Being only the second group named, several more of this year’s inductees to the Meat Industry Hall of Fame are deceased legends from a time when their names alone made the public feel safe about their food.

Ray Kroc, Harland Sanders, and Dave Thomas were the men who made McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers household names and safe, predictable places to eat practically anywhere in the USA.

The other deceased inductee is not as well known nationally, but was one of the West’s giants in water policy–William D. Farr (Farr Feeders).  He was behind the Colorado-Big Thompson project that first moved water west-to-east through the Rocky Mountains.

Those four are among 12 new members of the year-old Meat Industry Hall of Fame.  The Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees and inductees from last year’s inaugural class chose the second group from over 50 nominees.

“We are delighted to include twelve of the legendary names in our industry this year,” said Dan Murphy, Executive Director and co-founder of the Hall of Fame. “These are people who are rightfully credited with fostering much of the profound change, remarkable progress, and success of our North American meat industry. We’re proud to celebrate their legacies.”

The Induction Ceremony for the new Meat Industry Hall of Fame Members will be on Oct. 30, 2010 at the Fairmont Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona. The gala event will begin with a Reception at 5:00 p.m. and the evening’s festivities will conclude with the North American Meat Processors Association President’s Reception, Dinner & Ball that closes their Annual Outlook Conference.

More information about the event and tickets can be found at www.meatindustryhalloffame.org or www.namp.com.

“It will be a special evening to formally honor a ‘who’s who’ of the industry,” said Chuck Jolley, Meat Industry Hall of Fame President and co-founder. “Our thanks to our Board of Trustees and our Members, who elected an elite group from an impressive list of nominees. We are thrilled to be able to induct people who truly represent the best of the best.”

In addition to Kroc, Sanders, Thomas, and Farr the other Meat Industry Hall of Fame inductees include:

-Richard Bond, CEO, President and Director, Tyson Foods Inc.

-Ralph Cator, Founder, Cardinal Meat Specialists Limited

-Joel Johnson, Chairman, President & CEO, Hormel Foods Corporation

-H. Kenneth Johnson, Vice President – Meat Science, National Live Stock & Meat Board; Executive Director, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

-Roger Mandigo, Professor, Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska

-Robert E. Rust, Professor Emeritus, Animal Science, Iowa State University

-Jeff W. Savell, Regents Professor and E.M. “Manny” Rosenthal Chairholder in Animal Science, Texas A&M University

-Deven Scott, Vice President – Member Services, American Meat Institute; Executive Vice President, North American Meat Processors Association

With the recent death of Jimmy Dean, the country western star and popular television host who made America’s most popular breakfast sausage, eight of the first 21 Meat Industry Hall of Fame inductees from 2009 are deceased.