News

The National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame is an educational and non-profit organization dedicated to acquainting the English-speaking world with Lithuania, its history and culture and to highlight prominent Lithuanian Americans and their accomplishments.

The first inductees in 2013 were football greats, Johnny Unitas and Dick Butkus, as well as Hollywood star, Ruta Lee. Actress Ann Jillian, soloist Arnold Voketaitis and actor Vyto Ruginis were inducted into the National Lithuanian Hall of Fame in 2015.

The induction ceremony was held at the Lithuanian World Center in Chicago, IL. Around 250 quests attended the event and enjoyed Lithuanian school children ballroom dance performance, as well inductees' words of gratitude and inspiration.

Jurate Kazickas, accepting an honor for her beloved father dr. Joseph Kazickas, spoke of the importance of the diaspora to stay involved with the homeland, go back to visit, send their children there and also to engage with some charitable activities in Lithuania as Kazickas Family Foundation is doing. 

The highlight of the evening was a solemn and important speech by the final recipient, President Valdas Adamkus. He thanked all the people of goodwill and all of those who work in the name of Lithuania, shared words of gratitude to Stanley Balzekas, Jr, Dick Durbin and to his dear old friend, Jospeh Kazickas: 

"Juozas Kazickas was not seen much in public circles but he devoted his whole life to doing good things. I will say it openly: if it were not for Juozas Kazickas, his family and his philanthropic beliefs, the path of Lithuania after re-independence would have been much more difficult across many fields."

"In the Name of Lithuania..."

Photo above from J. Kazickas archives: Jurate Kazickas and Ruta Lee

Photo below: Courtesy of Jonas Kuprys