The Hall of Fame seeks to acknowledge and honor the many distinguished graduates of the school in an auspicious and meaningful manner. The Hall of Fame was established in 1973 by the Board of Managers of the Associated Alumni of Central High School, when Alumni president Charles F. Ludwig, Esq. appointed a Hall of Fame committee. The committee developed induction criteria and set a proper tone for the induction ceremonies by choosing the Grand Rotunda of the Franklin Institute for the first ceremony on September 15, 1973.

This ceremony was attended by many dignitaries of the Philadelphia community, including a U.S. Senator, governmental officials, school administration officials, alumni, students and friends. Indeed, the evening was made memorable when the distinguished graduates were introduced, including Reverend William Lallou (103), the first inductee and a graduate in the year 1898.

The list of distinguished inductees to date appears below. Each member is additionally honored by a plaque inscribed with their name and a note of their accomplishments, which is hung on the wall in the Hall of Fame Corridor, between the Library and the Auditorium.

A most favorable competitive spirit has developed over the years for a place in the Hall of Fame, which clearly demonstrates that its purpose has been achieved. The first committee recognized that it would be difficult to consider every graduate who had achieved a notable record of success, and would be almost impossible if they were to also consider those who had died. Accordingly, the committee decided to award only graduates living and able to attend the induction ceremony. At minimum, inductees would have worldwide or national reputation and be recognized by their peers as having achieved the highest success in their field.

The many committees have exerted considerable effort in considering and debating on potential candidates. The process, however, starts with the alumni. Initial recommendations come from someone who is familiar with a potential candidate and can furnish the committee with documentation and a curriculum vita. The committee welcomes all recommendations.

Present Members of the Central High School Hall of Fame

September 15, 1973 — The Grand Rotunda, Franklin Institute

• Monsignor William Lallou (103) Religious Leader
• Louis Kahn (134) Architect
• Dr. William H. Cornog (146) Educator
• Dr. Leroy K. Young (155) Physician
• Dr. Seymour Kety (158) Physiologist
• J. Paul Lyet (164) Industrialist
• Samuel Dash, Esquire (178) Legal Scholar
• Justice Robert N. C. Nix, Jr. (186) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Jerome Lowenthal (192) Pianist

October 30, 1976 — The Grand Rotunda, Franklin Institute

• Dr. Joseph S. Hepburn (108) Chemist, Historian
• John F. Harbeson (111) Architect
• Robert B. Carney (118) Admiral, U.S.N.
• Alexander Kendrick (149) Journalist
• Edward W. Barankin (168) Physicist
• Judge Charles R. Weiner (174) Jurist
• Norman Fell (176) Actor
• Bernard Wolfman, Esquire (176) Legal Scholar
• Dr. D. Walter Cohen (181) Dentist, Educator
• Arnold Roth (186) Humorist
• Dr. Howard M. Temin (196) Nobel Laureate
• Edward Weinberger (204) Writer, Television Producer

June 8, 1978 — The Barclay Hotel

• Leon J. Obermayer, Esquire (109) Lawyer

June 7, 1979 — The Barclay Hotel

• Judge Leo Weinrott (121) Jurist

November 13, 1979 — Penn Mutual Tower

• Bernard G. Segal (142) International Lawyer
• David Raksin (153) Composer
• Alvin Benedict (176) Hotelier
• Melvin B. Zisfein (181) Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
• Eugene H. Rotberg (188) International Banker

June 10, 1982 — Williamsons' at the GSB Building

• William B. Curry Sr. (125) Corresponding Secretary, AACHS

April 9, 1986 — Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel

• Arthur Tracy (130) "The Street Singer"
• Dr. Howard Carlisle (162) Educator
• Shelly Gross (170) Theatrical Producer, Author
• Lee Guber (170) Theatrical Producer
• Dr. Leonard S. Dreifus (177) Physician
• Solomon Kal Rudman (188) Radio and Television; Publisher; Philanthropist
• Bernard M. Kauderer (192) Vice Admiral, U.S.N.
• Judge Edward R. Becker (194) Jurist

October 5, 1988 — Sheraton Society Hill Hotel

• Dr. I. M. Levitt (146) Director Emeritus of the Fels Planetarium
• Bernard Bell (150) Former Vice President of World Bank
• Dr. Alvan R. Feinstein (177) Professor of Medicine at Yale University
• Ralph Sanders (183) Professor Emeritus of the National Defense University
• Dr. Anthony P. Monaco (191) Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School
• Dr. Henry David Abraham (214) Participant in Awarding the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize
• Lee Eisenberg (221) Editor-in-Chief, Esquire Magazine

December 3, 1992 — Central High School

• William J. Harvey, III (156) Religious Leader
• Edward N. Polisher (132) Distinguished Attorney
• John Macionis (160) Olympic Swimmer (Silver)
• James Bagian (228) Astronaut, Physician

February 8, 1995 — The Locust Club (Philadelphia)

• Dr. Isadore Brodsky (189) Medical Scholar and Inventor
• Dr. Richard J. Wurtman (199) Physician and Researcher

March 18, 1998 — Williamsons' at the GSB Building

• Dr. Paul J. Fink (189) Psychiatrist
• Dr. William H. Cosby (204) Entertainer, Author
• Joel N. Myers (208) Meteorologist
• Conrad C. Lautenbacher (213) Vice-Admiral, U.S.N.

March 16, 2000 — Thomas Jefferson University

• Dr. Andrew Weil (212) - Field of Alternative Medicine

October 16, 2001 — The Downtown Club (Philadelphia)

• Dr. Robert H. Page, P.E. (183) - Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
• Joseph Smukler, Esq. (185) - Lawyer, Philanthropist and Humanitarian
• Allen P. Rosenberg, Esq. (192) - Lawyer, Lecturer, & U.S. Olympic Committee Member
• Charles Joseph Epstein M.D. (l96) - Professor of Pediatrics
• James DePreist (202) - Orchestral Conductor & Music Director
• Teller (224) - Entertainer and member of Penn & Teller

October 19, 2006 - The National Constitution Center (Philadelphia)

• Richard J. Fox (184) - Real Estate developer
• Robert A. Fox (188) - Investor
• Howard Gittis, Esq. (197) - Attorney
• Barry B. Goldberg, M.D. (204) - Preeminent authority on ultrasound research and education
• Stephen J. Harmelin, Esq. (206) - Attorney
• A. Eugene Kohn, FAIA RIBA JIA (190) - Architect
• Benjamin Ostrofsky, Ph.D. (177) - Engineer and Fellow of The Society of Logistic Engineers
• Richard S. Sokolov, Esq. (226) - International Real Estate Developer
• Bernard M. Wagner, M.D. (182) - Leading pioneer Toxicologic pathology

October 15, 2009 – Sheraton Society Hill (Philadelphia)

• William H. Brown, III (185) – Attorney
• Bernard Spain (198) – Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
• Hon. Lawrence S. Margolis (199) – Senior Judge U.S. Court of Federal Claims
• Dr. George Campbell (220) – President, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
• Ralph L Schlosstein (227) – Co-Founder BlackRock, Inc.
• Dr. Cato T. Laurencin (235) – Doctor, Researcher and Engineer
• Dr. Carlton J. Young (238) – Transplant Surgeon

Inducted posthumously:

• Thomas Eakins (38) – Artist, Photographer and Sculptor
• Daniel Guggenheim (66) – Industrialist and Philanthropist
• Simon Guggenheim (87) – Industrialist, Philanthropist and U.S. Senator from Colorado
• John Baxter Taylor, Jr. (107) – 1908 Olympic Gold Medalist
• Ed Wynn (110) – Comedian, Theatrical Producer
• Larry Fine (132) – Comedian, starred in "The Three Stooges"
• Samuel S. Fels (72) - Manufacturer, Philanthropist – donor of Fels Planetarium
• Albert C. Barnes (92) – Art Collector
• Alain Leroy Locke (107) – Author, Philosopher, Rhodes Scholar