List of people from Cairo, Illinois

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The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Cairo, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Cairo, Illinois.

Contents

Academics

NameImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference
Mary J. Safford Mary Jane Safford.jpg Dec 31, 1834Dec 8, 1891Union army nurse in the US Civil War; professor of Women's Diseases at the Boston University; later became a doctor [1]
Hudson Strode Oct 31, 1892Sep 22, 1976Author and professor of creative writing at the University of Alabama Born in Cairo

Business

NameImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference
William P. Halliday Portrait of William P. Halliday, 1890s.jpg Jul 21, 1827Sep 22, 1899Banker, steamboat captain, owner of the Riverlore mansion, and businessmanLived in and started several businesses in Cairo
Charles T. Hinde Captain Charles T. Hinde.jpg Jul 12, 1832Mar 10, 1915Riverboat captain, railroad executive, founder of the Hotel del CoronadoStarted his own shipping business in Cairo

Media

NameImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference
Rex Ingram Rexingram.jpg Oct 20, 1895Sep 19, 1969Stage, film, and television actor; first African-American actor to be hired for a contract role on a soap opera ( The Brighter Day , The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Sahara)Born in Cairo
Christopher Jackson Christopher Jackson in Hamilton costume, July 2015.jpg Sep 30, 1975An award-winning actor, singer, musician, and composer. Known for his Tony Award nominated Broadway performance as George Washington in Hamilton.Graduated from Cairo High School in 1993. [2]

Military

NameImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference
Kelly Taggart LCDR Kelly E. Taggart.JPG Dec 17, 1932May 7, 2014 Rear admiral in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps); second Director of the NOAA CorpsBorn in Cairo
Winifred Warder WinifredFairfaxWarder1921.tif May 22, 1885Oct 8, 1918Member of Gas Motor Unit No. 1, Women's Overseas Hospitals; died at American military hospital in Bordeaux, France, during World War I Born in Cairo

Music

NameImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference
Ray Butts RayButts194122.jpg Sep 22, 1919Apr 20, 2003inventor of the EchoSonic, a guitar amplifier with a built-in tape echo, and the Filter'Tron pickup, the first humbucker guitar pickup (used extensively on Gretsch guitars).
Chris Clavin Aug 23, 1973Owner of Plan-It-X Records; musician in Ghost Mice [3]
Ted Joans Jul 4, 1928Apr 25, 2003Musician, poet and painterBorn in Cairo [4]
Kyle Lehning Record producer and recording executiveBorn in Cairo
George "Harmonica" Smith George Harmonica Smith.jpg Apr 22, 1924Oct 2, 1983 Blues musician (harmonica)Grew up in Cairo
Henry Townsend Henry Townsend at Burkhardt's Oyster Bar in St. Louis.jpg Oct 27, 1909Sep 24, 2006 Blues musicianGrew up in Cairo
Estelle Yancey Jan 1, 1896Apr 19, 1986 Blues vocalistBorn in Cairo [5]

Politics

NameImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference
Charles Hayes Rep. Charles Hayes.jpg Feb 17, 1918Apr 8, 1997US congressman for Illinois's 1st congressional district (1983–1993)Born in Cairo
Charles Koen

(aka Chuck Koen)

1945Civil rights activist; founded the Black Liberators [ citation needed ]
Napoleon B. Thistlewood NapoleonBThistlewood.jpg Mar 30, 1837Sep 15, 1915US congressman for Illinois's 25th congressional district (1908–1913)Two term mayor of Cairo; died in Cairo
Richard W. Townshend RWTownshend.jpg Apr 30, 1840Mar 9, 1889US congressman for Illinois's 19th congressional district (1877–1889)Lived in Cairo
Donne Trotter Donne Trotter.png Jan 30, 1950Illinois state senator for Illinois 17th district (1993–2018)Born in Cairo

Religion

NameImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference
Gracia Burnham Jan 17, 1959Protestant missionary to the Philippines; kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf Born in Cairo

Sports

NameImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference
Chet Covington Nov 6, 1910Jun 11, 1976Pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies Born in Cairo
Vern Curtis May 24, 1920Jun 24, 1992Pitcher for the Washington Senators Born and died in Cairo
Egyptian Healy Egyptian Healy.jpg Oct 27, 1866Mar 16, 1899Pitcher for seven Major League Baseball teamsBorn in Cairo
Ed Morgan EdMorganGoudeycard.jpg May 22, 1904Apr 9, 1980Infielder for the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox Born in Cairo
Tyrone Nesby Jan 31, 1976Small forward for the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards, as well as four European teamsBorn in Cairo
Caroline Smith Jul 21, 1906Nov 10, 1994Diving gold medalist at 1924 Summer Olympics Born in Cairo
Ken Trickey Aug 30, 1933Dec 4, 2012College basketball coach for Oral Roberts University Raised in Cairo; graduated from and coached at Cairo High School [6]

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References

  1. Fischer, Leroy H. (1961). "Cairo's Civil War Angel, Mary Jane Stafford". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (54).
  2. Parker, Molly (Mar 8, 2016). "FROM CAIRO TO BROADWAY Actor Christopher Jackson clings to his roots as his star rises". The Southern. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  3. Smith, Aaron Lake. "Trying to Revitalize a Dying Small Town", TIME, February 15, 2010.
  4. Kelley, Robin D. G. (May 20, 2003). "Ted Joans, 1928-2003". The Village Voice.
  5. Harris, Sheldon (1994). Blues Who's Who (rev. ed.). New York: Da Capo Press. p. 591. ISBN   0-306-80155-8.
  6. "Trickey returns 'home' to ORU for hoop revival", The Southeast Missourian , July 17, 1987.