From

Location

Message

Date Posted

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

A lot of people entered the Hall of Fame this year. I am not quite certain what it takes to get nominated or to be given the award? At the very start of pumpkins getting going there were people who contributed a lot, some now passed. Why would someone like Hugh Wiberg not be honored even though he has passed. Ray Waterman contributed to kick-starting pumpkins around the time the 1000 pound mark was passed. Should they not be entered into the Hall of Fame? Did Don Langevin not help to get us where we are today....three books on growing giant pumpkins after which pumpkin weights sky rocketed. Huge contributions made by these people. Just saying..... I am not taking anything away from those now in the Hall of Fame as I believe they all deserve to be there. By the way, Pete Rose should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, maybe some day?

3/3/2020 9:45:25 AM

Upper Strasburg, PA

Those are some good nominees. I could imagine the whole WPC/GPC may have been a hang up for Ray Waterman, but he definitely deserves the recognition.

3/3/2020 9:56:42 AM

Peosta, Iowa

Hugh was inducted in 2005, and Don was inducted 2008. Any other great candidates please let your regional Rep know. Guidelines are on gpc web page,!

https://gpc1.org/jacks-stats/gpc-hall-of-fame-members/

3/3/2020 10:52:26 AM

Peosta, Iowa

And I agree on Pete Rose 100%

3/3/2020 10:53:07 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

thanks.

3/3/2020 11:47:58 AM

Washington State

Not to mention Joel Holland who has been nominated many times, just saying...Mari Lou

3/3/2020 12:02:51 PM

Tenino, WA.

Hi Marv, In regards to Ray Waterman he has never been with the GPC he was with the WPC. The GPC Hall of Fame is for growers who have been active in the GPC.

3/3/2020 12:25:31 PM

President - GPC

The GPC Committee is looking to upgrade the HOF pages on our website. Creating a new look improving historical stats, HOF Inductee BIOS;s along with needing pics for those inducted, ceremonies of induction going back to as far as we can get. We need all growers help in collecting this info. The most precious is out there, and not all growers are on BP, so please help us reach out. Send info to the GPC reps in your area. We can all make this HOF page into what it deserves... Please help us make it so.

Wizzy

3/3/2020 12:36:08 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Was there a GPC when Howard Dill was active? Is he in the HOF? He should be.

3/3/2020 2:21:02 PM

Upper Strasburg, PA

Marv Hicks would be a good nominee too. Can’t imagine a PGPGA without him. That’s one of the oldest clubs and has weighed both of the Checkon world records. Larry & Gerry have both been inducted.

3/3/2020 2:38:10 PM

Colorado

Howard dill was inducted in 2006ish.He was one of the first and live by phone during the ceremony. Waterman was the reason for forming the GPC hed be in the HOS.

3/3/2020 6:36:59 PM

President - GPC

Excellent. The Process now grows from the roots up. Please see the HOF requirements. Growers from their own regions submit growers from their region that meet the criteria as they know the growers best. We cannot award one HOF inductee per region every year so its the best of the best and the region narrows it down to only one to be considered. That doesnt say that the grower cant be submitted the next year for consideration if they dont make it, or need some more creds. Its based on the criteria's met and the weight of those qualifications.
And it doesnt have to be just pumpkin only.

Wizzy

3/3/2020 7:46:46 PM

President - GPC

Giving back to the hobby means a lot. Volunteering in leadership positions... means a lot. Support of local events means a lot. Its not always about who took all the first place events, but that does count a bunch, but more about building the growing community going forward.

The is the BEST of the BEST to go into our Hallowed Hall, our TOP award.
What detracts from HOF ... Well, it does start at the local level, then grows forward.... Support of the GPC and it's Mission counts a bunch too, so one would think public bashing of the GPC and it's committee members would be detrimental towards consideration. What goes around does come around. Growing it forward, not personal satisfaction or profiting from the growing community without putting in more than one takes out.

It all starts at the local level... so Choose wisely

W

3/3/2020 8:04:49 PM

Tenino, WA.

https://gpc1.org/jacks-stats/gpc-hall-of-fame-members/

Marv Howard Dill was inducted in 2005. Howard and Hugh were the first two inducted into the HOF. Follow the link above to see all of the members of the HOF and the years they were inducted.

3/3/2020 10:31:08 PM

Stanwood, Washington

When was the GPC created?
Why are there so many World Record Holders that are not in the hall of fame?
by my count there are only 8 World Record Holders that are in the hall of fame. While there are 17 World Record Holders who are not in. Meanwhile there are 20 people in the Hall of fame who never held the world record. I kind of feel like being a World Record Holder should be almost an automatic induction. Like getting 3000 Hits in baseball.

3/4/2020 6:08:14 PM

President - GPC

This is exactly why the HOF was changed.... Submit your entrees to your regional rep for RECOGNITION... it starts at the local level... GRASS ROOTS grown forward....your Action required.... Its not based totally on growing the BIGGEST, but weighed towards Growing it Forward....

3/4/2020 9:08:23 PM

President - GPC

Our World Record Holders are already awarded, the HOF is about the best of the best. Not the Biggest of the Biggest...

3/4/2020 9:10:16 PM

Tenino, WA.

The GPC formed in 1993. Don Black was the first GPC grower to grow a world record fruit weighing 884 pounds.

3/5/2020 1:31:09 AM

Grittyville, WA

I thought Holland was in last year... Joel has shared great love in person and in his videos and humble & helpful emails... Consider this: I cant obtain a gpc video at any price. . . I tried dragging the family down to Portland and that didnt work so well. Truth is, it was a nightmare. Watching Holland videos with kids... Heaven. And yet somehow he is the bad guy. Makes no sense to me.

3/5/2020 3:32:29 AM

Grittyville, WA

The mentality of insiders and outsiders should end. Hall of fame should recognize Waterman. Its the right thing to do. Holding a grudge against a ghost makes you seem out of date.

3/5/2020 3:44:52 AM

Grittyville, WA

The truth is the GPC has no enemies but feels to me like there may be some lingering ptsd about any and all possible opposition... Imho, Halls of Fame are supposed to transcendent. Not burdened with petty politics.

3/5/2020 4:04:46 AM

Grittyville, WA

Read as one post... Sorry.

3/5/2020 4:06:44 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Ray Waterman is part of the early history of pumpkins. He had a lot to do with Howard Dill getting a patent on the original seeds. He was the one offering the prize for the first 1000 pound pumpkin. Paula Zehr grew the pumpkin, took the prize and stopped growing pumpkins and had a baby, her first. One thousand pounds was thought to be something most growers though would never happen at that time. And then there was Tony Ciliberto and on and on. Many great growers. And let us not forget Bobier and Pumpkin Poker. And the great meetings at Niagara Falls. History.

3/9/2020 6:01:03 PM

Upper Strasburg, PA

Ray Waterman definitely made a major impact as a weigh-off promoter. Looking at the current 4 qualifying factors, he wouldn’t make the cut for HOF though.

3/9/2020 11:20:43 PM

Upper Strasburg, PA

Tony Ciliberto is another guy who came to mind for me as well, but also wouldn’t qualify. Maybe I’m just biased because I’m a PGPGA guy, but both Tony Ciliberto and Marv Hicks are Hall of Famers to me.

3/9/2020 11:27:27 PM

Colorado

Dont forget kirk mombert and Gancarz bros at least for their grower contributions

3/10/2020 5:48:50 PM