List of people from Fort Wayne, Indiana

Last updated September 12, 2025

The following is a list of notable natives, residents, or former residents of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Artists, designers, and architects

Bill Blass, fashion designer^[1]
Bob Englehart, editorial cartoonist
Richard "Grass" Green, cartoonist
John Hambrock, cartoonist
Eric Kuhne, architect
Dick Moores, cartoonist^[2]
Gray Morrow, comic book illustrator, art director for Spider-Man
Bruce Nauman, artist
Richard Nunez, artist^[3]
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

Golf

Amanda Blumenherst, U.S. Amateur champion
Cathy Gerring, 3-time winner on LPGA Tour
Billy Kratzert, 4-time winner on PGA Tour, sportscaster

Hockey

Drake Batherson, NHL Ottawa Senators
Gracen Hirschy, SDHL (2017–present), Linköping HC
Fred Knipscheer, NHL Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues
Dale Purinton, NHL (1999/2000–2003/04)^[7] New York Rangers

Martial arts

Jon Fitch, MMA fighter with UFC
Dave Herman, MMA fighter with UFC
Becky Levi, MMA fighter

Soccer

DaMarcus Beasley, forward and defender^[8]
Jamar Beasley, forward^[9]
Rece Buckmaster, defender and midfielder
Akil Watts, defender

Olympians

Steve Bigelow, swimmer, 1988 Summer Olympics
LeShundra "DeDee" Nathan, 2000 Summer Olympics
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

Volleyball

Angie Akers, professional beach volleyball player
Lloy Ball, Olympic gold medalist, 2008 Summer Olympics
Dr. Don Shondell, author, head coach of Ball State University Cardinals men's volleyball program (1964–1998)

Other

Angela Bradburn-Spangler, USA national high jump champion 1994
Eugene E. Parker, sports agent, 45th in Sports Illustrated 's 101 most influential minorities in sports^[10]
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)^[11]
Ross Lockridge Jr., novelist
Patricia Lockwood, writer
Michael Martone, author
George Jean Nathan, author, drama critic, founder of American Spectator
William Rockhill Nelson, founder of the Kansas City Star
Emmanuel Ortiz, poet, writer
Charlie Savage, New York Times reporter, 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner

Business leaders

Gregory W. Becker, final CEO of Silicon Valley Bank, is from Fort Wayne
Gregory W. Becker, final CEO of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)^[12]
Patrick M. Byrne, president and CEO of Overstock.com
Dirk Gates, founder and CEO of Xircom and Xirrus
Jeff Hammerbacher, founder of Cloudera ^[13]
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
Cosette Simon, philanthropist, politician, first female Mayor of Fort Wayne (1985)
Chuck Surack, philanthropist, founder of Sweetwater Sound
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 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, 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
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-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
Carrie M. Shoaff, artist, author, potter, playwright, correspondent
Herb Shriner, comedian, game show host
Nancy Snyderman, MD, journalist, 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
Jeoffrey Benward, contemporary Christian singer, songwriter
Sonny Charles, soul singer, Checkmates, Ltd., Steve Miller Band
Daniel E. Gawthrop, contemporary classical composer
Heather Headley, Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway actress and R&B singer
Edwin C. Metcalfe, saxophonist with Spike Jones
Megan Mullins, country singer
Niyoki, gospel musician
Amanda Perez, R&B singer
Petra, Grammy-winning Christian rock band
Jon Schaffer, heavy metal guitarist, songwriter, Iced Earth
Troy Shondell, rock and roll singer, songwriter
Jordan Witzigreuter, 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 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, U.S. Representative (1951–1971), United States Ambassador to Ethiopia (1971–1974)
Robert E. Armstrong, Fort Wayne Mayor (1975–1979), Allen County Councilman (1990–2002)
Paul W. Baade, 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 Herman J. Berghoff Brewing Company
Tim Berry, Indiana State Treasurer (1999–2007), Indiana State Auditor (2007–2013), Indiana Republican Party Chairman (2013–present)
Samuel Bigger, 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), U.S. Attorney for Southern Indiana (2001–2007), U.S. Representative (2013–2021)
James R. Clapper, Director of National Intelligence (2010–2017)
Daniel R. Coats, U.S. Representative (1981–1989), United States Ambassador to Germany (2001–2005), U.S. Senator (1989–1999, 2011–2017)
Walpole G. Colerick, U.S. Representative (1879–1883)
Joseph K. Edgerton, U.S. Representative (1863–1865)
Shirley Adele Field, judge, Oregon State Representative (1956–1960, 1962–1966)
Dan Flanagan, lawyer, Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1953–1954), Allen County 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 (2008–2024)
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 Lawton, 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, 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, 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, Swedenborgian, nurseryman, missionary, American folklore figure
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)
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
Juan Rodriguez Chavez, serial killer
Dean Corll, serial killer
Louis Edward Curdes, flying ace of WWII
Alexander Ewing, soldier during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, later a founding resident of Fort Wayne
Bud Mahurin, United States Air Force officer and aviator.^[14]
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, aviator
Homer Van Meter, infamous bank robber who worked with John Dillinger

References

↑ Designer Bill Blass wills $1 million gift to IU Retrieved Dec. 15, 2009.
↑ National Cartoonists Society Retrieved June 11, 2011
↑ "Richard Nunez". Art Gallery Worldwide. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Baseball Reference". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Archived copy". NBA.com . Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Football Encyclopedia of Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
↑ "Dale Purinton hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com". hockeydb.com. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
↑ "DeMarcus Beasley". Major League Soccer . Retrieved January 11, 2025.
↑ "Jamar Beasley". Major League Soccer . Retrieved January 11, 2025.
↑ (2007-02-27). More than Just a Game Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Big Ten Basketball. Retrieved on 2009-06-11.
↑ Tabitha King. "About the Author". StephenKing.com. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
↑ Cook, John (June 1, 2012). "Silicon Valley Bank's Greg Becker: Why Facebook's stock fall may be a good thing". GeekWire. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
↑ "On the Case at Mount Sinai, It's Dr. Data". The New York Times. March 8, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
↑ Childs, David (June 10, 2010). "Colonel Bud Mahurin: Pilot who shot down enemies over both Europe and the Pacific in the Second World War and was a POW in Korea". The Independent . Retrieved June 24, 2025.

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[1] Designer Bill Blass wills $1 million gift to IU Retrieved Dec. 15, 2009.

[2] National Cartoonists Society Retrieved June 11, 2011

[artgallery-3] "Richard Nunez". Art Gallery Worldwide. Retrieved December 8, 2012.

[MLB-4] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Baseball Reference". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2016.

[NBA-5] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Archived copy". NBA.com . Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[NFL-6] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Football Encyclopedia of Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2016.

[NHL-7] "Dale Purinton hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com". hockeydb.com. Retrieved September 30, 2016.

[8] "DeMarcus Beasley". Major League Soccer . Retrieved January 11, 2025.

[9] "Jamar Beasley". Major League Soccer . Retrieved January 11, 2025.

[10] (2007-02-27). More than Just a Game Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Big Ten Basketball. Retrieved on 2009-06-11.

[11] Tabitha King. "About the Author". StephenKing.com. Retrieved July 24, 2013.

[12] Cook, John (June 1, 2012). "Silicon Valley Bank's Greg Becker: Why Facebook's stock fall may be a good thing". GeekWire. Retrieved March 13, 2023.

[13] "On the Case at Mount Sinai, It's Dr. Data". The New York Times. March 8, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2016.

[independent-14] Childs, David (June 10, 2010). "Colonel Bud Mahurin: Pilot who shot down enemies over both Europe and the Pacific in the Second World War and was a POW in Korea". The Independent . Retrieved June 24, 2025.

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