The Thomas P. Ryan Hall of Fame was established more than four decades ago to honor the outstanding achievements of graduates of the East Side Union High School District. It serves to recognize East Side alumni who have achieved notable success in the fields of public service, the arts, science, athletics, business, education, and beyond.
There are East Side graduates serving in leadership roles around the world, and too often, their stories go untold. The Foundation’s goal is to make sure more of them are heard. More than 150 individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since 1972, among them skateboarding pioneer Steve Caballero, Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Duong, retired Congressman Mike Honda, award-winning author Khaled Hosseini, nonprofit director Camille Llanes-Fontanilla, Super Bowl champion quarterback Jim Plunkett, playwright and screenwriter Luis Valdez, and Yahoo! co-founder Jerry Yang.
See Hall of Fame Members by Name
See Hall of Fame Members by Year
Hall of Fame Nominations
Nominations for the Hall of Fame are open to the community and accepted on a rolling basis. The Foundation’s Board of Directors evaluates nominees for induction every two years. All inductees are honored on permanent plaques outside Board Chambers at the district office.
The ideal Hall of Fame candidate:
- Achieves widespread recognition in their chosen field;
- Makes significant contributions to society;
- Demonstrates outstanding citizenship;
- Exhibits qualities of leadership; and
- Demonstrates qualities in a manner that will inspire the students of the ESUHSD.
Nominate an East Side alum for the Hall of Fame
Class of 2023
Nominations for the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 are officially CLOSED. The cohort will be announced in late Spring and formally inducted at our Hall of Fame Dinner on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the Historic Hayes Mansion in San José.
Please save the date and stay tuned for more information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities!
Class of 2021
The Class of 2021 was formally inducted at our biennial Hall of Fame Dinner at the Hayes Mansion on Saturday, November 13, 2021. We also recognized tech pioneer and philanthropist David "Dave" House for his support of East Side students.