List of people from Eureka, California

See also: Category:People from Eureka, California

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Eureka, California.

Academics and writing

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Vincent Gaddis		Dec 28, 1913	Feb 26, 1997	Author and creator of the term "Bermuda Triangle"	Born in Eureka	[1]
Joseph T. Gregory		Jul 28, 1914	Nov 18, 2007	Paleontologist and professor	Lived and died in Eureka	[2]

Business and philanthropy

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Hans Ditlev Bendixsen		Oct 14, 1842	Feb 12, 1902	Shipbuilder; instrumental in the development of the merchant marine industry on the West Coast of the United States	Lived in Eureka	[3]
Betty Kwan Chinn (also known as 關惠群)				Philanthropist	Lives in Eureka	[4]
Charles Noski		Aug 23, 1952		Bank of America Corp Vice Chairman	Born in Eureka	[5]
Myron Spaulding		Oct 28, 1905	Sep 11, 2000	Sailor, ship builder, and concert violinist	Born in Eureka	[6]

Media and art

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Ray Jerome Baker		Dec 1, 1880	Oct 1972	Photographer	Lived in Eureka	[7]
Luke Burbank		May 8, 1976		Radio host	Born in Eureka	[8]
Emma B. Freeman		1880	1928	Photographer	Lived in Eureka	[9]
Jeff Jordan				Artist	Born in Eureka	[ citation needed ]
Seth Kinman		Sep 29, 1815	Feb 24, 1888	Performer; hunter for Fort Humboldt	Lived in Eureka	[10]
Matthew Monahan		1972		Artist	Born in Eureka	[11]
Jimmy Swinnerton		Nov 13, 1875	Sep 8, 1974	Cartoonist and landscape painter	Born in Eureka	[12]
Robert Whiting		Oct 24, 1942		Author and journalist	Grew up in Eureka	[13]

Acting

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Lloyd Bridges		Jan 15, 1913	Mar 10, 1998	Actor	Eureka High graduate, owner of historic buildings	[14]
Sarah Joy Brown		Feb 18, 1975		Actress	Born in Eureka	[15]
Steve Cochran		May 25, 1917	Jun 15, 1965	Actor	Born in Eureka	[16]
Brendan Fraser		Dec 3, 1968		Actor	Lived in Eureka as a child	[17]
Warner Jones		Dec 17, 1928	Dec 23, 2010	Actor	Lived and died in Eureka	[18]
Minerva Urecal		Sep 22, 1894	Feb 26, 1966	Actress	Born in Eureka	[19]

Music

• Sara Bareilles, musical artist
• Blackhouse (Brian Ladd), musical artist
• Trevor Dunn, musical artist
• Ernie Earnshaw, musician
• Mindy Gledhill, musical artist
• El Hefe (Aaron Abeyta), musical artist
• Mel Lyman, musician and filmmaker
• Alexander McCurdy, organist and educator
• Michael Moore, musician
• Mr. Bungle, experimental rock band formed in Eureka
• Parasite (Armin Elsaesser), musician
• Mike Patton, musical artist and lead vocalist of Faith No More
• Trey Spruance, musical artist

Military

• Robert Hale Merriman, Chief of Staff of the Abraham Lincoln Battalion, killed in action in the Spanish Civil War
• Robert M. Viale, U.S. Medal of Honor recipient
• Stephen Girard Whipple, 49er, newspaper editor, Union Army officer, and politician ^[20]

Politics and law

• Bob L. Beers, politician
• David Cobb, presidential candidate and orator
• Thomas Cottrell, politician
• James G. Crichton, politician
• James Gillett, governor of California
• Peter D. Hannaford, political adviser and author associated with Ronald W. Reagan
• Frank C. Newman, Supreme Court of California associate justice

Crime

• Wayne Adam Ford, serial killer ^[21]

Sports

Baseball

• Lafayette Henion, Major League baseball pitcher
• Dane Iorg, Major League baseball player
• Garth Iorg, Major League baseball player
• John Jaso, Major League baseball catcher and designated hitter
• Eddie Kearse, Major League baseball catcher
• Bill Kenworthy, Major League baseball player
• Roy Partee, Major League baseball catcher
• Greg Shanahan, Major League baseball pitcher
• Ned Yost, Major League baseball manager

Basketball

• Al Brightman, basketball player and coach
• Mo Charlo, professional basketball player

Bowling

• Walter Ray Williams, Jr., professional bowler

Cricket

• Dennis Silk, cricketer

Football

• Dave Harper, football player
• Rey Maualuga, professional football player
• Mike Nott, professional football player
• Maurice Purify, professional football player
• Elbie Schultz (1917–2002), collegiate All-American and NFL football player ^[22]
• John Woodcock, football player

Martial arts

• Nate Quarry, professional fighter

Rowing

• Kevin Still, Olympic bronze medalist in rowing ^[23]

Volleyball

• Heather Erickson, Paralympic volleyball player ^[24]

References

1. Bradley, Nancy. "My Life with Paranormal Icon Vincent Gaddis". Haunted America Tours. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
2. Staff. "Joseph T. Gregory, 1914–2007". University of California Museum of Paleontology.
3. Irvine, Leigh H. (1915). History of Humboldt County California. Los Angeles, California: Historic Record Company.
4. Thadeus Greenson (August 5, 2010). "Eureka's Betty Chinn receives Presidential Citizens Medal". Eureka Times-Standard. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
5. Heffes, Ellen M. (July 1, 2006). "Charles Noski". The Free Library.
6. Van Collie, Shimon. "Myron Spaulding - End of an Era", Latitude 38, October, 2000, p. 135
7. "The Ray Jerome Baker Collection Finding Aid" (PDF). MS 34. Kawai Historical Society Archives. March 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2013.
8. Sanders, Eli (December 9, 2008). "Beautiful Thing: The Best New Radio Show in Seattle Is on... KIRO?". The Stranger. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
9. Commire, Anne, ed. (2002). "Freeman, Emma B. (1880–1927)". Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Waterford, Connecticut: Yorkin Publications. ISBN   0-7876-4074-3.
10. Shinn, Chas. Howard (October 1891). "With the Humboldt Trappers". Outing. XIX (2): 94–95. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
11. Modern Art Exhibitions 2012 Matthew Monahan, Modern Art, 13 April - 12 May
12. George Stern Fine Art. James Guilford Swinnerton (1875–1974)
13. People: Robert Whiting, Japan Times, Vivienne Kenrick, November 12, 2000
14. [Famous Humboldt: From the redwoods to the limelight, Myles Cochrane/Tri-City Weekly, Eureka Times-Standard, June 28, 2011
15. Sarah Brown - Filmbug
16. Geoff Mayer (2012). Historical Dictionary of Crime Films. Scarecrow Press. pp. 89–. ISBN   978-0-8108-6769-7.
17. Diamond, Jamie (June 21, 1992). "Up and Coming: Brendan Fraser; A Man Schooled for Success". The New York Times. Retrieved January 8, 2008.
18. "Warner Jones". Legacy. Retrieved July 18, 2025– via Legacy.com.
19. Minerva Urecal (1894-1966) , What a Character, July 29, 2013
20. California. Adjutant General's Office, Records of California men in the war of the rebellion 1861 to 1867, SACRAMENTO: State Office, J. D. Young, Supt. State Printing, 1890, pp. 11, 826-831
21. Bell, Rachael. "Wayne Adam Ford: The Remorseful Serial Killer". TruTV Crime Library. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
22. "Key Club Hears Talk by Former Rams Player," Humboldt Standard, Jan. 19, 1961, pg. 3.
23. Kevin Still, SR Olympic Sports, Sports Reference LLC.
24. "Heather Erickson". Team USA. United States Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2013.