The 58th annual Dinner and Induction Ceremony of the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame was held Saturday May 6th at the Crowne Plaza to a full audience that included both active and retired state elected officials, co-workers of the inductees and, of course, family and friends.

Founded by Frank Lanning in March of 1965 to honor the contributions of those whose efforts, in any line of endeavor, have added significantly to the heritage of the Ocean State, this year’s slate of inductees included people in business, the media, a judge and a philanthropist. Serving as hosts for the evening were Albert Beauparlant, president of the hall of fame, board member Mike Lyons and master of ceremony inductions and a 2018 inductee WJAR Channel 10 anchor Patrice Wood.

This year’s inductees are: Gail Cahalan-Conley, Real estate developer, business woman, patron of the arts, philanthropist, humanitarian, and advocate of Native American rights; Steve Kass, national and local radio and TV commentator, animal rights activist, philanthropist, and director of Big Brothers of Rhode Island; Robert “Rocky” Kempenaar, a developer of commercial real estate and hotel operations, civic leader, and long-time supporter of the programs of the U.S. Naval War College; Barbara A. Papitto, business woman, accountant, philanthropist, and champion of communities of color through her multi-million-dollar Papitto Opportunity Connection; J. Lynn Singleton, successful manager for over four decades of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), called by Providence Business News “a driving force in the Rhode Island business community.”

Also, Justice O. Rogeriee Thompson, Rhode Island attorney and Superior Court judge who rose to the high rank of Senior Justice of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ; Gene Valicent, radio and TV personality at WJAR who has raised millions for charitable causes and earned many broadcasting awards for excellence; Robert “Bob” Venturini, Rhode Island cable TV host for over 30 years, who is noted not only for his programming but also for his many charitable campaigns, especially his Toys for Tots Telethon and James R. Winoker, successful jewelry manufacturer, real estate developer, historical preservationist and philanthropist.