# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/101 "2010-11-12T10:31:21Z")
Frank Lloyd Wright - Wisconsin ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/102 "2010-11-12T10:35:40Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Yeah, but you have to think globally. Bryant is unknown outside the US. Heck, I’m from Arkansas, and I had to look up the guy. Of course, I’ve been on record as pointing out that I don’t really follow sports. I might watch a game with friends, but all I do is pick a team and hope it wins. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/103 "2010-11-12T11:09:55Z")
With Ohio, you’ve just got so many. Edison is a good choice, but with Armstrong, Glenn, the Wright Brothers. Then there’s EIGHT US presidents. Now, while several are the ‘nobodies’ of presidents (William Henry Harrison, Hayes, etc…) Grant is pretty universally recognized, as is Taft. Then there’s others like Annie Oakley, Jack Nicklaus, Steven Spielberg, Cy Young… However, if we’re going for FAMOUS…it’s got to be LeBron James. I guarantee, worldwide right now, James will have the most photo/name recognition of any Ohioan. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/104 "2010-11-12T12:00:40Z")
Cambridgeshire: Douglas Adams John Maynard Keynes Oliver Cromwell (Although, probably not as famous internationally.) ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/105 "2010-11-12T12:53:18Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > In my original home, uh commonwealth, I might mention Stan Musial and Bill Cosby. The only president, James Buchanan, was a disaster, but I guess that’s a kind of fame. Oh yeah, Jim Thorpe. Jim Thorpe was born in Oklahoma. He’s just buried in Pennsylvania. > [@tdn](#): > > I was looking at a list of politicians/political activists born in MA. Shortening the list a bit… > > John Adams > John Quincy Adams > Samuel Adams > George H. W. Bush > Calvin Coolidge > John Hancock > Abbie Hoffman > Oliver Wendell Holmes > Edward M. Kennedy > John F. Kennedy > Robert F. Kennedy > John F. Kerry > Tip O’Neill > Paul Revere > Malcolm X Malcolm X was born in Nebraska. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/106 "2010-11-12T13:08:10Z")
New Hampshire: [Alan Shepard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Shepard) [Dan Brown](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Brown) [Sarah Silverman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Silverman) [Salmon P. Chase](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_P._Chase) [Franklin Pierce](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Pierce) [Daniel Webster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Webster) I’d guess today, Dan Brown or Sarah Silverman are the most famous. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/107 "2010-11-12T13:14:15Z")
Just a little idea for the OP to consider: Once the thread has had at least one entry for each state by someone identified as being in that state, and once there appears to be some reasonable dispute over who is the “most famous” for a state, simply list the ones in contention in a poll and let Dopers decide who is most famous. After all, it is an SDMB thread under study. International fame is a good criterion, but we can’t easily poll international opinion here. States like Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, and even Tennessee (just to name some) already have some reasonable contentions going. Separate polls by disputed state would be fun for all of us to say who is famous and who isn’t. As I say, just an idea. I’m thinking of starting such a poll for Tennessee based on my pick of maybe 20 from the list at [Category:People from Tennessee - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:People_from_Tennessee) but I would gladly leave that exercise to the OP of this thread for consistency’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/108 "2010-11-12T13:31:15Z")
You have Helen Keller for Alabama. I would like to propose Jesse Owens. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/109 "2010-11-12T13:59:29Z")
While not all the presidents are well known to everyone, if you want them on the list you have to add from **Ohio** : James A. Garfield Ulysses S. Grant Warren G. Harding Benjamin Harrison Rutherford B. Hayes William McKinley William Howard Taft ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/110 "2010-11-12T14:47:15Z")
Other famous Tennesseans: Sgt. Alvin York Aretha Franklin Bettie Page Cybill Shepherd Dale Dickey (Patty the Daytime Hooker on _My Name is Earl_) 😉 Debbie Allen Dixie Carter Dolly Parton Greg Allman Isaac Hayes Jack Daniels Justin TImberlake Kathy Bates Kenny Chesney Miley Cyrus Morgan Freeman Reese Witherspoon Rita Coolidge Tennessee Ernie Ford Tina Turner StG ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/111 "2010-11-12T15:12:54Z")
Too late, but I came to mention Jack Daniels and Bettie Page for Tennessee. I mean, what else does one need in life! ---
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/112 "2010-11-12T15:20:54Z")
Missouri. Mark Twain comes to mind. I’ve always been interested in how a state “claims” a celebrity or famous person. Walt Disney is touted as being a famous Missourian, however he was born in Illinois. Also, Daniel Boone was a Missourian, but he was born in Kentucky (I think). Brad Pitt is another example. I’ve read many interviews and he says he is from Missouri, yet he was born in Oklahoma. Scott Joplin was born in Texas, but is another famous Missourian. On the other hand, Eminem was born in Missouri… ---
**Author:** ![Meme\_Chose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Meme\_Chose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meme_Chose)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/113 "2010-11-12T16:44:03Z")
South Dakota Today, probably Tom Daschle or Tom Brokaw, although Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern were also born here. Other contenders include Harvey Dunn, Cheryl Ladd, Terry Redlin, and Sitting Bull. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/114 "2010-11-12T16:47:31Z")
Virginia has Patsy Cline, Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee, James Madison, Warren Beatty, Wayne Newton, Patton Oswalt. How famous each of those people are to you depends on your interests. ---
**Author:** ![Southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southpaw)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/115 "2010-11-12T17:25:52Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Missouri - Harry Truman, **Walt Disney** or Mark Twain. Disney was born in Chicago. Illinois: John Deere Hilary Clinton Miles Davis Carl Sandburg Harrison Ford Jack Benny Bob Newhart Jane Addams ---
**Author:** ![silvermist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@silvermist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silvermist)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/116 "2010-11-12T17:32:50Z")
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dorothea Dix Margaret Chase Smith ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/117 "2010-11-12T17:34:51Z")
> [@Southpaw](#): > > Disney was born in Chicago. Fair enough. I withdraw Walt Disney and replace him with [Walter Cronkite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Cronkite). Aslo, [Chuck Berry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Berry). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Unexpected\_Okapi\_Debacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_unexpected_okapi_debacle/32/7702_2.png) [@The\_Unexpected\_Okapi\_Debacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Unexpected_Okapi_Debacle)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/118 "2010-11-12T18:19:18Z")
Wyoming: Buffalo Bill Cody Jackson Pollock Dick Cheney ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/119 "2010-11-12T18:30:29Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Jack Dempsey was born in Manassa, CO. Off the top of my head, he is the most famous Coloradoan. Glenn Miller and The Unsinkable Molly Brown were pretty famous. I thought about going with Jack Dempsey (aka “The Manassa Mauler”) as well, but wondered how famous he is nowadays. That’s debatable, I suppose. Neither Glenn Miller (born on a farm in Iowa) nor Margaret Brown (Hannibal, Missouri – the boyhood home of Sam Clemens, as it turns out, but not his birthplace) were born in Colorado. ---
**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, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341/120 "2010-11-12T19:05:11Z")
> [@The\_Unexpected\_Okapi\_Debacle](#): > > Wyoming: > > Buffalo Bill Cody > Jackson Pollock > Dick Cheney Cody was born in Iowa (actually the territory that would become Iowa) and Cheney was born in Nebraska. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-born-in-your-state/560341.md?page=7)