List of people from Midland, Texas

This is a list of notable people who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with the American city of Midland, Texas.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Armed forces

• Tommy Franks, retired General, United States Army
• George H. O'Brien Jr., Medal of Honor recipient

Arts

Film, television, and theater

• Michael Arden, actor
• Kathy Baker, actress
• Jeannette Charles, actress
• Ed Graczyk, playwright
• Woody Harrelson, actor
• Tommy Lee Jones, actor
• Bessie Love, actress
• Carolyn McCormick, actress
• Douglas McGrath, film writer and director
• Jackson Rathbone, actor and musician

Journalism and literature

• Raymond Benson, author of post-Ian Fleming James Bond novels
• Marilyn Buck, poet, translator, revolutionary, and political prisoner
• Tracy Daugherty, author and biographer
• John R. Erickson, author of the Hank the Cowdog book series
• Doyle Glass, historian and sculptor
• Stephen Graham Jones, writer
• Larry L. King, author ^[1]
• Cathy Luchetti, writer
• Larry D. Thomas, 2008 Texas State Poet Laureate
• Eileen Wilks, romance and urban fantasy author

Music

• Kirk Covington, drummer with Tribal Tech
• Explosions in the Sky, three of the four members of indie rock group hail from Midland (Mark Smith - guitar, synthesizer; Michael James -guitar, bass, keyboards; and Munaf Rayani – guitar, keyboards, percussion)
• Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano
• Happy-Tom (Thomas Seltzer), bassist (originally drummer) and main songwriter in the band Turbonegro

Athletes

• Cedric Benson, NFL player
• Mookie Blaylock, NBA player
• Hal Dean, NFL player
• Antwan Goodley Jr., NFL player
• Jim Hall, race car designer, owner, driver
• Bobby Hillin, NASCAR driver
• Natalie Hinds, Olympic swimmer ^[2]
• E. J. Holub, NFL player
• KC Jones, NBA player
• Wahoo McDaniel, AFL player and wrestler
• Jayson Nix, MLB player
• Laynce Nix, MLB player
• Max Muncy, MLB player
• Judy Rankin, LPGA all-time money winner
• Doug Russell, 1968 Olympic gold medalist
• Carson Smith, MLB player
• Mike Stanton, MLB player
• Mike Timlin, MLB player
• Rex Tucker, NFL player
• Ryan Tucker, NFL player
• Randy Velarde, MLB player
• Spud Webb, NBA player
• Eric Winston, NFL player
• Tyler Young Nascar driver
• James Zachery, CFL player

Business

• Frederic C. Hamilton, businessman, philanthropist
• J. Hugh Liedtke, founder of Pennzoil ^[3]
• Clarence Scharbauer (1879–1942), rancher, president of the First National Bank of Midland and the Midland Fair

Government and politics

• Ernest Angelo, Mayor of Midland, 1972–1980; Republican national committeeman, 1976–1996
• Barbara Bush, former First Lady of the United States
• Barbara Pierce Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush
• George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the United States
• George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States
• Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida
• Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former President George W. Bush
• Laura Bush, former First Lady of the United States
• Frank Kell Cahoon, Midland oilman; the only Republican in the Texas legislature, 1965–1966; former Midland City Council member
• Mike Conaway, United States Congressman
• Tom Craddick, District 82 State Representative and former Speaker of the Texas House
• Donald Evans, former US Secretary of Commerce
• Deborah Fikes, executive advisor and representative to United Nations for World Evangelical Alliance
• Kenn George, former state representative from Dallas County and unsuccessful candidate for Texas land commissioner
• David J. Porter, Republican, Texas Railroad Commission member, 2010–2016
• Carol Schwartz, former member of the D.C. city council, raised in Midland
• W. E. "Pete" Snelson, member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature from Midland; later an educational consultant in Austin
• Clayton Williams, businessman and 1990 gubernatorial candidate
• Michael L. Williams, Texas Railroad Commission member

Science and technology

• Leeon D. Davis, plane designer and builder
• Jim Hall, race car designer and builder using aerodynamics ground effect to produce winning race cars ^[4]

Other

• Bob Fu, pastor
• Jessica McClure, "Baby Jessica"
• Kathleen Zellner, attorney

References

1. "Celebrated for the Least of Reasons: Larry L. King's Letters". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
2. Brandenburg, Jakob (June 24, 2021). "West Texas Olympian Natalie Hinds reacts to making Team USA". CBS7 . Retrieved July 21, 2021.
3. "W.C. Liedtke; Co-Founder of Pennzoil". Articles.latimes.com. Associated Press. 2003-04-05. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
4. "Chaparral Gallery". Petroleum Museum. Retrieved 2016-04-09.