Chicago Literary Hall of Fame

I just submitted my six nominees for the Chicago Writer's Association inaugural Chicago Literary Hall of Fame selection. Read project coordinator Donald G. Evans's intro to the hall of fame. Stuart Dybek, Rosellen Brown, Bill Savage, Haki R. Madhubuti, and Achy Obejas will select the first inductees from those submitted by a 14-person nominating committe. Right now it's all open for interpretation (only caveat - the nominees must be dead folks). Who would you pick? And what would your standards be for selecting the freshman class?