individual who made a lasting contribution to East Coast Surfing in leadership or mentoring. Lear, 91, was pleased to present the award to longtime friend and associate Phillips.
“It is an honor to be recognized by your peers with induction into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame,” commented president Gary Germain during the event after party.” “It is especially poignant to be inducted during the Hall of Fame’s 25th Anniversary Ceremony. The 11 inductees in the Class of 2022 will always be remembered for that. They join 167 Hall of Famers who have been inducted since 1996.”
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About the ECSHOF
The East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame is dedicated to the preservation of the history and heritage of East Coast Surfing by enshrining forever the people who have been responsible for surfing’s development and growth on the US East Coast. The ECSHOF was founded in 1996 by one of surfing’s truly great watermen, Greg Noll, along with East Coast legend, Cecil Lear. Every two years, the ECSHOF conducts a public candidate submission process, followed by a thorough nomination and selection process to determine the next ECSHOF Inductees.
For more information, please visit EastCoastSurfingHallofFame.org.
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