List of people from Rockford, Illinois

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

Academics, science, and engineering

• James Henry Breasted, scholar, first American teacher of Egyptology
• Griffith Buck, rose breeder
• Richard Bulliet, scholar of the Middle East
• Robert Clodius, educator, acting President of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
• James A. Davis, chair of sociology department, Harvard University, and professor, University of Chicago
• Arnold Krammer, historian, resided in Rockford from 1970 to 1974 while on the faculty of Rockford College; at Texas A&M University from 1974 to retirement in 2015
• James Lindgren, law professor and sociologist, Northwestern University
• John Henry Manny, inventor, founder of Manny Reaper Works
• Fred Merkel, broadcast engineer for Premiere Networks and iHeartMedia
• Anna Peck Sill (1816-1889), educator
• Adaline Emerson Thompson, benefactor and educational leader
• Gordon Tullock, economist and one of the founders of public choice
• Janice E. Voss, astronaut and engineer; lived in Rockford ^[1]
• Daniel Hale Williams, surgeon, first doctor to successfully complete open heart surgery; ^[2] founder of the first integrated American hospital, Provident Hospital of Cook County ^[3]

Business

• Virgil Abloh (1980–2021), fashion designer and businessman
• Robert Greenblatt, Fox, Showtime and NBC producer and executive, ^[4] and former Chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment.
• Albert Henry Loeb (1868–1924), attorney and business executive, Sears
• Pehr August Peterson (1846–1927), business executive, Sundstrand Corporation ^[5]
• John Sall, co-founder of SAS Institute
• Albert Spalding (1850–1915), co-founder of Spalding; pitcher with Rockford Forest Citys; manager of Chicago White Stockings; executive of National League of Baseball Clubs; inductee in National Baseball Hall of Fame ^[6]

Entertainment and media

Acting

• Ginger Lynn Allen, porn actress
• Jodi Benson, voice actress, Ariel in The Little Mermaid
• Barbara Hale, actress, Perry Mason
• Kathryn Layng, actress, Doogie Howser, M.D.
• Natasha Leggero, comedian, actress
• Joseph Mantello, actor, director, Wicked , Take Me Out , Assassins
• Andra Martin, actress, Up Periscope , The Thing That Couldn't Die
• Marin Mazzie, Tony Award nominated actress and singer known for, Kiss Me, Kate (1999-2001), and her other work in musical theater.
• Aidan Quinn, actor, Desperately Seeking Susan , Elementary , Legends of the Fall
• Anthony Tyler Quinn, actor, Boy Meets World ^[7]
• Betty Jane Rhodes, actress, singer, Sweater Girl , The Fleet's In
• Susan Saint James, actress, Kate & Allie , McMillan & Wife
• Linda Wallem, actress, writer, producer, Nurse Jackie
• Stephen Wallem, singer, actor, Nurse Jackie

Animation

• Bill Kopp, animator

Cinematography

• Declan Quinn, cinematographer, Leaving Las Vegas , Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love , U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
• Jay Bauman, founding member of Red Letter Media ^[8]

Comedy

Adam “Styles McGuillicuty” Schrader, writer/perfomer Slow Children at Play sketch comedy troupe.

Directing

• Bing Liu, director, Minding the Gap ^[9]

Music

• Emily Bear, pianist, composer
• Bun E. Carlos, drummer, Cheap Trick
• Chuckey Charles, film composer and music producer
• Kurt Elling, jazz vocalist, composer, lyricist
• Katherine Tanner Fisk, contralto concert singer
• Swan Hennessy, classical composer
• Joie De Vivre (band), emo band
• Sarah Kelly, singer, songwriter
• Matthew McDonough, drummer for Mudvayne
• Lou Musa, guitarist, The Verve Pipe ^{[10] [ verification needed ]}
• Ann Nesby, singer, producer, part of the urban Gospel group Sounds Of Blackness
• Rick Nielsen, lead guitarist for Cheap Trick
• Tom Petersson, bass guitarist for Cheap Trick ^[11]
• Marty Ross, musician, songwriter and performer
• Jake Runestad, composer and conductor
• Nellie Strong Stevenson, pianist, music educator, clubwoman
• Shawn Wade, bass guitarist for 12 Stones ^{[ citation needed ]}
• Ryley Walker, guitarist
• Michelle Williams, singer and member of the R&B group Destiny's Child
• Robin Zander, vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Cheap Trick

Photography

• Alvin C. Jacobs Jr., documentary photographer and image activist

Special effects

• Shaun Smith, visual effects

Television

• Paris Bennett, contestant on Season 5 of American Idol
• Kelly Killoren Bensimon model, former cast member of Real Housewives of New York City
• Heather Nauert, news anchor on Fox News; born in Rockford

Writing

• Robert Lee Maupin Beck, writer, producer, Pimp: The Story of My Life ^[12]
• Stewart Brand, writer, editor, publisher and environmentalist: The Whole Earth Catalog , The WELL, Long Now Foundation, and, Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto .
• Thomas Fleming, writer, editor, Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture
• John Ortberg, author, pastor
• Will Pfeifer, comic book writer
• Shawn Ryan, television producer, screenwriter ( The Shield )
• Barbara Santucci, artist, poet, author ^[13]
• Erica Spindler, author
• Leopold Tyrmand, novelist, editor, dissident; originally from Poland
• Kimberla Lawson Roby, New York Times bestselling author
• Cora Stuart Wheeler (1852–1897), poet, author

Politics and law

John B. Anderson

• John B. Anderson, US Representative, US presidential candidate
• John Baumgarten, Illinois House of Representatives
• Debra Bowen, Secretary of State of California, 2007–2015
• William Brown, Illinois House of Representatives
• John T. Buckbee, US Representative
• Robert R. Canfield, Illinois state legislator and lawyer
• James E. Cartwright, US Marine Corps general; Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Ho Chung, Patent attorney
• Mary Lou Cowlishaw, Illinois House of Representatives
• Barbara Giolitto, Illinois House of Representatives
• Edolo J. Giorgi, Illinois House of Representatives
• Rodney Grams, Republican United States Senator, news anchor, WIFR 23 Rockford ^[14]
• Joyce Holmberg, educator and Illinois state senator
• Alta M. Hulett, attorney, first woman admitted to the state of Illinois Bar ^[15]
• Betty Ann Keegan, Illinois State Senator
• Julia Lathrop, social and political activist, subject of biography My Friend, Julia Lathrop (1935) by Jane Addams ^[16]
• Emma Octavia Lundberg, Swedish-American child welfare advocate.
• Donald A. Manzullo, United States Representative
• Lynn Morley Martin, United States Representative, United States Secretary of Labor
• Stanley Mosk, Justice, Supreme Court of California
• David Campbell Mulford, United States Ambassador to India; Vice-Chairman International, Credit Suisse
• Paula J. Raschke-Lind, Illinois state politician
• Bertil T. Rosander, Illinois state legislator and businessman
• Benjamin R. Sheldon, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court
• Eric Sorensen, meteorologist and politician
• Steve Stadelman, Illinois state senator
• Fred E. Sterling, Illinois politician
• Thomas E. Ticen, Minnesota state legislator and lawyer

Sports

Baseball

Gene Lamont

• Ross Barnes (1850–1915), second baseman, shortstop, Boston Red Stockings ^[17]
• Aldine Calacurcio, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player, Rockford Peaches, born in Rockford
• Hal Carlson, pitcher for Chicago Cubs
• Jean Cione, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player, Rockford Peaches, born in Rockford
• Orville Jorgens, pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
• Margaret Jurgensmeier, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player, Rockford Peaches, born in Rockford
• Gene Lamont, catcher, coach, manager, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox
• Berith Melin, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player, Rockford Peaches, born in Rockford
• Rodney Myers, pitcher, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Hattie Peterson, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player, Rockford Peaches, born in Winnebago, Illinois
• Ken Rudolph, catcher, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles
• Jake Smolinski, outfielder, Texas Rangers; born in Rockford
• Harry Sullivan, pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
• Ed Swartwood, player, umpire, Pittsburgh Pirates
• Charles Swindells, catcher, St. Louis Cardinals
• Daniel E. Tipple, pitcher, New York Yankees; born in Rockford

Basketball

Lorenzo Brown

• Lorenzo Brown (born 1990), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, formerly in the NBA
• Bill Erickson, player for Illinois in 1949 Final Four
• John E. Erickson, coach, University of Wisconsin, and GM of Milwaukee Bucks
• Ernie Kent, coach, Washington State University and University of Oregon
• JP Tokoto (born 1993), basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Fred VanVleet, point guard with Houston Rockets, NBA Champion (2019), and 2017-2018 Sixth Man of the Year finalist, NBA All-Star (2021–22)

Billiards

• Dallas West, pool player; inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame (1996)

Boxing

• Kenneth Gould, boxer, 1988 United States Olympics welterweight bronze medalist
• Sammy Mandell, boxer, World Boxing Association lightweight champion

Diving

• Ronald Merriott, Olympic diver; 1984 bronze medalist

Football

• John Blake, nose guard, coach, University of Oklahoma, Dallas Cowboys
• Merwin Hodel, fullback, New York Giants
• Jerry Latin, halfback, St Louis Cardinals
• Dean Lowry, defensive end, Green Bay Packers
• Ira Matthews, halfback, Oakland Raiders
• Walt McGaw, guard, Green Bay Packers
• Carlos Polk, linebacker, Dallas Cowboys
• Ken Roskie, fullback, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions
• Brock Spack, head coach, Illinois State University
• Jerry Stalcup, linebacker, Los Angeles Rams
• Vederian Lowe, offensive line, New England Patriots
• James Robinson, halfback, Jacksonville Jaguars

Golf

• Dave Barclay, golfer, 1947 national collegiate champion
• Jeff Mitchell, pro golfer

Ice skating

• Alexe Gilles, champion figure skater
• Janet Lynn Nowicki, ice skater, 5-time national champion, 1972 Olympic bronze medalist
• Piper Gilles, Olympic figure skater

Mixed martial arts

• Corey Anderson, mixed martial artist (Bellator Fighting Championship)
• Daniel Roberts, mixed martial artist

Motor racing

• Chad Knaus, crew chief, Jimmie Johnson, seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion

Mountaineering

• Ed Viesturs, high-altitude mountaineer

Soccer

• Steve Cherundolo, defender who represented the United States national team and coach ^[18]
• Peri Marosevic, forward for the Toronto FC
• Bryan Namoff, defender and midfielder for D.C. United
• Brad Ring, midfielder for the San Jose Earthquakes (2008-2013), midfielder for the Indy Eleven (2013-2018)
• R. T. Moore, defender for the Tampa Bay Mutiny (1998-1999)
• Tim Trilk, goalkeeper for the Indy Eleven (2022–present)

Wrestling

• Stephanie Bellars, wrestling manager; married to Paul Caiafa of the Misfits

References

1. "Our View: 'Job well done' in space ends after 30 eventful years". Rockford Register Star. Rockford, Illinois. July 11, 2011. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013.
2. "Daniel Hale Williams". The Black Inventor Online Museum. Adscape International, LLC. Archived from the original on August 18, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
3. "African American Medical Pioneers: Daniel Hale Williams (1856–1931)". American Experience: Partners of the Heart. PBS Online. Archived from the original on February 16, 2003. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
4. Baum, Geraldine (April 30, 2009). "TV Exec Turns Back the Clock to Stage '9 to 5'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
5. "P.A. Peterson: Immigrant Industrialist". Northern Illinois University Libraries. December 1996. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
6. McMahon, William E. "Al Spalding". RootsWeb. Ancestry.com Inc. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
7. "Anthony Tyler Quinn". Metacritic. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
8. Turnbaugh, Kristi (August 2013). "Shooting Stars". Columbia College Chicago. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
9. Phillips, Michael (December 2018). "Chicagoan of the Year: Bing Liu, Rockford filmmaker could make a splash at the Oscars". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
10. Chiarelli, Vince (August 14, 2013). "Vince's Notes: Following the Great Talent of Rockford Native Lou Musa". Rock River Times. The Rock River Times. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
11. Rowe, Mark; Snyder, Philip (February 1, 2005). "The 12-String Bass". The 12-String Bass. www.12StringBass.net. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
12. Skillz, Mark (February 5, 2010). "The Hustle-The Story of Robert Beck aka Iceberg Slim". Hip Hop and Politics. Metro Theme. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
13. "Artist: Barbara Santucci lives in Rockford, where she works from her". Courier-News. August 29, 1999. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
14. Salisbury, Bill (October 9, 2013). "Rod Grams Dies; Minnesota Congressman, Senator, TV Anchor Was 65". Twin Cities. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
15. "United Our Shared Histories". Rockford College. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
16. Lundin, Jon W. "Rockford An Illustrated History", Windsor Publications 1989 p. 84
17. Appell, Howard W. (January 27, 2013). "Campaign Renewed to Get Livingston Native into Baseball Hall of Fame". The LCN. The Livingston County News. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
18. Simms, Kelley (June 23, 2010). "Rockford native Cherundolo 'living a dream' on Team USA". Rockford Register Star . Retrieved April 2, 2025.