# What are the big names in your town? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 29, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080 "2004-11-29T02:56:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Redwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dfb087/32.png) [@Redwing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redwing)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/21 "2004-11-29T19:40:19Z")
Out here in Lynn we get Lydia Pinkham and Mary Baker Eddy. Not too shabby. Back where I grew up, everything was named for [a couple of brothers](http://www.mayoclinic.org/about/history.html) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/22 "2004-11-30T06:27:59Z")
If you’re into Gospel music, you’ve heard of Sandy Patty. She lives here in Anderson, Indiana. Carl Erskine was a famous baseball pitcher a long time ago, and he’s from here. He’s a bank president here, now. The fellow who invented the I-Pod has never been here. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/23 "2004-11-30T06:37:02Z")
In Seattle these days the biggest names are probably Gates and Allen, cofounders of a certain software company. For prominent names of the old days you can just look at some of the street names: Denny and Yesler are two of the best known. In my hometown (Chillicothe, Ohio), the first current name to come to mind is McKell. Our oldest prominent name is either Worthington (early 19thC governor and senator) or Tecumseh (Shawnee chief who probably didn’t see eye-to-eye with Worthington). There is also, at last, a street named after the great jazz singer Nancy Wilson. Rather than prominent-citizen names, what really says “home” to me are the family names common around Ross County, Ohio: Detty, Bridenbaugh, Strausbaugh, Mendenhall, Knisley, to name a few. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/24 "2004-11-30T07:00:14Z")
Nashville: Reese Witherspoon I hear there are some country music singers here too. I grew up in a town that is so small that the closest we came to fame was that one of our elder citizens was once in love with Olivia de Haviland’s stand-in in \*Gone With the Wind. \* Davy Crockett lived four miles down the road, but that was a little before my time. Honest. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Sparky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Saint\_Sparky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Sparky)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/25 "2004-11-30T08:40:16Z")
The Osmonds & Roseanne. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/26 "2004-11-30T14:48:07Z")
Here in town, the Bin Laden family is quite big. Strangely, I have never encountered one in the Saudi military, where I work. They have better things to do, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/27 "2004-11-30T14:51:42Z")
King Richard III died about 10 minutes drive from my current location. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/28 "2004-11-30T18:24:47Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > Here in Springfield, Illinois, _everything_ is named after Abraham Lincoln. Which causes a bit of confusion occasionally, as when tourists and newcomers confuse the Lincoln Library (which has for years been the name of Springfield’s public library) and the newly opened Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. (Not to mention that the town of Lincoln, Illinois, not too far away, has its own public library). > > Coming in a distant second as a Famous Springfieldian is the poet Vachel Lindsay. Vachel Lindsay had an elementary school in town named after him (now the building serves as the Leland Grove PD). Let’s not forget Philadelphia Phillies baseball player **Robin Roberts** , who has a minor-league baseball stadium named for him. The Bunn family (food distributors (and I _think_ the Springfield Bunns are related to the coffeemaker Bunns)), for whom a park is named. Susan Laurence Dana, for whom the Dana-Thomas house is partially named. And possibly also Lawrence Ave too, although the spelling is different. Re: the library- it’s high time to change the name of the public library. I say either Vachel Lindsay Library or just Springfield Public Library. (But “Springfield Public Library” is too humdrum. Maybe “Lemony Snicket Memorial Library”? 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/29 "2004-11-30T20:30:33Z")
Lafayette’s [Riehle Plaza](http://www.lafayette-online.com/vtour/2.shtml) is named for James F. Riehle (pronounced REE-Lee), who was mayor of the city from 1972-95 and a leader of the Railroad Relocation Project which removed most of the train tracks that crossed dozens of streets and created traffic nightmares (before I moved here, fortunately). Several Riehles own a popular local [tavern and athletic club](http://www.riehlebros.com/frontpage/index.shtml). Across the river in West Lafayette, there’s a university named for John Purdue, who is also immortalized in a [commercial block](http://www.lafayette-online.com/vtour/1.shtml) near the Wabash River on the Lafayette side. Purdue was also the founding president of the financial institution where I bank. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/30 "2004-11-30T20:48:56Z")
Let’s see… off the top of my head: Lowell Cabot Copley Boylston Winthrop Revere Longfellow Not sure if they all qualify. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/31 "2004-11-30T22:57:15Z")
Ipswich: Thomas Wolsey (some-time righthand man to Henry VIII) Surrounding area: Benjamin Britten, John Constable, Thomas Gainsborough, Elizabeth Garrett (first female doctor in Britain, and also first female mayor). ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/32 "2004-11-30T23:27:39Z")
> [@E. Thorp](#): > > In Seattle these days the biggest names are probably Gates and Allen, cofounders of a certain software company. For prominent names of the old days you can just look at some of the street names: Denny and Yesler are two of the best known. I won’t add too many names to this list, since I’ve only been living here a year and I’m still learning, but other famous people from here are of course, in the music industry, but too numerous to list them all, but I couldn’t _not_ mention **Jimi Hendrix**. I have a feeling most of North America can hear “Seattle” and think of a good half dozen bands they know/like/admire so I won’t even begin to list them, in fear I’ll leave too many out! I agree with **Gates** and **Allen** being the biggest current names. Then there’s: Richard **Karn** Tom **Skerritt** Rose **McGowan’s Mom**! Bill **Nye** the Science Guy Russell **Johnson** - “The Professor” from _Gilligan’s Island_ As for where I’m from, in New Brunswick, Canada… hm. Well, \*\*Donald Sutherland \*\*is from Saint John. \*\*Kenny Irving \*\* (large industry guy, had his finger in every pie out there, most famous for **Irving Oil Co**.) lived near us for years. [Walter Pidgeon](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0682074/). ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/33 "2004-11-30T23:42:12Z")
El Paso, Texas. We don’t have very many widely known celebrities who reside here (and who could blame them?). The best we’ve got is Don Haskins, longtime coach of the UTEP Miners Men’s basketball team. There are a few notable personas who originated here or spent enough time here that they couldn’t wash off all of the dust. - John Wesley Hardin (old west gunfighter) - Sandra Day O’Connor - Sam Donaldson - Gene Roddenberry - Debbie Reynolds - Bobby Fuller - F. Murray Abraham - Don Bluth - Irene Ryan (“Granny” on _The Beverly Hillbillies_) - Lee Trevino - Nancy Lopez - Richard Ramirez (The “Night Stalker”) - JJ Armes (private detective) - Hal Warren (writer, producer, director, and star of _Manos: The Hands of Fate_) ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/34 "2004-11-30T23:47:27Z")
from omaha, gerald ford marlon brando henry fonda warren buffet ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/35 "2004-12-01T00:11:07Z")
Wigan, England: George Orwell ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/36 "2004-12-01T00:14:34Z")
> [@+MDI](#): > > Wigan, England: > > George Orwell …don’t forget George Formby! ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/37 "2004-12-01T00:17:30Z")
Indianapolis, Indiana Riley–James Whitcomb Riley, craptacular poet from the early 1900’s, not sure what the hoopla is about him, but we have lots of things named after him. Kurt Vonnegut–pretty damn cool, but nothing is named after him David Letterman–things named after him in Muncie, IN where he attended Ball State University, and they recently tore down the grocery store where he worked in high school William Harrison–we have the William Harrison home and museum, big whoop Simon Properties—multimillion dollar family that owns malls, properties, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/38 "2004-12-01T00:36:59Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > …don’t forget George Formby! Nah, George Orwell gets pride of place. He (rather ironically) has a pub at Wigan Pier named after him. Formby just gets one of those blue plaques on a wall, commemorating where he was born. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/39 "2004-12-01T05:10:28Z")
🆒 **Elvis was born in Tupelo, and then moved to Memphis** ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080/40 "2004-12-01T06:03:03Z")
McLaughlin - Robert and Sam McLaughlin had a carriageworks here in Oshawa, which eventually became a Buick plant, and then GM Canada. There’s a whole lot of stuff around here named for (or founded/owned by) the McLaughlins. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-big-names-in-your-town/277080.md?page=3)