Jimi Hendrix, one of rock music’s greatest guitarists and a Seattle hero, has received a posthumous state Medal of Merit for his “his outstanding service to the state of Washington and his national and international recognition as a musical influence.”

On March 18, Gov. Bob Ferguson, Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos hosted the presentation ceremony in Olympia where Hendrix and four members of the Department of Ecology were honored.

Jimi Hendrix’s Medal of Merit and certificate were presented to members of the Hendrix family and to the Museum of Pop Culture for inclusion in their Hendrix exhibit.

“Through his genius as an American rock guitarist, singer and composer, [Jimi Hendrix] brought positive international attention and interest to his home state of Washington,” said a statement from the office of the Secretary of State. “His unique Washington state story and extensive musical contributions are included in the curriculum of Washington state history and musical arts in high schools and universities.”

Born in Seattle at King County Hospital on Nov. 27, 1942, Hendrix eventually became one of the biggest musical acts toward the end of the 1960s after he formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell.

The trio released their first single “Hey Joe” and debut album “Are You Experienced?” in 1967. Before his death at age 27 in 1970, Hendrix sold millions of records, lit his guitar on fire onstage at the Monterey Pop Festival and performed “The Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock.

One of the most influential and celebrated rock musicians in the world, Hendrix was buried at Greenwood Memorial Park cemetery in Renton, alongside his mother, Lucille, who was buried in 1958. The Jimi Hendrix Memorial is a popular pilgrimage for rock n’ roll and music fans from around the world.

Along with Hendrix, four others were honored by the state. Alex Hernandez, Lisa Stingley, Dave Thompson, Jon Tollstrup of the Department of Ecology were awarded the Medal of Valor for their “unwavering courage and selfless actions on October 3, 2024.”

“The four were working at a litter crew when a woman crashed and became trapped in her vehicle on the side of the highway, which then caught fire.

“Despite the serious risk to their own safety, the crew responded by attempting to extinguish the flames and forcing open the driver’s pinned door. The rescuers were able to pull the injured driver to safety seconds before the fire engulfed the vehicle,” according to the statement.

“These five worthy recipients are the best of Washington and well deserving of our highest awards,” said Secretary Hobbs at the presentation ceremony. “They represent the good people of our state through their actions, their impact, and their inspiration for Washington, the nation, and the world. We are forever grateful for their contributions.”