List of people from Fort Wayne, Indiana

The following is a list of notable natives, residents, or former residents of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Artists, designers, and architects

• Bill Blass, fashion designer
• Jack Boyd Buckley, civil engineer
• Richard "Grass" Green, cartoonist
• John Hambrock, cartoonist
• Eric Kuhne, architect
• Dick Moores, cartoonist
• Gray Morrow, comic book illustrator, art director for Spider-Man
• Bruce Nauman, artist
• Richard Nunez, artist
• Frederick William Sievers, sculptor
• Alvin M. Strauss, architect
• Brentwood S. Tolan, architect
• Thomas J. Tolan, architect
• George Washington Whistler, railroad engineer

Athletes

Manager of the Cleveland Indians from 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) 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) Philadelphia Phillies
  • Bill Everitt, MLB (1895–1901) Chicago Colts/Orphans, Washington Senators
  • Louie Heilbroner, manager, MLB (1900) St. Louis Cardinals
  • Butch Henline, MLB (1921–1931) New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Brooklyn Robins, Chicago White Sox
  • Harold Greiner (1907–1993), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League manager (Fort Wayne Daisies) and restaurant entrepreneur
  • Kevin Kiermaier, MLB player (2013–present) Tampa Bay Rays
  • Naomi Meier, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
  • Ralph Miller, MLB (1920–1924) Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Senators
  • Jarrod Parker, current starting pitcher for the Oakland Athletics
  • Eric Wedge, player, MLB (1991–1994) Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies; manager, MLB (2003–2009) Cleveland Indians, (2011–2013)Seattle Mariners
  • Steve Hargan, MLB pitcher (1965–1972, 1974–1977) Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves
• Professional basketball
  • Dan Godfread, NBA (1990/91-1991/92) Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets
  • Henry James, NBA (1990/91-1997/98) Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks
  • Kyle Macy, NBA (1980/81-1986/87) Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers; sportscaster
  • Mason Plumlee, NBA (2013–present) Brooklyn Nets
  • Miles Plumlee, NBA (2012–present) Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns
  • Bill Roberts, NBA (1948/49-1949/50) Chicago Stags, Boston Celtics, St. Louis Bombers
  • Caleb Swanigan, NBA (2017–present) Portland Trail Blazers
• College basketball
  • Deshaun Thomas, player for Ohio State

Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fort Wayne native Rod Woodson

• Professional football
  • Jason Baker, NFL (2001–2012) San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers
  • Mike Augustyniak, NFL (1981-1983) New York Jets
  • Bill Boedeker, NFL (1946–1950) Chicago Rockets, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers
  • Johnny Bright, CFL (1952–1964), Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, subject of the "Johnny Bright Incident"
  • Vaughn Dunbar, NFL (1992–1995) New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Tyler Eifert, NFL (2013–present) Cincinnati Bengals
  • Eric England, NFL (1994–1996) Arizona Cardinals
  • Trai Essex, NFL (2005–2012) Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII champion
  • Jason Fabini, NFL (1998–2008) New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins
  • James Hardy, NFL (2008–2011) Buffalo Bills
  • Selwyn Lymon, NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins
  • Le'Ron McClain, NFL (2007–2013) Baltimore Ravens
  • Bernard Pollard, NFL (2006–2014) Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens
  • Emil Sitko, NFL (1950–1952) San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Cardinals
  • Jaylon Smith, NFL (2016–present) Dallas Cowboys
  • Lamar Smith, NFL (1994–2003) Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers
  • Rod Smith, NFL (2015–present) Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys
  • Anthony Spencer, NFL (2007–present) Dallas Cowboys
  • Elmer Wilkens, NFL (1925) Green Bay Packers
  • Rod Woodson, NFL (1987–2003) Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, Pro Football Hall of Famer
• Golf
  • Amanda Blumenherst, U.S. Amateur champion
  • Cathy Gerring, 3-time winner on LPGA Tour
  • Billy Kratzert, 4-time winner on PGA Tour, sportscaster
• Professional Hockey
  • Fred Knipscheer, NHL Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues
  • Dale Purinton, NHL (1999/2000-2003/04) New York Rangers
• Martial arts
  • Jon Fitch, MMA fighter with UFC
  • Dave Herman, MMA fighter with UFC
  • Becky Levi, MMA fighter
• Soccer
  • DaMarcus Beasley, Rangers F.C. of the Scottish Premier League, U.S. national team, MLS Chicago Fire
  • Jamar Beasley, MLS New England Revolution, Chicago Fire
• Olympic swimming and diving
  • Matt Vogel, swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist, 1976 Summer Olympics
  • Sharon Wichman, swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, 1968 Summer Olympics
  • Steve Bigelow, swimmer, 1988 Summer Olympics
  • Dan Zehr, swimmer, 1932 Summer Olympics
• Olympic track and field
  • Eric Morrical, 400m
  • LeShundra "DeDee" Nathan, 2000 Summer Olympics
• Volleyball
  • Angie Akers, professional beach volleyball player
  • Lloy Ball, Olympic gold medalist, 2008 Summer Olympics
  • Dr. Don Shondell, author, head coach of Ball State University Cardinals men's volleyball program (1964–1998)
• Other notables
  • Angela Bradburn-Spangler, USA national high jump champion 1994
  • Eugene E. Parker, sports agent, 45th in Sports Illustrated's 101 most influential minorities in sports
  • Ed Viesturs, mountaineer, first American to climb all 14 of the world's 8,000 meter peaks, and the fifth person ever to do so without the use of supplemental oxygen

Authors and writers

• Eric Baus, poet
• 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)
• Ross Lockridge, Jr., novelist
• Michael A. 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

• Andrew George Burry, philanthropist, paper box manufacturer
• Patrick M. Byrne, president and CEO of Overstock.com
• Dirk Gates, founder and CEO of Xircom and Xirrus
• Jeff Hammerbacher, founder of Cloudera
• 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

Ian M. Rolland, philanthropist, Retired Chairman, Lincoln National Corporation

Inventors and scientists

Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of the modern television, lived in Fort Wayne from 1948–1967

• Sylvanus Bowser, inventor of the gas pump
• Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of the television
• John Henry Holland, pioneer in the field of genetic algorithms

Media

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
• Bree Olsen, pornographic actress
• Robert Rusler, actor
• Andrea Russett, actress, Internet celebrity
• Chris Schenkel, sportscaster
• Jan Schweiterman, actor
• 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
• Emir Sinanović, vlogger, Internet celebrity

Music

File:Nyzzy Nyce at DOPE on Fairfax.png

Fort Wayne native and national recording artist DeAngelo Samuel, aka Nyzzy Nyce

• 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
• Nyzzy Nyce, hip hop rapper
• 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
• 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)
• 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–present)
• Tom Hayhurst, doctor, Fort Wayne City Councilman (1996–2008)
• Paul Helmke, Fort Wayne Mayor (1988–2000), President of Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (2006–2011)
• Tom Henry, Fort Wayne City Councilman (1984–2004), Fort Wayne Mayor (2008–present)
• 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)
• 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)

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
• Alexander Ewing, soldier during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, later a founding resident of Fort Wayne
• Fred Meyer, businessman and chairman of the Republican Party of Texas from 1988 to 1994; former Fort Wayne resident
• 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.