Orange County Hall of Fame

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James Francis Cameron, a world-renowned filmmaker, moved to Brea with his family in 1971. Cameron graduated from Brea Olinda High School, and later enrolled in Fullerton College. He began working as a truck driver for the Brea Olinda Unified School District but quit his job to enter the film industry after watching Star Wars. Despite his humble beginnings, he reinvented himself into one of the most influential filmmakers of the modern era-writing, directing, producing, and editing blockbusters such as The Terminator, Aliens, Titanic, and Avatar. His films have grossed over $8 billion worldwide and earned numerous accolades. His pioneering achievements in cinematic technology have pushed boundaries in visual effects, immersive content, and deep-sea exploration-themed storytelling. Cameron's adventurous spirit further manifested through multiple submersible dives to the Titanic wreck and his record-breaking solo descent to the Mariana Trench. Cameron's remarkable professional journey from a working-class job in Brea to international acclaim serves as a powerful role model narrative for students and aspiring creatives in the region. His presence in California during his early life, along with his extraordinary career trajectory, make a strong case that he is both a worthy and inspirational candidate for the Orange County Hall of Fame-offering representation of success emerging from Brea and contributing to the broader cultural legacy of the region.

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Ed Laird of Huntington Beach has been a beloved community leader and lifelong philanthropist for decades. Along with his company Laird Coatings, Ed has empowered Orange County's youth through Scouting America for over 60 years, protected our coastline and wetlands through the Bolsa Chica Conservancy for nearly 30 years and won awards from the American Cancer Society, Kiwanis Club and many other nonprofits.

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Henry Samueli co-founded Broadcom in 1991; longtime chairman of the board; co-owner of the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks since 2005. After Broadcom went public in 1998, Henry and Susan created the Samueli Foundation and to date they have gifted over $1B primarily in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education, Integrative Health, Youth Services, Social Justice and Jewish Culture. The Samuelis are among Southern California's top philanthropists, and are members of the Giving Pledge, a group that promises to give away the majority of their money during their lifetime.

Harvey Edward "Eddie" Sheldrake Jr. was born on October 25, 1926, and grew up in southwest Los Angeles, attending George Washington High School. Despite weighing only 110 lbs as a senior and standing just 5'9", he went on to lead the UCLA Bruins basketball team as senior-year captain during the 1950-51 season, earning honorable-mention All-American status and first-team All-Southern Division honors.

Sheldrake played under the legendary coach John Wooden for three varsity seasons, distinguishing himself with grit, leadership, and an inspirational presence on the court-qualities recognized by teammates and fans alike. After graduating in 1951, he continued to excel in the Amateur Athletic Union, captaining the Los Angeles Kirby's Shoes team to an unblemished 12-0 season and earning All-Far West AAU recognition.

Transitioning from sports to business, Eddie built on his entrepreneurial spirit alongside his brother Don. They began in the restaurant world in the mid-1960s by operating KFC franchises, first opening in Belmont Shore in 1965 and expanding to ten locations around Los Angeles and Orange County by 1971. In 1968, the brothers launched their own concept: Polly's Pies, founded in Fullerton and named after their manager's newborn daughter. Polly's quickly became beloved for its pies and comfort ·food, growing to more than a dozen locations across Southern California.

Eddie Sheldrake's impact extended far beyond the dining room. He embodied Orange County's entrepreneurial spirit, combining community-mindedness, resilience, and hospitality in every venture. He became a local institution-Polly's Pies was celebrated for decades as a family-friendly gathering spot, while Eddie himself remained a steadfast local figure for nearly a century.

Sheldrake passed away on May 8, 2025, at the age of 98, leaving behind a legacy that spans athletics, business, and community connection. In recognition of his athletic achievements, he was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.

From hardwood to hospitality, Eddie Sheldrake exemplified character, leadership, and community impact. As a tenacious leader on UCLA's early basketball teams­ under coach John Wooden-and later as a beloved restaurateur, he helped build a local brand rooted in warmth and consistency. Polly's Pies became more than a restaurant: it became a shared Orange County experience, offering comfort and continuity across generations.

Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St. Clair retired in 2025 after his 35th year leading the Pacific Symphony. He is the longest-tenured American-born conductor of a major American orchestra. During St. Clair’s lengthy history, Pacific Symphony has become the largest budgeted orchestra formed in the last 50 years. Pacific Symphony was invited by the League of American Orchestras to become the newest and youngest orchestra among America’s Tier 1 Orchestras. Few orchestras can claim such rapid artistic development.

Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez is the descendant of a migrant farm worker family who instilled in him the lessons of perseverance and service to others.  He was the first in his family to earn a college degree and is the recipient of six honorary doctorate degrees.  

He has served as the 8th U. S. Ambassador to the United Nations Organizations in Rome, Italy and served as the 15th Director of the United States Peace Corps where he led agency programs in 77 countries and established the first Peace Corps program in Mexico. He was the first and is the only Hispanic American to lead the Peace Corps since its inception in 1961.

He began his public service career as a police officer in the City of Orange, California and has served as an appointee and Senate confirmed nominee of two U. S. Presidents and an appointee of three California Governors.    

His career has included corporate executive leadership as senior vice president of government affairs for Edison International and Southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest investor-owned utilities.

In 1988, he was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the first person of color to serve on the board in the history of Orange County.  He was twice elected and served as chairman of the board on two separate occasions.  

Ambassador Vasquez currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, the Board of Directors of the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, the Board of Directors of  the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts, the Board of Directors of the California Public Policy Institute, the Board of Trustees of Chapman University, the Board of Governors of the California State University Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the University of California Foundation, the Board of Governors of the Orange County Community Foundation and the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph Hospital.

He is the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the William Booth Award and the Others Award by the Salvation Army, the Pat Brown Institute Global Leadership Award, the American Association of Community Colleges Alumni Award, the Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Globe and Anchor Award, the Coro Foundation Crystal Eagle Award, the U. S. Hispanic Leadership Institute National Hispanic Hero Award, the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award, the Constitutional Rights Foundation Bill of Rights Award and Hispanic Business Magazine has named Ambassador Vasquez as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States on multiple occasions.  

His leadership in combatting world hunger was recognized by the Director of the UN World Food Program by naming Ambassador Vasquez as a Champion Against World Hunger.

Ambassador Vasquez has been a leader in promoting higher education through various programs including the Orange County Hispanic Education Endowment Fund which has provided hundreds of scholarships to students across Orange County.

In November of 2025, the Orange County Council of Scouting America established the Gaddi H. Vasquez Leadership Award as an annual award for service and leadership.  

He is a graduate of the University of Redlands and Santa Ana Community College.