The following is a list of notable natives, residents, or former residents of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Artists, designers, and architects George Washington Whistler Bill Blass, fashion designer[ 1] Bob Englehart, editorial cartoonist Richard "Grass" Green, cartoonist John Hambrock, cartoonist Eric Kuhne, architect Dick Moores, cartoonist[ 2] Gray Morrow, comic book illustrator, art director for Spider-Man Bruce Nauman, artist Richard Nunez, artist[ 3] Frederick William Sievers, sculptor Alvin M. Strauss, architect Egerton Swartwout, architect Brentwood S. Tolan, architect Thomas J. Tolan, architect George Washington Whistler, railroad engineer
Athletes Manager of the Cleveland Indians 2003–2009, Fort Wayne native Eric Wedge Baseball Isabel Álvarez, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Lenna Arnold, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (1946 Fort Wayne Daisies) Phyllis Bookout , All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (1953 Fort Wayne Daisies ) Rob Bowen , MLB (2003–2008)[ 4] Minnesota Twins , San Diego Padres , Chicago Cubs , Oakland Athletics Dottie Wiltse Collins , All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1944–1950; Minneapolis Millerettes , Fort Wayne Daisies ) David Doster , MLB (1996, 1999)[ 4] Philadelphia Phillies Bill Everitt, MLB (1895–1901)[ 4] Chicago Colts/Orphans , Washington Senators Brent Gaff , MLB pitcher (1982–1984) New York Mets Harold Greiner (1907–1993), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League manager (Fort Wayne Daisies ) and restaurant entrepreneur Steve Hargan , MLB pitcher (1965–1972, 1974–1977) Cleveland Indians , Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays , Atlanta Braves Louie Heilbroner , manager, MLB (1900) St. Louis Cardinals Butch Henline , MLB (1921–1931)[ 4] New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies , Brooklyn Robins , Chicago White Sox Kevin Kiermaier , MLB player (2013–present) Tampa Bay Rays , Toronto Blue Jays Naomi Meier , All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Bruce Miller, MLB (1973–1976) San Francisco Giants Ralph Miller, MLB (1920–1924)[ 4] Philadelphia Phillies , Washington Senators Rabbit Nill , MLB (1904–1908) Washington Senators, Cleveland Naps Jarrod Parker , MLB pitcher (2011–2013) Arizona Diamondbacks , Oakland Athletics [ 4] Brian Reith , MLB pitcher (2001, 2003–2004) Cincinnati Reds Mike Roesler , MLB pitcher (1989–1990) Cincinnati Reds , Pittsburgh Pirates Andrew Saalfrank , MLB pitcher (2023–present) Arizona Diamondbacks Josh VanMeter , MLB utility (2019–present) Cincinnati Reds , Arizona Diamondbacks , Pittsburgh Pirates Ben Van Ryn , MLB pitcher (1996, 1998) California Angels , Chicago Cubs , San Diego Padres , Toronto Blue Jays Eric Wedge , player, MLB (1991–1994)[ 4] Boston Red Sox , Colorado Rockies ; manager, MLB (2003–2009)[ 4] Cleveland Indians , (2011–2013)[ 4] Seattle Mariners Andy Woehr , MLB (1923–1924) Philadelphia Phillies Professional basketball Curly Armstrong , NBA (1948–1951) Fort Wayne Pistons Dan Godfread , NBA (1990/91–1991/92)[ 5] Minnesota Timberwolves , Houston Rockets Henry James, NBA (1990/91–1997/98)[ 5] Cleveland Cavaliers , Utah Jazz , Sacramento Kings , Los Angeles Clippers , Houston Rockets , Atlanta Hawks Willie Long , NBA (1973–1974) Denver Rockets Kyle Macy , NBA (1980/81–1986/87)[ 5] Phoenix Suns , Chicago Bulls , Indiana Pacers ; sportscaster Mason Plumlee , NBA (2013–present)[ 5] Brooklyn Nets , Portland Trail Blazers , Denver Nuggets , Detroit Pistons , Charlotte Hornets , Los Angeles Clippers Miles Plumlee , NBA (2012–present)[ 5] Indiana Pacers , Phoenix Suns , Milwaukee Bucks , Charlotte Hornets , Atlanta Hawks Bill Roberts, NBA (1948/49–1949/50)[ 5] Chicago Stags , Boston Celtics , St. Louis Bombers Herm Schaefer , NBA (1948–1950) Minneapolis Lakers Ed Stanczak , NBA (1949/50–1950/51) Anderson Packers , Boston Celtics Caleb Swanigan , NBA (2017–2022)[ 5] Portland Trail Blazers , Sacramento Kings Malik Williams , NBA (2024–present) Toronto Raptors College basketball Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fort Wayne native Rod Woodson Professional football Scott Auer , NFL (1984–1985) Kansas City Chiefs Mike Augustyniak , NFL (1981–1983)[ 6] New York Jets Jason Baker , NFL (2001–2012)[ 6] San Francisco 49ers , Philadelphia Eagles , Kansas City Chiefs , Indianapolis Colts , Denver Broncos , Carolina Panthers Jessie Bates III , NFL (2018–present) Cincinnati Bengals , Atlanta Falcons Bill Boedeker , NFL (1946–1950)[ 6] Chicago Rockets , Cleveland Browns , Philadelphia Eagles , Green Bay Packers Jeremy Bridges , NFL (2004–2011) Arizona Cardinals , Carolina Panthers Johnny Bright , CFL (1952–1964), Calgary Stampeders , Edmonton Eskimos , subject of the "Johnny Bright Incident " Bob Cowan , NFL (1947–1949), Cleveland Browns , Baltimore Colts John Diettrich , NFL (1987) Houston Oilers Vaughn Dunbar , NFL (1992–1995)[ 6] New Orleans Saints , Jacksonville Jaguars Tyler Eifert , NFL (2013–2020) Cincinnati Bengals , Jacksonville Jaguars Eric England, NFL (1994–1996)[ 6] Arizona Cardinals Ricky Ervins , NFL (1991–1995) Washington Redskins , San Francisco 49ers Trai Essex , NFL (2005–2012)[ 6] Pittsburgh Steelers , Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII champion Jason Fabini , NFL (1998–2008)[ 6] New York Jets , Dallas Cowboys , Washington Redskins Steve Hall, NFL (1996) Minnesota Vikings , Indianapolis Colts James Hardy, NFL (2008–2011)[ 6] Buffalo Bills Jim Juriga , NFL (1988–1991) Denver Broncos Selwyn Lymon , NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins Austin Mack , NFL (2020–present) New York Giants Le'Ron McClain , NFL (2007–2013)[ 6] Baltimore Ravens , Kansas City Chiefs , San Diego Chargers Bernard Pollard , NFL (2006–2014)[ 6] Kansas City Chiefs , Houston Texans , Baltimore Ravens , Tennessee Titans Emil Sitko , NFL (1950–1952)[ 6] San Francisco 49ers , Chicago Cardinals Ben Skowronek , NFL (2021–present) Los Angeles Rams , Houston Texans Jaylon Smith , NFL (2016–present) Dallas Cowboys , Green Bay Packers , New York Giants , New Orleans Saints , Las Vegas Raiders Lamar Smith, NFL (1994–2003)[ 6] Seattle Seahawks , New Orleans Saints , Miami Dolphins , Carolina Panthers Rod Smith, NFL (2015–present)[ 6] Seattle Seahawks , Dallas Cowboys , Tennessee Titans , Oakland Raiders Anthony Spencer , NFL (2007–2015)[ 6] Dallas Cowboys , New Orleans Saints Joe Tippmann , NFL (2023–present) New York Jets Drue Tranquill , NFL (2019–present)[ 6] Los Angeles Chargers , Kansas City Chiefs Elmer Wilkens , NFL (1925)[ 6] Green Bay Packers Rod Woodson , NFL (1987–2003)[ 6] Pittsburgh Steelers , San Francisco 49ers , Baltimore Ravens , Oakland Raiders , Pro Football Hall of Famer Golf Professional hockey Martial arts Soccer Olympic swimming and diving Steve Bigelow , swimmer, 1988 Summer Olympics Matt Vogel, swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist, 1976 Summer Olympics Sharon Wichman , swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, 1968 Summer Olympics Dan Zehr , swimmer, 1932 Summer Olympics Olympic track and field Volleyball Other notables
Authors and writers E. Jean Carroll , author, journalist Constance Cumbey , author, lawyer Les Edgerton , author Ashley C. Ford , author and essayist Edith Hamilton , author, mythology expert Stephen King , best-selling author (spent parts of childhood in the city)[ 9] Ross Lockridge Jr. , novelist Patricia Lockwood , writer Michael Martone, author George Jean Nathan , author, drama critic, founder of American Spectator William Rockhill Nelson , founder of the Kansas City Star Emmanuel Ortiz , poet, writer Charlie Savage, New York Times reporter, 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner
Business leaders Gregory W. Becker , final CEO of Silicon Valley Bank , is from Fort WayneGregory W. Becker , final CEO of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)[ 10] Patrick M. Byrne , president and CEO of Overstock.com Dirk Gates , founder and CEO of Xircom and Xirrus Jeff Hammerbacher , founder of Cloudera [ 11] Angie Hicks , founder and CMO of AngiesList.com Zach Klein , co-founder of social networking site Vimeo Nord Krauskopf , founder of K&K Insurance ; NASCAR Winston Cup Series race car owner (1966–1977) Russell W. Kruse , auctioneer, founder of Kruse International Cook Lougheed , philanthropist, entrepreneur, and Allen County Councilman Dale W. McMillen , founder of Central Soya Cosette Simon , philanthropist, politician, first female Mayor of Fort Wayne (1985) Chuck Surack , philanthropist, founder of Sweetwater Sound Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's International Kevin Wall , Emmy Award-winning producer, environmentalist, founder of Live Earth Childe Wills , associate of Henry Ford Fred Zollner , industrialist, founder of the NBA and Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
Inventors and scientists Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of the modern television, lived in Fort Wayne from 1948 to 1967.
Fort Wayne native and screen legend Carole Lombard Julia Barr , two-time Daytime Emmy award-winning actress, All My Children Jill Bennett, actress Nicole Briscoe , 1998 Miss Illinois Teen USA , host of ESPN2 's NASCAR Now Eric Bruskotter , actor Dan Butler , actor Ann Colone , broadcaster, talkshow host Jenna Fischer , Emmy -nominated actress, The Office Sharon Gabet , actress Hilliard Gates , sportscaster Molly Hagan , actress Drake Hogestyn , actor Neil LaBute , director, screenwriter, playwright Stephanie Larimore , model, Playboy Playmate of the Month Carole Lombard , Oscar -nominated actress, My Man Godfrey Shelley Long , Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actress, Cheers Marilyn Maxwell , actress Patrick McVey , actor Robert Rusler , actor Andrea Russett , actress, Internet celebrity Chris Schenkel , sportscaster Carrie M. Shoaff , artist, author, potter, playwright, correspondent Herb Shriner , comedian, game show host Nancy Snyderman , MD, journalist, NBC News chief medical editor Zuzanna Szadkowski , actress Lyn Thomas , actress Randy Thompson , actor David Turnley , photographer Peter Turnley , photographer Herb Vigran , actor Dick York , Emmy-nominated actor, Bewitched
Music Fort Wayne native the Ready Set performing at Emo's in 2010 Addison Agen , singer and finalist on The Voice Joey Allen , glam metal guitarist, Warrant Jeoffrey Benward , contemporary Christian singer, songwriter Sonny Charles , soul singer, Checkmates, Ltd. , Steve Miller Band Daniel E. Gawthrop , contemporary classical composer Heather Headley , Tony and Grammy Award -winning Broadway actress and R&B singer Edwin C. Metcalfe , saxophonist with Spike Jones Megan Mullins , country singer Niyoki , gospel musician Amanda Perez , R&B singer Petra, Grammy-winning Christian rock band Jon Schaffer , heavy metal guitarist, songwriter, Iced Earth Troy Shondell , rock and roll singer, songwriter Jordan Witzigreuter , pop singer (stage name The Ready Set )
Physicians and medical researchers Alice Hamilton , MD, first woman on faculty of Harvard Medical School ; sister of Edith Hamilton Jane Henney , MD, first woman Commissioner of the FDA (1998–2001) Leonard A. Scheele , MD, seventh U.S. Surgeon General (1948–1956) Susan Smalley , Ph.D., first to conduct genome-wide study in ADHD Allen Steere , MD, identifier of Lyme disease
Public servants Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and first Comptroller of the Currency, Hugh McCulloch E. Ross Adair , U.S. Representative (1951–1971), United States Ambassador to Ethiopia (1971–1974) Robert E. Armstrong , Fort Wayne Mayor (1975–1979), Allen County Councilman (1990–2002) Paul W. Baade , major general in the United States Army Harry W. Baals , Fort Wayne mayor (1934–1947, 1951–1954) Paul Frank Baer , first flying ace in American military aviation Henry C. Berghoff , Fort Wayne Mayor (1901–1906) and co-founder of the Herman J. Berghoff Brewing Company Tim Berry, Indiana State Treasurer (1999–2007), Indiana State Auditor (2007–2013), Indiana Republican Party Chairman (2013–present) Samuel Bigger , Indiana State Representative (1834–1835), Indiana Circuit Court Judge (1835–1840), seventh Governor of Indiana (1840–1843) James W. Borden , judge and diplomat Randy Borror , Indiana State Representative (2001–2010) Claude Bowers , writer, U.S. Ambassador to Spain (1933–1939), U.S. Ambassador to Chile (1939–1953) Samuel Brenton , U.S. Representative (1851–1853, 1855–1857) Susan Brooks , Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis (1998–1999), U.S. Attorney for Southern Indiana (2001–2007), U.S. Representative (2013–present) James R. Clapper , Director of National Intelligence (2010–2017) Daniel R. Coats , U.S. Representative (1981–1989), United States Ambassador to Germany (2001–2005), U.S. Senator (1989–1999, 2011–present) Walpole G. Colerick , U.S. Representative (1879–1883) Joseph K. Edgerton , U.S. Representative (1863–1865) Shirley Adele Field , judge, Oregon State Representative (1956–1960, 1962–1966) Dan Flanagan , lawyer, Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1953–1954), Allen County Republican Party leader Eliza George , Civil War nurse (1863–1865) Phil GiaQuinta , Indiana State Representative (2006–present) George W. Gillie , U.S. Representative (1939–1949) Timothy Goeglein , White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs Deputy Director (2001–2008) Allen Hamilton , Allen County sheriff (1824–1826), Fort Wayne Postmaster (1825–1831), Allen County Auditor, Clerk, and Recorder (1831–1838) Mitch Harper , Indiana State Representative (1978–1990), Fort Wayne City Councilman (2008–2016) Paul Helmke , Fort Wayne Mayor (1988–2000), President of Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (2006–2011), founder of the Civic Leaders Center at Indiana University (2013-). Tom Henry , Fort Wayne City Councilman (1984–2004), Fort Wayne Mayor (2008–2024) Richard E. Hoagland , U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan (2003–2006), U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan (2008–2011), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia (2013–2015) William J. Hosey , Fort Wayne Mayor (1905–1909, 1913–1917, 1921–1925, 1929–1934) Merchant W. Huxford , doctor, Fort Wayne Mayor (1845–1849) Samuel D. Jackson , U.S. Senator (1944) Paul G. Jasper , Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1949–1953) Matt Kelty , politician, architect Edward H. Kruse , U.S. Representative (1949–1951) Henry Lawton , U.S. Army General (1861–1865, 1867–1899), namesake of Lawton, Oklahoma Thomas R. Marshall , 27th Governor of Indiana (1909–1913), 28th U.S. Vice President (1913–1921) Hugh McCulloch , first Comptroller of the Currency (1863–1865), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1865–1869, 1884–1885) Robert Meyers, Fort Wayne Mayor (1954–1959), Allen County Superior Court Judge (1971–1985) Winfield Moses , Fort Wayne City Councilman (1972–1979), Mayor (1980–1987), Indiana State Representative (1992–2012) Cherrish Pryor , Indiana State Representative (2008–present) Ben Quayle , U.S. Representative (2011–2013) Graham Richard , entrepreneur, Fort Wayne Mayor (2000–2008) James M. Robinson, judge, U.S. Representative (1897–1905) Mark Souder , U.S. Representative (1995–2010) Harold J. Warner , Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice (1955–1957) James Bain White , U.S. Representative (1887–1889) George W. Wood , first Fort Wayne Mayor (1840–1841) James Worden , twelfth Fort Wayne Mayor (1865-1866), Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1858-1865, 1871-1882)
Religious leaders John Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed, is believed to have died in Fort Wayne. Herman Joseph Alerding , bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1900–1924) John Chapman , Swedenborgian , nurseryman, missionary, famous American folklore figure Johnny Appleseed John Michael D'Arcy , auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Boston (1974–1985), bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1985–2009) William Edward McManus , auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Chicago (1967–1976), bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1976–1985) Archbishop John F. Noll , bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1925–1956), founder of Our Sunday Visitor Wilhelm Sihler , Lutheran minister and founder of Concordia Theological Seminary Alexa Suelzer , Roman Catholic nun , author, educator, theologian Robert Thieme , author, pastor of Berachah Church (1950–2003)
Miscellaneous Charlie Brandt , serial killer Dean Corll , serial killer Louis Edward Curdes , flying ace of WWII Alexander Ewing, soldier during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 , later a founding resident of Fort Wayne Florence M. Montgomery , art historian and curator Alixa Naff , historian ML Procise , concert sound engineer Margaret Ringenberg , aviator Ernest Gottlieb Sihler , professor of classics at New York University Art Smith, aviator Homer Van Meter , infamous bank robber who worked with John Dillinger
References ^ Designer Bill Blass wills $1 million gift to IU Retrieved Dec. 15, 2009. ^ National Cartoonists Society Retrieved June 11, 2011 ^ "Richard Nunez". Art Gallery Worldwide . Retrieved December 8, 2012 . ^ a b c d e f g h i "Baseball Reference". baseball-reference.com . Retrieved September 30, 2016 . ^ a b c d e f g "Archived copy". NBA.com . Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2010 . {{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Football Encyclopedia of Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com". pro-football-reference.com . Retrieved September 30, 2016 . ^ "Dale Purinton hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com". hockeydb.com . Retrieved September 30, 2016 . ^ (2007-02-27). More than Just a Game Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Big Ten Basketball. Retrieved on 2009-06-11. ^ Tabitha King. "About the Author". StephenKing.com. Retrieved July 24, 2013 . ^ Cook, John (June 1, 2012). "Silicon Valley Bank's Greg Becker: Why Facebook's stock fall may be a good thing". GeekWire . Retrieved March 13, 2023 . ^ "On the Case at Mount Sinai, It's Dr. Data". The New York Times . March 8, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2016 .
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