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
*Bob Englehart, editorial cartoonist
*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), Richard Nunez, artist
*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

*Baseball
**Isabel Álvarez, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
**Lenna Arnold, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (Fort Wayne Daisies, 1946 Fort Wayne Daisies)
**Phyllis Bookout, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (Fort Wayne Daisies, 1953 Fort Wayne Daisies)
**Rob Bowen, Major League Baseball, 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 (baseball), Bill Everitt, MLB (1895–1901) Chicago Cubs, Chicago Colts/Orphans, Washington Senators (1901–60), Washington Senators
**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 (baseball), Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves
**Louie Heilbroner, manager (baseball), manager, MLB (1900) St. Louis Cardinals
**Butch Henline, MLB (1921–1931) New York Giants (NL), New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Brooklyn Robins, Chicago White Sox
**Kevin Kiermaier, MLB player (2013–present) Tampa Bay Rays
**Naomi Meier, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
**Bruce Miller (baseball), Bruce Miller, MLB (1973–1976) San Francisco Giants
**Ralph Miller (third baseman), Ralph Miller, MLB (1920–1924) Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Senators (1901–60), Washington Senators
**Jarrod Parker, MLB pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks (2011) and Oakland Athletics (2012–2013)
**Josh VanMeter, MLB utility (2019–present) Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks
**Eric Wedge, player, MLB (1991–1994) Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies; manager, MLB (2003–2009) Cleveland Indians, (2011–2013)Seattle Mariners
*Professional basketball
**Dan Godfread, NBA (1990/91–1991/92) Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets
**Henry James (basketball), 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, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets
**Miles Plumlee, NBA (2012–present) Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies
**Bill Roberts (basketball), Bill Roberts, NBA (1948/49–1949/50) Chicago Stags, Boston Celtics, St. Louis Bombers (NBA), St. Louis Bombers
**Caleb Swanigan, NBA (2017–2022) Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings
*College basketball
**Deshaun Thomas, player for Ohio State

*Professional football
**Scott Auer, National Football League, NFL (1984–1985) Kansas City Chiefs
**Mike Augustyniak, NFL (1981–1983) New York Jets
**Jason Baker, NFL (2001–2012) San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers
**Jessie Bates III, NFL (2018–present) Cincinnati Bengals
**Bill Boedeker, NFL (1946–1950) Chicago Rockets, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers
**Johnny Bright, Canadian Football League, CFL (1952–1964), Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, subject of the "Johnny Bright Incident"
**Bob Cowan, NFL (1947–1949), Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts
**Vaughn Dunbar, NFL (1992–1995) New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars
**Tyler Eifert, NFL (2013–present) Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars
**Eric England (gridiron football), 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 (wide receiver), James Hardy, NFL (2008–2011) Buffalo Bills
**Selwyn Lymon, NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins
**Austin Mack, NFL (2020–present) New York Giants
**Le'Ron McClain, NFL (2007–2013) Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers
**Bernard Pollard, NFL (2006–2014) Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans
**Emil Sitko, NFL (1950–1952) San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59), Chicago Cardinals
**Ben Skowronek, NFL (2021–present) Los Angeles Rams
**Jaylon Smith, NFL (2016–present) Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants
**Lamar Smith (football player), Lamar Smith, NFL (1994–2003) Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers
**Rod Smith (running back), Rod Smith, NFL (2015–present) Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders
**Anthony E. Spencer II, Anthony Spencer, NFL (2007–2015) Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints
**Drue Tranquill, NFL (2019–present) Los Angeles Chargers
**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
**Drake Batherson, NHL Ottawa Senators
**Gracen Hirschy, SDHL (2017–present), Linköping HC Dam, Linköping HC
**Fred Knipscheer, NHL Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues
**Dale Purinton, NHL (1999/2000–2003/04) New York Rangers
*Martial arts
**Jon Fitch, Mixed martial arts, MMA fighter with Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC
**Dave Herman (fighter), Dave Herman, MMA fighter with UFC
**Becky Levi, MMA fighter
*Soccer
**DaMarcus Beasley, Rangers F.C. of the Scottish Premier League, United States men's national soccer team, U.S. national team, Major League Soccer, MLS Chicago Fire S.C., Chicago Fire
**Jamar Beasley, MLS New England Revolution, Chicago Fire S.C., Chicago Fire
**Rece Buckmaster, New York Red Bulls
*Olympic swimming and diving
**Steve Bigelow, swimmer, 1988 Summer Olympics
**Matt Vogel (swimmer), 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
**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 Cardinals, Ball State University Cardinals men's volleyball program (1964–1998)
*Other notables
**Angela Bradburn-Spangler, List of national high jump champions (women)#United States, 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; fifth person ever to do so without the use of supplemental oxygen

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)
*Ross Lockridge Jr., novelist
*Patricia Lockwood, writer
*Michael Martone (author), Michael Martone, author
*George Jean Nathan, author, drama critic, founder of ''American Spectator (literary magazine), American Spectator''
*William Rockhill Nelson, founder of the ''Kansas City Star''
*Emmanuel Ortiz, poet, writer
*Charlie Savage (author), Charlie Savage, ''New York Times'' reporter, 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner

Business leaders

*Gregory W. Becker, final CEO of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)
*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
* Ian Rolland,Ian Rolland
/ref> CEO, Chairman of the Board Lincoln National Corporation, Lincoln National
*Cosette Simon, philanthropist, politician, first female Mayor of Fort Wayne (1985)
*Chuck Surack, philanthropist, founder of Sweetwater Sound
*Dave Thomas (American businessman), 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 National Basketball Association, NBA and Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons

Inventors and scientists

*Sylvanus Bowser, inventor of the gas pump
*Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of the television
*John Henry Holland, pioneer in the field of genetic algorithms
*Alfred Mellowes, inventor of the electric refrigerator

Media

*Julia Barr, two-time Daytime Emmy award-winning actress, ''All My Children''
*Jill Bennett (American actress), 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 (US TV Series), 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 Award, 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
*Jan Schweiterman, actor
*Carrie M. Shoaff, artist, author, potter, playwright, correspondent
*Herb Shriner, comedian, game show host
*Nancy Snyderman, MD, journalist, National Broadcasting Company, 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

*Addison Agen, singer and finalist on ''The Voice (American season 13), The Voice''
*Joey Allen, glam metal guitarist, Warrant (American band), Warrant
*Jeoffrey Benward, contemporary Christian music, contemporary Christian singer, songwriter
*Sonny Charles, soul music, soul singer, Checkmates, Ltd., Steve Miller Band
*Daniel E. Gawthrop, contemporary classical music, contemporary classical composer
*Heather Headley, Tony Award, Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway actress and R&B singer
*Edwin C. Metcalfe, saxophonist with Spike Jones
*Megan Mullins, country music, country singer
*Niyoki, gospel musician
*Amanda Perez, R&B singer
*Petra (band), Petra, Grammy-winning Christian rock band
*Jon Schaffer, heavy metal music, heavy metal guitarist, songwriter, Iced Earth
*Troy Shondell, rock and roll singer, songwriter
*The Ready Set, Jordan Witzigreuter, Pop music, 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 Food and Drug Administration, 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

*E. Ross Adair, United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative (1951–1971), United States Ambassador to Ethiopia (1971–1974)
*Robert E. Armstrong, Fort Wayne Mayor (1975–1979), Allen County, Indiana, Allen County Councilman (1990–2002)
*Paul W. Baade, Major General (United States), 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 The Berghoff (restaurant), Herman J. Berghoff Brewing Company
*Tim Berry (politician), Tim Berry, Indiana State Treasurer (1999–2007), Indiana State Auditor (2007–2013), Indiana Republican Party Chairman (2013–present)
*Samuel Bigger, Indiana House of Representatives, 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), United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, U.S. Attorney for Southern Indiana (2001–2007), U.S. Representative (2013–present)
*James R. Clapper, Director of National Intelligence (2010–2017)
*Dan Coats, Daniel R. Coats, U.S. Representative (1981–1989), United States Ambassador to Germany (2001–2005), United States Senate, 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 House of Representatives, Oregon State Representative (1956–1960, 1962–1966)
*Dan Flanagan, lawyer, Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1953–1954), Allen County Republican Party (United States), 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–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)
*Paul G. Jasper, Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1949–1953)
*Matt Kelty, politician, architect
*Edward H. Kruse, U.S. Representative (1949–1951)
*Henry Ware Lawton, Henry Lawton, General of the Army (United States), 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 (politician), 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 (Indiana politician), 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

*Herman Joseph Alerding, bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1900–1924)
*Johnny Appleseed, 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)
*John F. Noll, 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), 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 (pilot), Art Smith, aviator
*Homer Van Meter, infamous bank robber who worked with John Dillinger

References

{{Fort Wayne, Indiana

People from Fort Wayne, Indiana, *
Lists of American people by populated place, Fort Wayne
Lists of people from Indiana, Fort Wayne