Who is the most famous person BORN in your state?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Extra points if the person became famous while still living in that state.

I thought of this because I was listening to an Eddie Cochran ('50s rocker) album, and Wikipedia tells me he is born in Minnesota. I was thinking he might be the most famous Minnesota native, but then further searching showed a Frances Ethel Gumm born in Minnesota (you may remember her under her stage name, Judy Garland).

I’ll start the list with these two entries:

State / Most famous person born in that state
California / Norma Jeane Baker aka Marilyn Monroe
Minnesota / Frances Ethel Gumm aka Judy Garland

What about other states?

2

Ohio / Neil Armstrong

Which is kind of funny to say because I woudn’t recognize him if he walked into my office right now. But, his is the first name that pops into my mind.

3

Nebraska / probably Gerald Ford or Marlon Brando, possibly Malcolm X

4

Virginia/ George Washington. . . or maybe Sandra Bullock.

5

Iowa/John Wayne. No extra points - he was gone before he was old enough to drawl or swagger.

6

It seems to me that there are a lot of contenders for people from Ohio, with none really standing out. I’d suggest Ulysses Simpson Grant.

7

I’m not sure we get to claim him. He was born in the colony of Virginia, that later became the Commonwealth of Virginia.

8

Also Johnny Carson, but I don’t know how long he stayed.

9

Montana/Gary Cooper no extra points.

10

Maine … uh, Idunno … Judd Nelson?

11

Stephen King

12

Masschusetts has a lot. Start with the Kennedys and go from there.

13

Tennessee – Davy Crockett

14

Massachusetts – way too many to count. JFK maybe?

15

Or Longfellow, but I’ve never really read any Longfellow and I hate Stephen King. On the other hand, I’ve seen *The Breakfast Club *probably a hundred times.

16

Vermont: Joesph Smith.

17

Ummm, how about Prince?
For Wisconsin I’d have to say either Spencer Tracy or Joseph McCarthy.

18

Presidents, especially recent presidents, tend to trump other people on the “fame” meter. so:

Illinois – Ronald Reagan

19

For Washington DC, I am going to go with Marvin Gaye.

20

Indiana - John Mellencamp. And he lives here year-round.