New Trier hall of fame: Rumsfeld in, Rahm out

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Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (clockwise from left), Playboy executive Christie Hefner and actor Rainn Wilson are among the alumni Hall of Honor winners.

Updated: December 4, 2010 11:24AM

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Rainn Wilson, who plays goofball Dwight K. Schrute on "The Office- " You bet.

But actress Ann-Margret and Chicago mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel- Forget it.

Winnetka's New Trier Township High School Wednesday released the winners of its first-ever alumni Hall of Honor awards, based on a commitment to "inquiry, compassion and service."

Those missing from the list were almost as interesting as the winners.

Earning a thumbs-up along with Rumsfeld (Class of 1950) and Wilson ('84) were Playboy executive Christie Hefner ('70), Nielsen CEO Arthur C. Nielsen Jr. ('37), Nobel Prize-winning physicist Jack Steinberger ('38), cancer researcher Todd Golub ('81), post-modern dance pioneer Anna Halprin ('38), cataract surgeon Geoffrey Tabin ('74), former U.S. Ambassador Richard Williamson ('67) and Sam Harris ('54), president of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois.

Among those out of luck were Boeing CEO James McNerney, actor Bruce Dern, "Shakespeare in Love" producer Edward Zwick, restaurateur Charlie Trotter, TV news anchor Walter Jacobson and U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk. The good news is another round of alums will be honored next year.

Rosalind Rossi