Vista Historical Society & Museum
2317 Old Foothill Drive
Vista, CA, 92084
Tel: (760) 630-0444
Fax: (760) 295-9993
Hall of Fame
History
In early 1989, during preliminary planning for Vista Heritage Week later that year, Regi Ausmus proposed the creation of a Vista Hall of Fame to honor significant people and their achievements that have enriched Vista’s vibrant history. The event was incorporated into the 1989 Heritage Week, and inductions were also made in each of the next three years, ceasing in 1992, and once more in 1995.
Initially, there were no established criteria for selection to the Hall. It was generally agreed by the committee participants at that time that the public would nominate candidates and the committee would make the final selection decisions. Publisher Scott McElhaney of the Vista Press at the time offered ballot space in the newspaper and wall space on the interior hallway of the paper’s offices to display portraits of the recipients. That never came to pass and eventually the Vista Ranchos Historical Society received “custody” of the photographs.
In early 1994, upon the completion of the Vista Historical Museum, the historical society began to display the Hall of Fame members’ photographic portraits inside the museum at 651-A East Vista Way.
In 1995, in conjunction with the 150th. anniversary of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe, the Hall of Fame received renewed attention. A suggestion was made to display the portrait photographs in the new library community room, but the museum had indicated that it would like to continue displaying the photographs.
The Vista Ranchos Historical Society would very much like to see the Hall of Fame grow, become formalized and codified, and evolve into the a source of pride that everyone who calls Vista home aspires to become a part of. It is our hope that this Hall of Fame Committee will be able to accomplish that task.