John Taylor Adams (1862 - 1939) A noted businessman in the Dubuque, Iowa area and also a former Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Born in Dubuque, IA (1443) Julie Adams (1926 - ) Born Betty May Adams. An American film and television actress. Best known for her portrayal of Kay Lawrence in The Creature From the Black Lagoon. Born in Waterloo, IA (1660) Bess Streeter Aldrich (1881 - 1954) An American author. She became one of the highest-paid women writers of the period. She is the author of about 200 short stories and 13 novels, including Miss Bishop which was made into a movie (Cheers for Miss Bishop). Born in Cedar Falls, IA (1444) Fran Allison (1907 - 1989) An American television and radio comedian, personality and singer. She is best known for her starring role on the weekday NBC-TV puppet show Kukla, Fran and Ollie, which ran from 1947 to 1957. Born in La Porte City, IA (1661) Lewis Burr Anderson (1922 - 2006) An American actor and musician, most famous for being the third and final actor to portray Clarabell the Clown on Howdy Doody between 1954 and 1960. He was also a musician. He famously spoke Clarabell's one and only line on the program on the show's final episode in 1960, with a tear visible in his eye, "Goodbye, kids." Born in Kirkman, IA (1445) Cap Anson (1852 - 1922) Born Adrian Constantine. He played a record 27 consecutive seasons and was known as the greatest baseball player of the 19th century and one of the first superstars of the game. Born in Marshalltown, IA (163) Thomas Duane "Tom" Arnold (1959 - ) An American actor and comedian. He has starred in many films, most notably True Lies (1994). Other films include Happy Endings and The Kid & I. Born in Ottumwa, IA (1446) John Ora Bailey (1880 - 1959) An American judge and politician in the state of Oregon. He was the 27th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving from 1933 to 1950. Bailey also served in the Oregon House of Representatives and the Oregon State Senate. Born in Grinnell, IA (1447) Theodore J. "Ted" Bauer (1909 - 2005) An American Infectious disease specialist who was head of the Communicable Disease Center (now known as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) from 1953 to 1956, and who also served as Assistant Surgeon General of the United States. Born in Iowa City, IA (1448) Norman Bourlag (1914 - 2009) An American biologist and humanitarian who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 in recognition of his contributions to world peace through increasing food supply. Known as "the father of the Green Revolution." Born in Cresco, IA (744) Johnny Carson (1925 - 2005) An American television host, comedian, writer, producer, actor, and musician. Best known as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years. Born in Corning, IA (165) Clyde Cessna (1879 - 1954) An American aircraft designer, aviator, and founder of the Cessna Aircraft Corporation. Born in Hawthorne, IA (187) | William "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846 - 1917) Pony Express rider, cavalry scout, buffalo hunter, and showman in the late 1800s. Born in LeClaire, IA (167) Bob Feller (1918 - 2010) Born Robert William Andrew Feller. An American baseball pitcher who played 18 seasons in the Major Leagues for the Cleveland Indians. Nicknamed "The Heater from Van Meter," "Bullet Bob," and "Rapid Robert." He was the first pitcher to win 24 games in a season before the age of 21. His team won the World Series in 1948. Born in Van Meter,, IA (168) Dan Gable (1948 - ) A retired American Olympic wrestler and head coach. He won a gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics without surrendering a point. Two-time Olympic head coach (1980 and 1984). As a coach at Iowa, he won 15 NCAA team titles in 22 years and 22 straight Big Ten Conferences. titles; born in Waterloo. Born in Waterloo, IA (169) Fred Grandy (1948 - ) Born Fredrick Lawrence Grandy. A former actor best known for his role as "Gopher" on the sitcom The Love Boat. Later he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Iowa. Born in Sioux City, IA (170) Herbert Hoover (1874 - 1964) The 31st President of the United States from 1929 to 1933. Known as "The Great Humanitarian" who fed war-torn Europe during and after World War I. Born in West Branch, IA (171) Glenn Miller (1904 - 1944) Born Alton Glenn Miller. An American big band musician, arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was the best-selling recording artist from 1939 to 1943. Some of his many famous songs include "In the Mood," and "Moonlight Serenade". Born in Clarinda, IA (173) Theodore "Ted" Waitt (1963 - ) An American billionaire philanthropist who was a co-founder of Gateway, Inc. which pioneered the idea of direct marketing. Born in Sioux City, IA (976) Henry Wallace (1888 - 1965) 33rd Vice President of the United States from 1941 to 1945. He served as the Secretary of Agriculture during the depression (1933-1940) and the Secretary of Commerce from 1945 to 1946. Born in Orient, Adair County, IA (174) John Wayne (1907 - 1979) Born Marion Robert Morrison. An American film actor, director and producer. He was among the top box office draws for 3 decades. He became famous for his hero image in western and war movies. Born in Winterset, IA (176) Meredith Willson (1902 - 1984) An American composer, songwriter, flutist, conductor and playwright. Best known for writing the book, music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical The Music Man. Born in Mason City, IA (175) Grant Wood (1891 - 1942) An American painter. He is best known for his paintings depicting the rural American Midwest. He painted his most famous painting "American Gothic" in 1930. Born in Anamosa, IA (177) |
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