List of people from Beckley, West Virginia

This is a list of people who were born in, lived in, or are closely associated with the city of Beckley, West Virginia .

Athletics

• Joe Goddard, professional baseball player
• Doug Legursky, professional football player
• Bob Pruett, American football coach
• Tamar Slay, basketball player for Sutor Basket Montegranaro, formerly with the New Jersey Nets
• Joe Stydahar, former NFL player and coach, West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame ^[1]

Arts & entertainment

• Rob Ashford, choreographer
• Mark Carman, producer, songwriter, musician
• Cora Sue Collins, actress
• Little Jimmy Dickens, singer
• Tom Maddox, author
• Scott McClanahan, writer
• Chris Sarandon, actor
• Art Simmons, musician
• Calvin Simon, musician
• Morgan Spurlock, filmmaker
• Bill Withers, musician

Politics

• Jennifer Belcher, former member of the Washington State House of Representatives, first female Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands
• Tom Carper, U.S. senator from Delaware ^[2]
• Barbara M. Clark, New York state legislator
• Brian Helton, member of West Virginia Senate, from the 9th district ^{[3] [4]}
• Todd Kirby, judge of the 14th Circuit Court of West Virginia, former member of West Virginia House of Representatives
• Nick Rahall, U.S. representative
• Hulett C. Smith, governor of West Virginia
• Joe L. Smith, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, from West Virginia's 6th district

Other

• B. Kwaku Duren, lawyer, educator, writer, editor
• George Joseph, founder of Mercury General
• Jon McBride, astronaut
• Stephen M. Pachuta, retired United States Navy admiral
• Christa Pike, convicted murderer

References

1. "West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame - Inductees" (PDF). West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame . Retrieved July 19, 2025.
2. "CARPER, Thomas Richard". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
3. Davanzo, Serena (January 14, 2025). "Brian Helton took the Oath of Office to become WV 9th District State Senator". WOAY-TV . Retrieved June 18, 2025.
4. "Brian Helton (R - Fayette, 09)". West Virginia Legislature . Retrieved June 18, 2025.