By Zach Wendling | Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — Husker legend and former Congressman Tom Osborne is officially the next member of the Nebraska Hall of Fame after a commission gave unanimous approval Wednesday at Gov. Jim Pillen’s urging.
Pillen, a former Husker defensive back in the 1970s under Osborne as coach, made it no secret that the original Legislative Bill 1159 introduced at his request, which passed as part of LB 596, was written for his mentor. The intent was always for the governor-appointed Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission, of which the governor is a nonvoting member, to add Osborne as the first living member, or at least someone matching specific qualifications tailored to Osborne, 89.
“His love of Nebraska and the people in Nebraska, what he’s done for Nebraska, is just absolutely second to none,” Pillen told reporters after the vote. “That we’re able to recognize him is a really, really special day.”
Jim Rose, a radio commentator and former Huskers broadcaster from Valley, made the nomination, praising the legal change that took effect Saturday allowing Osborne to be nominated and ending a 35-year waiting period after someone’s death for them to qualify.
“Though that policy assured induction of only the most enduring among us, it also robbed today’s Nebraskans of recognizing and amplifying the pathway of life for those still with us,” Rose said.
The commission did not make any other nominations and approved Osborne in a 7-0 vote.
‘Goosebumps’
Pillen said he got “goosebumps” at the meeting and told commissioners his mentor is “best of the best of the best of Nebraskans.” He told reporters Osborne has a global impact and a “ripple” effect through his Teammates mentoring nonprofit and deserves to be honored forever.
“The trophies, those are all going to tarnish with time,” Pillen said. “His commitment to people and his commitment to youth has inspired us all to try to do better than what we ever thought we could do.”
The original LB 1159 referenced parts of Osborne’s resume that were so narrow, only Osborne would qualify — a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, head football coach and athletic director at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a graduate of Hastings High School.
In that case, some lawmakers raised the possible constitutional concern of “special legislation.”
Former State Sen. Dan Lonowski of Hastings, Osborne’s hometown, led LB 1159 for Pillen. Lonowski changed the requirements to be any living Nebraskan who has a “record of achievement” in public service, leadership in collegiate athletics and volunteer youth mentorship activities.
Lonowski’s amendment passed with little fanfare and also outright eliminated the former requirement that any future Nebraska Hall of Fame inductees be dead for at least 35 years to be considered for inclusion. Before 1998, the waiting period was 10 years.
The new law took effect Saturday.
The Hall of Fame Commission can name just one new member every five years. Osborne won’t count toward that limit, however.
Future nominations expanded
U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., in a Wednesday reporter call before the meeting, said Osborne “certainly belongs in the Nebraska Hall of Fame” but said he wanted to leave it up to commissioners whether they wanted to give the honor to Osborne and break precedent.
“Tom Osborne is a man of character and integrity,” said Ricketts, a former two-term governor. “He has done a lot for our state serving, obviously, not only the University of Nebraska but here in Washington, D.C., as well. I think he’s very deserving of being in our Hall of Fame.”
Osborne served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (2001-07) for Nebraska’s sprawling 3rd Congressional District. He was succeeded in 2006 by U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., after Osborne narrowly lost the Republican nomination for governor in 2006.
There were 27 members of the Hall of Fame before Osborne, whose busts are displayed in the Capitol. The last inductee was slain civil rights leader Malcolm X, an Omaha native whose bust was installed in 2024 after a years-long fight to include him.
Osborne will also receive a bust, which legislative analysts estimated to cost $45,000. However, Pillen led fundraising efforts and said about 10 to 12 players donated to cover the cost for taxpayers. Pillen said the bust should be done within a month or so, and he’s working on scheduling an induction ceremony.
“Traditionally it’d be here in the Rotunda, but we’re thinking there might be a better place, and a place where Nebraskans could really, really enjoy and celebrate and all together say ‘thank you’ in kind of a big venue someday,” Pillen said with a smile.
Nominations are also open for who would be now the 29th inductee. With the removal of the 35-year waiting period, any Nebraskan, living or deceased, can be nominated, director Daryl Bohac of the Nebraska State Historical Society confirmed.
Nominations for the next 29th inductee, for the 2025-29 inductee cycle, are due by Dec. 31.