FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED

Posthumous

America's preeminent landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted came to California in 1863 to manage John C Frémont's Rancho Las Mariposas in the Sierra Nevada. He then became an important leader of the nascent conservation movement in the United States.

Considered to be an expert on Caliƒornia, he proposed through Senator John Conness, that Congress desgignate Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees as public reserves, making it the first wilderness set aside by a government for public use. His recommendations laid an ethical framework for the government to preserve public lands, to protect their "value to posterity."

Olmsted described the "sublime" and "stately" landscape, emphasizing that value of the landscape was not in any one individual waterfall, cliff or tree, "but in the miles of scenery where cliffs of awful height and rocks of vast magnitude and of varied and exquisite coloring, are banked and fringed and draped and shadowed by the tender foliage of noble and lovely trees and bushes, reflected in the most placid pools and associated with the most tranquil meadows, the most playful streams, and every variety of soft and pastoral beauty.'"

Olmsted Point in Yosemite National Park identifies the importance which he held to the park's preservation. He is revered as the designer of New York's Central Park and the grounds of UC Berkeley and Stanford University. Though, his influence in preserving wild places including Yosemite, Niagara Falls, the Adirondacks and Presque Isle forever endear him to anyone who appreciates the untouched landscape.

BILL SCHAADT

Posthumous

Schaadt discovered fishing at an early age along the public piers of San Francisco Bay. He quickly became obsessed with the art of angling. In his late teens, Schaadt moved with his mother to the small vacation town of Monte Rio along California's Russian River.

During the post war years along the Russian River, Schaadt built a reputation as a skilled fly fisherman. With his angling skills and quirky, elusive demeanor, he became the subject of countless classic fishing stories. From the 1950s to mid 1990s, he was regarded as one of the top fly fishermen in the country, if not the world.

An innovative user of shooting head fishing lines, Schaadt helped pioneer Chinook salmon fishing on California's Smith River. He was one of the first to use flies to catch saltwater fish, including striped bass and rock fish. He medaled in fishing contests 12 times over the course of 19 years, usually in the chinook salmon category, and reportedly "caught more big salmon and steelhead than any other man who ever lived."

JIM ADAMS

This professional fishery biologist has an unmatched passion for fly-fishing and its techniques, history and gear. As a biologist, Adams supervised 80 scientists for the benefit of trout streams in California, and he led the pioneering study that transformed Hat Creek into a wild trout stream. He's fished in 14 states, 10 other American countries and provinces, nine European countries, and a few South Pacific venues, mainly New Zealand. Among other things, Adams is credited with inventing methods for catching giant salmon on fly-fishing gear in the deep waters of the Smith River, and he was a contemporary of Bill Schaadt and others featured in the recent film "Rivers of a Lost Coast." He teaches Rocky Mountain summer classes in fly-fishing entomology, and in retirement he fishes 180 days a year and runs a worldwide business selling secondhand books and angling gear to collectors. Named on 65 percent of ballots.

Inducted posthumously: Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture and parks; Bill Schaadt, one of the world's top fly-fishers.

SEP HENDRICKSON

As a tackle innovator, he has helped shape the landscape of fishing across the Western United States. He is also a radio show host, author, photographer, seminar speaker and television personality with the ability to capture the excitement of the adventure. Sep and his wife and partner, Marilyn, are devoted to fishing for trophy-sized trout and kokanee salmon in many Western states, Canada and Alaska. He is best known as the inventor of Sep's Pro Fishing Tackle and is an innovator who designs light tackle and techniques for trout. He and his wife also run the California Inland Fisheries Foundation Inc., which exists to improve kokanee salmon and trout at lakes in California. Named on 70 percent of ballots.

SCOTT WILLIAMSON

He is a world-renowned wilderness hiker and one of America's most inspirational outdoorsmen. Williamson was the first person to complete a continuous one-season round-trip of the Pacific Crest Trail, 5,300 miles. In 1996, while working at a convenience store in Richmond, he was shot in the face during an attempted robbery. The bullet is lodged in his head. Williamson completed the hiking Triple Crown, through-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail and the Appalachian Trail. In 2011, despite record snowfall in the Sierra Nevada, Williamson set a new PCT speed record, unsupported, by finishing the trek in 64 days, 11 hours, 19 minutes, an average of 41.1 miles per day. He willingly shares his lightweight camping strategies, speed and training techniques at seminars where he sells nothing but inspiration. Named on 65 percent of ballots.

IL LING NEW

Born in San Francisco and a Yale graduate with an MBA, she turned her back on a lucrative marketing career to teach people self-protection, how to handle firearms, and hunting. She is America's No. 1 female firearms instructor and No. 1 female freelance guide. She has hunted across the hemisphere and to Africa twice, including for Cape buffalo, and trains hunters from across the hemisphere prior to world-class expeditions. She has hunted ducks in California since age 10. As an instructor, she has had a profound influence on people across America, and has taught Marines and police as well as housewives and hunters of all backgrounds. Her skills are world-renowned; with a handgun small enough to fit in her palm, she can put three shots in a pie plate in 5 seconds, has competed nationally for skeet titles, and is versed as an expert in all rifles. She has a stunning ability to improve others' skills and safety. Named on more than 75 percent of ballots.