While a Hall of Fame can obvious set any criteria it wishes, I must in fairness note that requiring technical birth in New York State may leave out otherwise obvious people whose lives and careers were devoted to the State, while including other "famous" people whose New York connection was only accidental (nobody is responsible for where they are born) and transitory. I am thinking, of course, of James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851). Though born in Burlington, New Jersey, he was brought to Cooperstown, New York in 1790 as a babe in arms, and his whole life and writing career (except for seven years in Europe) was spent in and largely devoted to New York State. Certainly he is close to the top of any list of important writers clearly associated with our State. This is a question the sponsors of the Hall of Fame idea may wish to consider -- is mere birth in the State, either necessary or sufficient for inclusion? Hugh C. MacDougall Secretary/Treasurer James Fenimore Cooper Society 8 Lake Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] http://www.oneonta.edu/external/cooper