Most are famous.

Franklin Roosevelt made it three times, in 1932, 1934 and 1941. Winston Churchill was chosen twice, in 1940 and closing out the decade again in 1949. Dwight Eisenhower made it as a general in 1944 and as president in 1959. Uniontown's George Marshall appeared as Army chief of staff in 1943, and as secretary of state in 1947.

A few are more obscure: Harlow Curtice in 1955, Hugh Johnson in 1933 and Owen Young in 1929.

They are among the line of selectees as Time Magazine's Person of the Year; that title replaced Man of the Year in 1999 as Amazon's Jeff Bezo's was chosen just before the dot--com bust. Part history, part pop culture, part self-promotion, the magazine has sparked anticipation and debate for decades with its designation of the person or thing -- the computer made it in 1982 -- deemed to have had the most influence on the year's news,

Fresh from his re-election victory, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has been selected by Time for a panel that will meet tonight in New York City as part of the magazine's selection process for this year's designee.

Before an invited audience of business and media figures, Mr. Ravenstahl will appear on the panel with television personality Barbara Walters; Gayle King, the editor of O, The Oprah Magazine; Tom Colicchio, the chef and author who is the chief judge on the reality show "Top Chef"; Dr. Mehmet Oz, a surgeon and television personality who is the host of "The Dr. Oz Show"; and Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and presidential candidate who was Person of the Year for 2001.

"I'm honored that Time chose me to participate," Mr. Ravenstahl said. "Once again, it's a great opportunity for me to represent Pittsburgh and participate in an important conversation."

Richard Stengel, Time's managing editor, will moderate the panel's discussion of the year's news, with members of the audience participating as well.

A spokeswoman for the magazine said the panel discussion was a part of the magazine's selection process although no formal votes or preliminary nominees will emerge from the two-hour session.

Mr. Stengel will make the final selection for the face or image that will appear on the magazine at the turn of the year.

"When you think about this year, you think about someone like Ted Kennedy or Michelle Obama," Mr. Ravenstahl said when asked for his thoughts on the year's contenders.

And in a reminder that all politics is local, he added: "From the Pittsburgh side of the equation, there's Dan Rooney."

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