People in Kansas HistoryMeet people through time who have a connection with Kansas history.
AAbdul-Aziz, Malik, 1977, Kansas City, actor Adams, Brandon Quintin, 1979, Kansas, actor Adams, Henry J., 1816 - 1870, Leavenworth, a partisan on the free-state side during the Bleeding Kansas era Allen, Bill, 1962, Wichita, actor Allen, Forrest C. "Phog", 1885 - 1974, Lawrence, University of Kansas men's varsity basketball coach Allen, Henry J. , 1868 - 1950, Wichita, publisher, governor, and U.S. Senator Allen, Neil, 1958, Kansas City, major league pitchers, actor Allen, Tyress, Salina, actor Alley, Kirstie, 1951, Wichita, television and film actress Angell, Sr., Charlie , circa 1881 - 1927, Plains, inventor Anthony, Susan B. , 1820 - 1906, leader in women's suffrage Arbuckle, Roscoe "Fatty" , 1887 - 1933, Smith Center, silent film actor Asner, Edward , 1929, Kansas City, television actor Atchison, David Rice, 1807 - 1886, U.S. Senator and supporter of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, leader of border ruffian raids into Kanss Territory, Atchison, Kansas is named for him. Auker, Eldon, 1910, Norcatur, major league baseball BBailey, Jason, 1975, Wichita, actor Baker, Nancy Landon Kassebaum, 1932, Topeka, the first Kansas woman to serve in the U.S. Senate and the first woman to be elected to a full term in the Senate in her own right Bakula, Scott, 1954, studied law at University of Kansas, Lawrence, actor Balderson, Steve, 1975, Manhattan, film director Baldwin, Markus, 1970, Wichita, actor Ballard, Robert Duane, 1942, Wichita, undersea explorer, discovered remains of Titanic Balzer, Matt, 1978, Hutchinson, film producer, editor Bamman, Gerry, 1941, Independence, actor Barber, Thomas W. , died in 1855, Bloomington, free state supporter, shot and killed by a proslavery supporter, named in Representative Hall Barnes, Debra , 1947, Moran, Miss America 1968 Batchelor, Clarence Daniel, 1888-1977, Osage City, received a Pulitzer Prize in 1937 for editorial cartoons. Beaumont, Hugh , 1909 - 1982, Lawrence, television actor Beech, Walter H. , 1891 - 1950, Arkansas City and Wichita, aircraft manufacturer, philanthropist Beech, Olive Ann , 1903 - 1993, Waverly, Paola, and Wichita, aircraft manufacturer, philanthropist Bickerdyke, Mary "Mother" , 1817 - 1901, Salina and Bunker Hill, Civil War nurse, veteran's supporter Bloch, Henry , 1922, Mission Hills, founder and owner of H & R Block Blount, William , Kansas City, doctor and state representative Bosin, Blackbear , 1921 - 1980, Wichita, an artist of Kiowa-Comanche ancestry Bowyer, Clint, 1979 - , Emporia, NASCAR Nationwide Series, 2004 and 2005, finishing as series runner-up in 2005, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, 2006. Drives number 07 car owned by Richard Childress Racing. Brewer, David J. , 1837 - 1910, Leavenworth, Kansas jurist, U.S. Supreme Court justice Brinkley, John R. "Doc" , 1885 - 1942, Milford, famous for his goat gland transplants, gubernatorial candidate, and pioneer radio broadcaster Bristow, Joseph L. , 1861 - 1944, Salina, editor and U.S. Senator Brooks, Gwendolyn , 1917 - 2000, Topeka, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Brooks, Louise , 1906 - 1985, Cherryvale and Wichita, actress Browder, Earl R. , 1891 - 1973, Wichita, American Communist Party leader and presidential candidate Brown, Cleyson Brown, Esther, 1917 - 1976, Kansas City, civil rights advocate Brown, Henry , Caldwell, marshall, outlaw Brown, John , 1800 - 1859, Osawatomie, abolitionist, named in Representative Hall Bruce, Blanche K. , Leavenworth, first African American graduate of the University of Kansas, school principal Bruce, Blanche Kelso , Lawrence, organized first school in the nation for African Americans, U.S. Senator Bryant, Deborah , 1947, Overland Park, Miss America 1966 Burch, Rousseau Angelus , 1862 - 1944, Salina, state chief justice Burnett, Abram , Topeka, Potawatomi chief Burns, Karla , Wichita, Broadway actress Butler, Pardee , Atchison, abolitionist, minister CCapper, Arthur , 1865 - 1951, Garnett and Topeka, publisher, governor, and U.S. Senator Carlson, Frank , 1893 - 1987, Concordia, served in the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and as governor Carney, Frank, Wichita, restauranteur, in June 1958, he and his brother Dan borrowed $600 from their mother to open a beer and pizza restaurant for college students. Two years later they franchised their first Pizza Hut restaurant in Topeka. Carver, George Washington , circa 1864 - 1943, Ness County, agricultural scientist, mortgaged his Kanas homestead to go to college Cessna, Clyde , 1879 - 1954, Rago and Wichita, airplane manufacturer Chamberlain, Wilt "The Stilt," 1936 - 1999, Lawrence, University of Kansas basketball player 1955-1957 Chaput, Archbishop Charles Joseph, 1944, Concordia, of French-Canadian and Potawatomi heritage, was the first American Indian to lead an American diocese Chase, Mabel, 1876-1962, Kiowa County, first female sheriff Chiles, Nick , Topeka, editor of longest-running African American newspaper in the nation Chrysler, Walter P. , 1875 - 1940, Wamego and Ellis, estalished the Chrysler Corporation Clark, William , Lewis & Clark Expedition, 1804 - 1806 Clayton, Wilbur "Buck" , 1911, Parsons, trumpeter in Count Basie's band Clifford, Clark, 1906, Fort Scott, special counsel to President Truman, later served as Secretary of Defense Cline, Nellie, Larned, first woman lawyer to appear before the U.S. Supreme Court Cody, William "Buffalo Bill", 1846 - 1917, Leavenworth, Pony Express rider, buffalo hunter, and "Wild West show" entreprenuer/promoter Conway, Martin Franklin, 1827 - 1882, Leavenworth, the first U.S. congressman to represent Kansas, named in Representative Hall Coldsmith, Don, 1926, Iola and Emporia, doctor, professor, and author of the popular "Spanish Bit Saga" Corbett, Thomas R. Boston, 1832 - ?, Concordia, credited with shooting John Wilkes Booth Crandall, Prudence Crawford, Nelson Antrim, 1888 - 1963, Topeka, teacher, author, lecturer, editor, journalist Crumbine, Samuel J., 1862 - 1954, Dodge City, secretary of the State Board of Health, led public health campaign against the use of common drinking cups, the roller towel, and the fly Cuevas, Teresa; , 1920- , Topeka, formed Mariachi Estrella, one of the first all-female mariachi bands Cunningham, Glenn, 1909 - 1988, Elkhart, held the world record in the mile run in the 1930s Curry, John Steuart, 1897 - 1946, Jefferson County, artist Curtis, Charles, 1860 - 1939, Topeka, served in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and as Vice President of the United States DDalton, Emmett, 1871 - 1937, Meade and Coffeyville, bank robber Davis, Frank Marshall, Arkansas City, writer, poet, journalist Davis, Kenneth Sydney, 1912 - 1999, writer, biographer, aide to Milton Eisenhower, received the Francis Parkman Prize for his biography of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Dickey, Lynn, 1949, Osawatomie, Green Bay Packers quarterback Diggs, Anne L., 1853 - 1916, Lawrence, journalist, state librarian, and supporter of Populism and women's suffrage Docking, Robert Dole, Robert , 1923, Russell, U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, vice presidential candidate in 1976, sought Republican presidential nomination in 1980 and 1988, and 1996 GOP presidential nominee Douglas, Aaron, Topeka, prominent artist-illustrator recognized for celebrating African-American achievement. Douglas is also located in the Notable Kansans of African Descent Douglass, Bobby, El Dorado, University of Kansas All-America football quarterback, Chicago Bears Dresslar, Len "Bud" Jr., 1925 - 2005, St. Francis, Topeka, bass-baritone singer, voice of the Jolly Green Giant and sang in the "Snap, Crackle and Pop" jingle for Rice Krispies. Duckwall, Alva Lease, 1877-1937, and Wilbur, Greenleaf, born in Ohio, the family moved to Kansas in 1898. In 1901 "Lease" purchased a Racket Store in Abilene. Wilbur soon joined the business and Duckwall Brothers was founded, featuring everything needed for the home. EEarhart, Amelia, 1897 - 1937?, Atchison, the first woman granted a pilot's license by the National Aeronautics Association and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean Eisenhower, Dwight D., 1890 - 1969, Abilene, five-star U.S. Army General, Supreme Allied Commander of European theater, and President of the United States Eisenhower, Milton, 1899 - 1985, Abilene, university president Earp, Wyatt, 1848 - 1929, Wichita and Dodge City, marshal Elvira, 1949, Manhattan, aka Cassandra Peterson, actress Engle, Joe, 1932, Chapman, Space Shuttle commander STS-2 Etheridge, Melissa, 1961, Leavenworth, singer Evans, Ron, 1933 - 1990, Topeka, commander of the pilot ship on Apollo 17 FFairfax, Alfred, Chautauqua County, Civil War veteran, first African American elected to state legislature Farnsworth, Martha, Topeka, preserved stories through diaries and photo albums Felton Jr., Peter E.., 1933, Hays, sculptor Finney, Joan, 1931 - 2001, Topeka, first woman to serve as state treasurer and first woman governor of Kansas Fitzwater, Marlin, 1942, Abilene, served as press secretary to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush Fuller, Lorenzo Dow, Jr., 1919, Stockton, actor, first African American to host a national television show Fundis, Garth, Baldwin City, music producer, song writer Funston, Frederick, 1865 - 1917, Iola, adventurer, colonel of the Twentieth Kansas Volunteer Regiment, general regular U.S. army, received Congressional Medal of Honor for action during Phillippine Insurrection GGage, Robert Merrell, 1892 - 1981, Topeka, sculptor Garvey, Ray Hugh, 1893-1959, and Olive, Phillips County, Topeka, wheat farmer, in 1947 harvested a 1 million bushel wheat crop, believed to be the largest for an individual in America Glickman, Dan, Wichita, served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, director of the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, later appointed president of the Motion Pictures Association Goff, National S., Neosho Falls, among founders of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) Railway Company Gonville, Josette, Julie, Pelagie, and Victoire, Kansas Territory, women of Kaw descent who received special reservations Goodnow, Isaac T., Manhattan, free-state supporter, founded Bluemont College which later became Kansas State University Grant, Jane, 1892-1972, born in Missouri grew up in Girard, andco-founded The New York Times with her first husband Harold Ross Gray, Georgia Neese Clark, 1900 - 1995, Richland, the first woman to serve as U.S. Treasurer Greene, Zula Bennington "Peggy" , 1895 - 1988, Topeka, author and columnist Gregg, John A., 1877 - 1953, Eureka, minister, college president Grinstead, Minnie J. , died 1925, Seward County, one of the state's first female legislators Grisnik, Ed, Kansas City, Polka band conductor Grisnik, Marijana, 1936, Kansas City, artist Groves, Junius, Armourdale and Edwardsville, known as the "Potato King of the World" HHaldeman-Julius, Emanuel, 1889 - 1951, Girard, author and co-publisher of the popular "Little Blue Book" series. Born in Philadelphia, Emanuel Julius changed his name after he married Anna Marcet Haldeman. Haldeman-Julius, Anna Marcet, 1887 - 1941, Girard, actress, bank president, and author. Marcet co-published the "Little Blue Book" series with her husband, Emanuel. Halsey, Jim, Independence, music promoter and booking agent Harbord, James G., Lyon County, served as brigadier general, chief of staff of the American Expeditionary Force, and major general Harlow, Jean, Seneca, film actress, originally named Harlean Carpentier Harman, Moses, Valley Falls, free thinker and editor of Lucifer, the Light-Bearer Hart, Gary, 1936, Ottawa, served as U.S. Senator for Colorado and was a 1988 presidential candidate Harvey, Fred, 1835 - 1901, Leavenworth, Topeka and Peabody, restaurant operator Hatch, Carl A., 1889 - 1963, Kirwin, U.S. senator and U.S. district judge, author of the Hatch Act Hawkins, Coleman, 1904 - 1969, Topeka, jazz saxophonist, played with Dizzy Gillespie, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie Hawley, Steve, 1952, Ottawa and Salina, mission specialist on the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery Hazlett, Robert H., El Dorado, cattle rancher Herd, Stanley James, (1950) Protection, recognized for mural works and as a crop artist Hertzler, Arthur E., 1870 - 1946, Halstead, established hospital, wrote best-selling book of his experiences as a country doctor Hibbs, Ben, 1901 - 1975, Fontana and Pretty Prairie, editor of Saturday Evening Post and Reader's Digest Hickok, James Butler "Wild Bill", 1837 - 1876, Ellis County, Abilene, gunfighter, sheriff, marshal Higuchi, Takeru, 1918-1987, Lawrence, KU chemistry department chair and developer of timed-release medicine. Hockaday, F. W. "Woody", 1884 - 1947, Mount Hope and Wichita, businessman Holliday, Cyrus K., 1826 - 1900, Topeka, railroad builder, entrepreneur, developer Hope Sr., Clifford R., 1893 - 1970, Garden City, U.S. congressman Hopper, Dennis, 1936, Dodge City, film actor and director Houston, John M. Howe, Edgar Watson Hughes, James Langston, 1902 - 1967, Topeka and Lawrence, poet and author Hull Deuell, Peggy, 1889-1967, Bennington, Marysville, Junction City, (born Henrietta Eleanor Goodnough), the first woman war correspondent accedtied by the U.S. goernment and the first woman to serve on four battlefronts Huxman, Walter A. IIngalls, John J., 1833 - 1900, Atchison, served in the U.S. Senate, submitted the design for the state seal and proposed the state motto Inge, William, 1913 - 1973, Independence, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright JJardine, William, 1879 - 1955, Manhattan and Wichita, president of Kansas State Agriculture College and Wichita University, secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture Jessye, Eva, 1895 - 1992, Coffeyville, Caney, Iola, and Pittsburg, singer actress, composer, choral director, author, and poet Johnson, Don, 1949, Wichita and Lawrence, television and film actor Johnson, Osa, 1894 - 1953, Chanute, and Johnson, Martin, 1884 - 1937, Lincoln and Independence, photographers and explorers Johnson, Walter "Big Train", 1887 - 1946, Humboldt and Coffeyville, pitcher for the Washington Senators, inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1936 Jones, Charles J. "Buffalo", 1844 - 1918, Garden City, buffalo hunter, cattle rancher, game warden at Yellowstone National Park Jones, Samuel J., sheriff who led sacking of Lawrence in 1856 Jump, Gordon, 1932 - 2003, Manhattan, Topeka, television actor Karpis, Alvin "Creepy", 1908 - 1979, Topeka, bank robber, bootlegger KKeaton, Buster, 1895 - 1966, Piqua, silent film comedian Kelly, Emmett, 1898 - 1979, Sedan, circus clown Kelker-Kelly, Robert, Wichita, actor on ABC-TV's Another World and Days of Our Lives Kennekuk, died around 1856, Kickapoo Indian chief and prophet, moved to present-day Kansas around 1833 with Kickapoo removal from Illinois Kenton, Stan, 1912 - 1979, Wichita, big band leader Kersting, Kathleen, 1908 - 1956, Wichita, opera singer Kilby, Jack St. Clair, 1923, Great Bend, 2000 Nobel Prize for Physics for his work as inventor of the integrated circuit and co-inventor of the pocket calculator Knight, Shirley Enola, 1936, Goessel, stage, feature film, and television actress Kurtis, William, 1940, Independence and Topeka, television news anchor LLair, Mary Alice, Piqua, first woman to become vice-chairman of the state Republican committee Laird, E. M., Wichita, co-founder of the Wichita aircraft industry Landon, Alfred M., 1887 - 1987, Independence and Topeka, governor and 1936 Republican presidential candidate Lane, James Henry, 1814 - 1866, Lawrence, U.S. senator and antislavery supporter Langston, Chales Henry Layton, Elizabeth "Grandma", 1909 - 1993, Wellsville, artist Lease, Mary E., 1853 - 1933, St. Paul, Kingman and Wichita, lawyer and supporter of Populism Lehrer, Jim, 1934, Wichita and Independence, television journalist, anchor on PBS's The News Hour with Jim Lehrer Lewis, Meriwether, Lewis & Clark Expedition, 1804 - 1806 Lewis, Delano, Topeka and Arkansas City, U.S. Department of Justice attorney, director of the Peace Corps in Nigeria and Uganda, first African American president of National Public Radio Lindbergh, Charles Augustus, 1902-1974, Bird City, in 1922 lived in Kansas while barnstorming through Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado Livgren, Kerry, Topeka, original member of the rock group, Kansas Lock, Don, Topeka, Washburn University graduate, baseball player with the Oakland Athletics Longren, Dolly, Topeka and Leonardville, aviator and engineer, photo of Longren shop Longren, Albin K., 1882 - 1950, Topeka and Leonardville, aviator and engineer, photo of Longren shop Loo, Miriam, Topeka, co-founder of a greeting card company Love, Nat, Dodge City, early cowboy Lovejoy, Julia Louisa, 1812-1882, Manhattan and Lawrence, abolitionist Lytle, Lutie, circa 1875 - ?, Topeka, one of the first African American women to be admitted to the practice of law in the United States MMcBride, Martina, 1966, Sharon, singer McCabe, Edward P., 1850 - 1920, Nicodemus, colonizer and the first African-American to serve as state auditor in Kansas McCarter, Margaret Hill, 1860 - 1938, Topeka, teacher, editor, and novelist McCarthy, Kathyrn O'Loughlin, 1894 - 1952, Hays, lawyer and first Kansas woman to serve in the U.S. Congress McCarty, Kelli, 1969, Liberal, Miss U.S.A. 1991 McCormack, Jesse, Moran, the first woman in the United States to pass the examination for bank cashier McCoy, Joseph G., 1837 - 1915, Abilene, cattle trader McDaniel, Hattie, 1895 - 1952, Wichita, film actress, Academy Award winner McFarland, Kay, 1935, Topeka, first woman in Kansas to serve as a district judge and as state supreme court justice McGill, George S. Malin, James Claude, 1893 - , historian, past president, KSHS Maneval, Rex, 1890 - 1974, Frankfort, inventor and helicopter manufacturer Martin, Glenn Luther "Cy", 1886 - 1955, Liberal and Salina, California mechanic, barnstormer, and aircraft manufacturer Martinez, Jim P., Hutchinson, businessman, in 1969 was first Hispanic elected as city commissioner, then following year was elected Hutchinson mayor Masters, Edgar Lee, 1869 - 1950, Garnett, poet and biographer Masterson, William "Bat", 1853 - 1921, Ford County, sheriff May, Rudy, Coffeyville, major league baseball player Mehringer, Pete, Kinsley, won a gold medal at the 1932 Olympic games in light heavyweight wrestling Menninger, Karl, 1893 - 1990, Topeka, psychiatrist and co-founder of the Menninger Clinic and Foundation Miles, Vera, 1929, Wichita, television and Broadway actress Miller, Solomon, White Cloud, newspaper editor Mills, William Mervin "Billy", 1938, Lawrence, born at Pine Ridge, South Dakota and a member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux), attended Haskell Institute and the University of Kansas, in 1964 at the Tokyo Olympics he became the only American to win the 10,000 meter run Monroe, Lilla Day, Topeka, preserve women's stories Montgomery, James, 1814 - 1871, Mound City, one of Kansas's most famous (or infamous) "jayhawkers" Moore, Bruce, 1817 - 1879, Wichita, sculptor Mudge, Benjamin Franklin, Quindaro, a geologist who was invited to deliver a series of lectures before the legislature NNaismith, James, 1861 - 1939, Lawrence, inventor of the game of basketball and a coach at the University of Kansas Nation, Carry A., 1846 - 1911, Medicine Lodge, temperance advocate Nichols, Clarina I. H., 1810 - 1885, Lawrence, Lane, and Quindaro, women's rights supporter, educator, and newspaper journalist Niven, Lawrence Van Cott, Topeka, Hugo Award-winning science fiction writer OO'Hare, Katherine Richards, 1877 - 1948, Ada, Socialist, novelist, anti-war activist Ohno, Mitsugi, 1926-1999, Manhattan, born in Japan, came to Kansas State University to serve as scientific glassblower, where he remained until retirement in 1996, know also for his glass-scale sculptures of ships and historic buildings PParetsky, Sara, 1947, Lawrence, born in Iowa and raised in Kansas, Paretsky created the book series featuring female private investigator, V. I. Warshawski, Parker, Charlie "Yardbird", 1920 - 1955, Kansas City, jazz saxophonist Parks, Gordon, 1912 - 2006, Fort Scott, photographer, writer, and motion picture director Parks, Larry, Olathe, film actor, nominated for Academy Award Peffer, William Alfred, 1831 - 1912, U.S. Senator, Kansas, Populist Party Peterson, Cassandra, 1949 - , Manhattan, aka Elvira, actress Peterson, Frank E. Jr., 1932, Topeka, first black brigadier general in the U.S. Marine Corps, NAACP Man of the Year Pitts, R. L., Wichita, first African American to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam Pitts, ZaSu, 1894 - 1963, Parsons, film and television actress QQuantrill, William C., 1837 - 1865, Lawrence, Confederate soldier and outlaw RRamey, Samuel, 1942, Colby, opera singer Ramsey, Norman F., 1915, mathematics instructor at the University of Kansas. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1989. Reed, Clyde M., Parsons, publisher, governor, and U.S. senator Reeder, Andrew Horatio, 1807 - 1864, Pawnee, the first governor of Kansas Territory, named in Representative Hall Reid, Albert T., 1873 - 1958, Concordia, painter, illustrator, and political cartoonist Remington, Frederic, 1861 - 1909, Peabody, Western painter Renko, Steve, Fort Scott, pitcher for Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland As Reynolds, James, Oskaloosa, Topeka, attended Washburn University, actor on ABC Television's "Days of Our Lives," nominated for Daytime Emmy Award Riggins, John, 1949, Centralia, University of Kansas graduate, All-American and all-Big-Eight, played with the New York Jets and the Washington Redskins Robinson, Charles, 1818 - 1894, Lawrence, free-state leader, first governor of the state of Kansas Robinson, Sara T.D. Rogers, Bernard W., 1921, Fairview, served as commander of the NATO forces in Europe Rogers, Charles "Buddy", 1904, Olathe, film actor Roper, Christian "Jim," 1916 - 2000, Halstead, in 1949 became the first NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car race winner Ross, Edmund G., 1826 - 1907, Topeka, Lawrence, and Coffeyville, journalist and U.S. senator Runyon, Damon, 1884 - 1946, Manhattan, short story writer and journalist Rupp, Adolph "The Baron", 1901 - 1977, Halstead, basketball coach, played basketball at Kansas University under coach Forrest "Phog" Allen, served four decades as coach at the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Wildcats were named national champions three years after his arrival, retired in 1972 Russell, Bill, Pittsburg, Los Angeles Dodger shortstop Ryun, Jim, 1947, Wichita, World's Outstanding Athlete in 1966-1967, three-time Olympian, set a world track record for the mile in 1966, U.S. Congress SSt. John, John P., 1833 - 1916, Olathe, governor, national Prohibition party's presidential candidate, 1884 Salter, Susanna Madora, 1860 - 1961, Argonia, first woman mayor in the nation Sanders, Barry David, 1968, Wichita, running back for Oklahoma State University and Detroit Lions Sandzen, Sven Birger, 1871 - 1954, Lindsborg, artist and professor Santee, Wes, Ashland and Lawrence, the University of Kansas mile runner was known as "Ashland Antelope." He was a sophomore and one of the world's premiere milers when he ran the 5,000 meter race in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Satanta, 1830-1878, called "Orator of the Plains" Sayers, Gale, 1943, Wichita, University of Kansas football star known as "The Kansas Comet," played with the Chicago Bears Sayers, W. L., Hill City, early African American county clerk and county attorney Schreffler, Marilyn,1945 - 1988, Topeka, voice of Olive Oyl in the Popeye cartoon series Scott Sr., Elisha, Topeka, attorney at the local for Brown v. Topeka Board of Education Sheldon, Charles M., 1857 - 1946, Topeka, minister and best-selling author Simpson, Jeremiah "Sockless Jerry", 1842 - 1905, Medicine Lodge, Populist member of U.S. House of Representatives Sinclair, Harry Ford, 1876 - 1956, Independence, Coffeyville, oil industry, founder of Sinclair Oil Company Singleton, Benjamin "Pap", 1809 - 1892, Topeka, Cherokee County, Morris County, ex-slave supporter, organized settlement in Kansas Smith, William Eugene, 1918 - 1978, Wichita, photojournalist for Newsweek, Life, and Parade; known for humanistic photography Smith, Dean , Emporia, played basketball at the University of Kansas, head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina Smith, Marilyn, Topeka, numerous career victories on the LPGA circuit, founder and charter member of the women's golf organization Smith, Vernon L., Milan, received the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 for founding the study of experimental economics Stafford, William Edgar, 1914 - 1933, Hutchinson, poet, winner of the 1963 National Book Award, poet laureate of Oregon, 1975-1993 Stone, Dee Wallace, Kansas City, television and film actress Stinson, Julia, Tecumseh, Kansas Territory, member of the Shawnee tribe Stone, Fred Andrew, 1873 - 1959, Topeka, vaudeville, song and dance man Stone, Milburn, 1904 - 1980, Burrton, television actor Stout, Rex, 1886 - 1975, Topeka, mystery writer Stiles, Jackie, Claflin, basketball player Sutherland, Earl, 1915 - 1974, Burlingame, winner of the Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine in 1971 Swayze, John Cameron, 1906, Wichita, radio and television commentator Switzer, Veryl, Nicodemus and Manhattan, professional football player, college professor TTalley, Marion, Colby, opera singer Taylor, Lucy Hobbs, 1833 - 1910, Lawrence, the first fully-trained woman dentist in the world Thompson, Bradbury, 1911, Topeka, designer and art director Tinker, Joe, Muscotah, shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, known for the double-play combination of Tinker to Evers to Chance, inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1946 Tombaugh, Clyde, 1906 - 1997, Burdette, astronomer, discovered the planet Pluto in 1930 Torrez, Mike , 1946, Topeka, major league baseball player UUnderwood, Elmer, 1859 - 1947, and Underwood, Bert , 1862 - 1943, Ottawa, photographers, businessmen VVance, Vivian, 1912 - 1979, Cherryvale, television actress Vernon, William, Quindaro/Kansas City, college president, bishop WWaggoner, Lyle, Kansas City, television actor Waller, John Lewis, Lawrence and Kansas City, lawyer, editor, U.S. consul to Madagascar Walt, Lewis, 1913 - 1989, Harveyville, former assistant commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps Watson, Tom, 1949, Overland Park, professional golfer Warkentin, Bernard, 1849-1908, Newton, Halstead. Warkentin was born in Crimea, Southern Russia, and was among the Mennonite settlers who came to Kansas in 1873. He imported Turkey Red Wheat to Kansas and established a milling operation. Wayland, Julius Augustus 1854 - 1912, Girard, founder of Socialist newspaper, Appeal to Reason Wedel, Waldo R., 1908-1996, North Newton, served as archeologist for the Nebraska State Historical Society where he conducted extensive research and excavations, served as field director for the Smithsonian Missouri River Basin Surveys Projects, and was archeologist emeritus in the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian Institution's U.S. National Museum Welch, Larry D., Liberal, commander-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command, served as vice chief of staff for the U.S. Air Force Wendelin, Rudolph, 1910, Rawlins County, created Smokey the Bear design White, William Allen, 1868 - 1944, Emporia, editor and publisher, Pulitzer Prize winner, author of noted editorials "What's the Matter With Kansas?" and "Mary White." White, William Lindsay, 1900 - 1973, Emporia, editor, radio correspondent during World War II, author of They Were Expendable and Journey for Margaret, both of which were adapted for motion picture Whittaker, Charles E., 1901 - 1973, Troy, U.S. Supreme Court justice Wilder, Laura Ingalls, 1867 - 1957, Independence, writer of children's books who lived in Kansas from 1869 - 1871 Willard, Jess, 1881 - 1968, Emmett, world heavyweight boxing champion Williams, Mamie, 1894 - 1986, Topeka, Educator Willkie, Wendell, 1892 - 1944, Coffeyville, 1940 Republican presidential candidate Winrod, Gerald B. Woodard, Lynette, 1959, Wichita, basketball standout at University of Kansas, captain of U.S. women's basketball team that won gold medal, first woman on the Harlem Globetrotters Woodring, Harry Hines, 1887 - 1967, Elk City, banker, Democratic governor of Kansas, U.S. Secretary of War Wooster, Lorraine Elizabeth, 1868 -1953, Beloit, in 1918 became the first woman elected to statewide office in Kansas, as state superintendent of public instruction she served two terms Wright, Chely, 1970, Wellsville, singer Y |
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