Jon F. Hanson, founder and chairman of The Hampshire Cos. — Photo by Hal Brown/Courtesy: Hampshire
By Joshua Burd
Commercial real estate magnate Jon F. Hanson will be among more than a dozen new inductees this year for the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Hanson, the founder and chairman of The Hampshire Cos. in Morristown, was selected as part of the organization’s Enterprise category and will be inducted alongside the likes of Meryl Streep, Steven Van Zandt and a host of other famous New Jerseyans. The induction ceremony will take place May 6 at the historic Convention Hall in Asbury Park.
“My dad built his business and raised his family in New Jersey because it is a place he loves,” said James E. Hanson II, CEO of The Hampshire Cos. “Throughout his career he has tirelessly worked to make New Jersey a better place to live and to do business.
“His legacy is built on his passion and relentlessness and his ability to bring real economic growth to New Jersey through both the real estate investment activities of Hampshire and his work as a civic leader under multiple gubernatorial administrations. I am proud him, our family is proud of him, and everyone at Hampshire congratulates him on this well-deserved recognition.”
The full 2017 New Jersey Hall of Fame class includes:
- Arts & Letters: Author Harlan Coben and author and journalist Anna Quindlen
- Enterprise: Real Estate executive Jon Hanson, publishing executive Steve Forbes, businessman Joe Buckelew and celebrity chef Cake Boss Buddy Valastro
- Performing Arts: Actress Meryl Streep; musician and actor Steven Van Zandt; The Four Seasons including members Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi and Joe Long; singer Gloria Gaynor; and singer-songwriter Debbie Harry of BLONDIE
- Public Service: Astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly, nurse Clara Maass and politician Millicent Fenwick
- Sports: Major League Baseball player Al Leiter and runner Mary Decker
- Unsung Hero: To be announced in April
“Induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame is the highest civilian honor that our state can bestow on someone,” Gov. Phil Murphy said. “It’s a celebration of New Jersey that inspires the next generation of New Jersey leaders. Our inductees remind us how so many of our citizens have transformed the world, and how proud we should be of that fact as New Jerseyans.”
This year’s class was selected among 50 nominees, including 10 in each of five categories. The New Jersey Hall of Fame said it may select additional inductees based on their availability for the ceremony.
“Our May 6 induction ceremony is the NJHOF’s 10th-anniversary celebration, and former inductees will help us to induct this year’s class,” said Steve Edwards, NJHOF Foundation board president. “It will be an inspiring ceremony, with lots of surprises.”
