# Who is the most famous person BORN in your state? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341 "2010-11-11T18:41:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/61 "2010-11-12T00:21:14Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > (I’m offering this even though I’m not from Mississippi.) No need to limit yourselves to your own state, despite the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/62 "2010-11-12T00:22:17Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > turns out Johnny Cash grew up in Dyess, Arkaansas. Born in Kingsland Ark. > [Dyess, Arkansas - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyess,_Arkansas) > > by far he’s the biggest star from my state Do people think that he deserves to supplant Bill Clinton? ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/63 "2010-11-12T00:50:09Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Missouri - Harry Truman, Walt Disney or Mark Twain. Walt Disney was born in Chicago, but always called Marceline, MO his home town. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/64 "2010-11-12T01:21:05Z")
Maryland here. Who’s more famous, Babe Ruth or Frank Zappa? Michael Phelps is also from here. He might be more recognized internationally. Not sure. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/65 "2010-11-12T01:22:49Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > How about Elvis Presley for Mississippi? > > (I’m offering this even though I’m not from Mississippi.) I was going to say Morgan Freeman but you win with Elvis (does my being from MS trump **LM** ’s post?). Also discovered Dana Andrews, Lacy Chabert and Marion Berry are from there too. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/66 "2010-11-12T01:27:02Z")
Reluctantly I have to agree Clinton trumps Johnny Cash. 🙂 Especially since Hillary has kept them in the public eye after Bill left office. > [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > Do people think that he deserves to supplant Bill Clinton? ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/67 "2010-11-12T01:27:43Z")
For Michigan, I’d nominate Madonna; for Hawaii, Barack Obama; Idaho, Sarah Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/68 "2010-11-12T01:32:10Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > for Hawaii, Barack Obama Barack Obama was born in Hawaii? Are you sure about that? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/69 "2010-11-12T01:39:32Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > No need to limit yourselves to your own state, despite the thread title. Okay, then here’s a few states that haven’t been mentioned yet: Hawaii: Barack Obama South Carolina: Andrew Jackson West Virginia: Chuck Yeager ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/70 "2010-11-12T01:50:22Z")
New Mexico is a tough one. Possibilities include Jeff Bezos, John Denver, Geronimo, Neil Patrick Harris, Ronnie Lott, Bill Mauldin, Demi Moore, and Al Unser - but nobody who seems to really stand out above the others. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/71 "2010-11-12T01:56:15Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > For Michigan, I’d nominate Madonna; for Hawaii, Barack Obama; Idaho, Sarah Palin. For former US territories, John McCain for the Panama Canal Zone. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/72 "2010-11-12T02:01:39Z")
Alaska is tough, since almost everyone famous from there was born someone else. Probably the most famous native is baseball pitcher [Curt Schilling.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curt_Schilling) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/73 "2010-11-12T02:11:27Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’d concur with Franklin Roosevelt for New York. I’d be willing to bet that worldwide, more people would know Michael Jordan than would know Franklin Roosevelt. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/74 "2010-11-12T02:16:53Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > I’d be willing to bet that worldwide, more people would know Michael Jordan than would know Franklin Roosevelt. I’m thinking no. Roosevelt was not only an American President, he was also one of the major figures in World War II. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/75 "2010-11-12T02:36:10Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m thinking no. Roosevelt was not only an American President, he was also one of the major figures in World War II. That’s great for people who know about history. But let’s face it: most people don’t. ---
**Author:** ![PeskiPiksi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@PeskiPiksi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeskiPiksi)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/76 "2010-11-12T02:39:37Z")
Oklahoma has a lot, surprisingly. I’ll post the ones that come to mind and ya’ll can decide who’s most famous: Garth Brooks (still lives here) Reba McEntire Ron Howard (born here, moved age 4 years) James Garner Ralph Ellison Woody Guthrie Mickey Mantle Brad Pitt (born here, didn’t stay long) Tony Randall Oral Roberts Will Rogers (my vote for “most famous” but maybe that’s 'cause I live here) Carrie Underwood ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/77 "2010-11-12T02:55:53Z")
Texas has Dwight Eisenhower. Sadly, we also have Lyndon Johnson. We also have Farrah Fawcett, Janis Joplin and Buddy Holly. Sadly, we also have Willy Nelson. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/78 "2010-11-12T02:58:49Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Texas has Dwight Eisenhower. Sadly, we also have Lyndon Johnson. > > We also have Farrah Fawcett, Janis Joplin and Buddy Holly. Sadly, we also have Willy Nelson. Also Howard Hughes. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/79 "2010-11-12T03:23:23Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > That’s great for people who know about history. But let’s face it: most people don’t. Worldwide, most people don’t follow basketball either. So I’d take the bet that it would be FDR. ---
**Author:** ![FrancisCastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b4bc9f/32.png) [@FrancisCastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrancisCastle)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/80 "2010-11-12T03:26:59Z")
> [@justrob](#): > > Looking up famous people from Wisconsin there are a few big name actors. I think I might have to pick… > > Wisconsin / Frank Lloyd Wright Also Georgia O’Keeffe and Laura Ingalls Wilder. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341.md?page=5)