List of people from Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following are people who were either born/raised or have lived for a significant period of time in Texas.
Contents |
[edit] Military/war
[edit] Founders of The Republic of Texas
- Stephen F. Austin (1793–1836), the "Father of Texas"
- Edward Burleson (1798–1851), Texas soldier, general, and statesman
- David G. Burnet (1788–1870), interim President of the Republic of Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala (1788–1836), first vice-president of the Republic of Texas and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
- Sam Houston (1793–1863), first President of Republic of Texas, later U.S. Senator from Texas and Governor of Texas
- Anson Jones (1798–1858), last President of the Republic of Texas, called the "Architect of Annexation"
- Mirabeau B. Lamar (1798–1859), second President of Republic of Texas
- Jose Antonio Navarro (1795–1871), Texas statesman, revolutionary and politician
- Thomas Jefferson Rusk (1803–1857), Secretary of War between Texas and Mexico, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas and Senator from Texas after admission to the Union.
- Edwin Waller (1800–1881) judge, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
[edit] The Texas Revolution/The Alamo
- Jim Bowie (1796–1836), frontiersman, died at the Battle of the Alamo
- Davy Crockett (1786–1836), frontiersman and U.S. Congressman, died at the Alamo
- James Fannin (c. 1804 – 1836), key figure during the Texas Revolution
- Benjamin McCulloch (1811–1862), was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, Texas Ranger, U.S. Marshal, and brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States during the American Civil War
- Henry Eustace McCulloch (1816–1895), was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, Texas Ranger, and brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States during the American Civil War
- Juan Seguin (1806–1890), Tejano hero during the Texas Revolution
- William B. Travis (1809–1836), commander of Texas forces at the Alamo
- Logan Vandeveer (1815–1855), Hero of San Jacinto
[edit] The Civil War
- John Henry Brown (1820–1895), Confederate officer, served on staffs of two generals
- Dick Dowling (1838–1867), commander at Sabine Pass and famous Houstonian
- John "Rip" Ford (1815–1897), Texas Rangers legend and commander at the Battle of Palmito Ranch
- John Bell Hood (1831–1879), commander of Hood's Texas Brigade and Confederate General
- Albert Sidney Johnston (1803–1862), Confederate General and commander of the Confederate western forces
- John B. Magruder (1807–1871), Confederate General at the Battle of Galveston
- Pleasant Tackitt (1803–1886), Confederate Officer and county official at Fort Belknap, Texas. One of the founders of Parker County, Texas.
- Charles S. West (1829–1885), Confederate officer and judge advocate general for the Trans-Mississippi Department
- Louis T. Wigfall (1816–1874), Confederate General and Senator from Texas, secured the surrender of Fort Sumter
[edit] World War I
- Benjamin Foulois, (1879–1967), was a U.S. Army Officer and a pioneering airman.
[edit] World War II
- Claire Chennault (1893–1958), commander of the "Flying Tigers"
- Ira C. Eaker (1896–1987), commander of the Eighth Air Force in World War II
- Oveta Culp Hobby (1905–1995), Colonel Women's Army Corps, first secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare
- Neel E. Kearby, fighter ace and Medal of Honor winner
- Audie Murphy (1924–1971), World War II hero, actor, Medal of Honor Recipient
- Chester Nimitz (1885–1966), commander of Allied naval forces in the Pacific during World War II
- James Earl Rudder Hero of D-Day, Commander of the United States Army's 2nd Ranger Battalion. Rudder's U.S. Army Rangers stormed the beach at Pointe du Hoc
- Harlon Block raised the flag on Mt. Suribachi at Iwo Jima
[edit] Vietnam War
- Daniel Gilpin (born 1943), Lieutenant-Colonel USMC Retired, involved in the Iran Contra scandal
[edit] Public office
- Lloyd Bentsen (1921–2006), U.S. representative and United States senator
- Henry Bonilla (born 1954), former U.S. representative from San Antonio
- Jeb Bush (born 1953), Governor of Florida, raised in Midland and Houston
- Edward Burleson (1798–1851), Texas soldier, general, and statesman
- Lauro Cavazos (born 1927), U.S. Secretary of Education, first Hispanic U.S. Cabinet officer
- Henry Cisneros (born 1947), Former Mayor of San Antonio and United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Tom C. Clark (1899–1977), United States Attorney General and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Susan Combs (born 1946), Texas comptroller
- John Connally (1917–1993), Secretary of the Navy, Governor of Texas, United States Secretary of the Treasury
- John Cornyn (born 1952), United States Senator
- David Dewhurst (born 1945), Texas lieutenant governor
- Miriam "Ma" Ferguson (1875–1961), first female governor of Texas
- Tony Garza (born 1958) current U.S. ambassador to Mexico
- Alberto Gonzales (born 1955), former United States Attorney General
- Henry B. Gonzalez (1916-2000), former U.S. representative from San Antonio
- Phil Gramm (born 1942), former United States Senator
- Jim Hogg (1851–1906), first native Texan to become Governor of Texas
- Kay Bailey Hutchison (born 1943), first woman U.S. senator from Texas
- Barbara Jordan (1936–1996), congresswoman, United States House of Representatives
- Oscar M. Laurel (1920-2001), South Texas Mexican-American politician
- Sandra Day O'Connor (born 1930), First woman Justice of the Supreme Court
- W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel (1890–1969), former governor of Texas and United States Senator
- Bill Owens (born 1950), former Governor of Colorado.
- Jerry Patterson (born 1947), current land commissioner
- Rick Perry (born 1950), current Governor of Texas
- Sam Rayburn (1882–1961), United States Congressman and Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Ann Richards (1933–2006), former governor of Texas
- Ezequiel D. Salinas (1908-2007), South Texas Mexican-American politician
- Todd Staples (born 1963), Texas agriculture commissioner
- John G. Tower (1925–1991), First Republican United States Senator from Texas since Reconstruction
- Jim Wright (born 1922), United States Congressman and Speaker of the House of Representatives
[edit] US President
- George H.W. Bush (born 1924), 41st President of the United States (born in Milton, Massachusetts)
- George W. Bush (born 1946), 43rd President of the United States, Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000 (born in New Haven, CT)
- Dwight Eisenhower (1890–1969), 34th President of the United States (born in Denison, but raised in Kansas)
- Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973), 36th President of the United States
[edit] Famous Texas women
- Norma Rhodes Gabler (1923–2007), public school textbook monitor and cofounder of Educational Research Analysts in Longview
- Edna Gladney (1886–1961), founder of "The Edna Gladney Home" for orphaned children
- Bette Nesmith Graham (1924–1980), inventor of Liquid Paper
- Ima Hogg (1882–1975), philanthropist
- Lady Bird Johnson (1912–2007), former first lady (married to President Lyndon B. Johnson)
- Laura Bush (born 1946) First Lady of the United States
- Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long (1798–1880), considered to be "the Mother of Texas"
- Cynthia Ann Parker (1826–1870), kidnapped in 1836 and raised by Comanche Indians. Mother to Quanah Parker, the last Comanche Chief
- Emily West Morgan (c. 1815 – 19th century), an indentured servant know as "The Yellow Rose of Texas" who, legend has it, helped win the Texas war of independence from Mexico
- Sandy Cheeks a fictional character from the children's TV show SpongeBob SquarePants
- Cecile Richards, daughter of Ann Richards
[edit] Entertainment
[edit] Film/theater/television
- F. Murray Abraham (born 1939), actor
- Jensen Ackles (born 1978), actor Smallville, Supernatural (TV series)
- Debbie Allen (born 1950), actress, choreographer, director, producer
- Wes Anderson (born 1969), director Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
- Michael Arden (born 1982), actor
- "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (born 1964), professional wrestler, actor
- Tex Avery (1908–1980), animator, cartoonist, director
- Joe Don Baker (born 1936), actor
- Madge Bellamy (1899–1990), actress
- Crystal Bernard (born 1961), actress and singer
- Alexis Bledel (born 1981), actress, starred in Gilmore Girls
- Dan Blocker (1928–1972), actor "Hoss Cartwright" on Bonanza
- John Boles (1895–1969), actor
- Powers Boothe (born 1949), actor
- Betty Buckley (born 1947), actress
- Brooke Burns (born 1978), actress, model
- Gary Busey (born 1944), actor
- Kate Capshaw (born 1953), actress, married to Steven Spielberg
- Cyd Charisse (born 1921), actress, dancer
- Ricardo Chavira (born 1971), actor, "Carlos Solis" on Desperate Housewives
- Thomas Haden Church (born 1961), Academy Award-nominated actor
- Dabney Coleman (born 1932), actor
- Barry Corbin (born 1940), actor
- Joan Crawford (1908–1977), actress
- Jenna Dewan (born 1980),actress,star of Step Up & Take the Lead
- Michael Dorn (born 1952), star of Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Haylie Duff (born 1985), actress
- Sandy Duncan (born 1946), actress, singer
- Shelley Duvall (born 1949), actress, played Olive Oyl in the film Popeye
- George Eads (born 1967), actor, plays Nick Stokes in the TV series CSI
- Shannon Elizabeth (born 1973), actress
- Ron Ely (born 1938), actor Tarzan
- Dale Evans (1912–2001), actress, singer-songwriter, married to Roy Rogers
- Morgan Fairchild (born 1950), actress
- Farrah Fawcett (born 1947), actress
- Horton Foote (born 1916), two-time Academy Award-winning actor
- Jamie Foxx (born 1967) Academy Award-winning actor
- Jennifer Garner (born 1972), actress, star of Alias
- Greer Garson (1904–1996), actress
- Peri Gilpin (born 1961), actress
- Summer Glau (born 1981), dancer & actress Firefly
- Selena Gomez (born 1992), actress
- Sarah Hagan (born 1984), actress
- Larry Hagman (born 1931), actor, son of actress Mary Martin
- Irma P. Hall (born 1935), actress
- Jerry Hall (born 1956), model, actress, former wife of Mick Jagger
- Angie Harmon (born 1972), actress
- Woody Harrelson (born 1961), actor
- Ethan Hawke (born 1970), actor
- Jerry Haynes (born 1927), actor, children's television host
- Katherine Helmond (born 1928), actress
- Jennifer Love Hewitt (born 1979), actress
- John Hillerman, (born 1932), actor, played the English Major domo "Higgins" on Magnum, P.I.
- Jordan Hinson (born 1991), actress
- Tobe Hooper, (born 1943), director The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Poltergeist, 'Salem's Lot
- Larry Hovis (1936–2003), actor
- Carolyn Jones (1929–1983), actress, best known as "Morticia" in The Addams Family
- Tommy Lee Jones (born 1946), actor
- Mike Judge (born 1962), producer, animator and actor
- Kris Kristofferson (born 1936), actor, singer, songwriter
- Richard Linklater (born 1961), director Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise, School of Rock, A Scanner Darkly
- Eva Longoria (born 1975), actress
- Deirdre Lovejoy (born 1962), actress, Rhonda Pearlman on The Wire
- Terrence Malick (born 1943), director Badlands, Days of Heaven
- Mary Martin (1913–1990), actress, mother of actor Larry Hagman
- Tim McCanlies (born 1963) screenwriter, director
- Matthew McConaughey (born 1969), actor
- George McFarland (1928–1993), actor played "Spanky" in the Our Gang comedies, AKA The Little Rascals
- Ben McKenzie (born 1978), actor The O.C.
- Ann Miller (1923–2004), actress, dancer
- Belita Moreno (born 1949), actress
- Glenn Morshower (born 1959), actor, Agent Aaron Pierce on 24
- Audie Murphy (1924–1971), actor, World War II hero
- Renee O'Connor (born 1971) actress
- Annette O'Toole (born 1955), dancer, actress
- Jared Padalecki (born 1982), actor Gilmore Girls, Supernatural (TV series)
- Kay Panabaker (born 1990), television actress
- Bill Paxton (born 1955), actor Titanic
- Mary Kay Place (born 1947), actress, singer, co-starred in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
- Dennis Quaid (born 1954), actor
- Randy Quaid (born 1950), actor
- Phylicia Rashad (born 1948), actress
- Debbie Reynolds (born 1932), actress, mother of Carrie Fisher
- Gene Roddenberry (1921–1991), Star Trek creator, writer, director, producer
- Michelle Rodriguez (born 1978), actress Lost
- Robert Rodriguez (born 1968), director, producer, writer, composer
- Henry Roquemore (1886–1943), actor
- Irene Ryan (1902–1973), actress "Granny" on The Beverly Hillbillies
- Ann Sheridan (1915–1967), actress
- Lori Singer (born 1957), actress, model, classical musician
- Anna Nicole Smith (1967–2007), model, actress
- Jaclyn Smith (born 1947), actress, starred in Charlie's Angels
- Kimberly Kay Smith (born 1983), model, actress
- Sissy Spacek (born 1949), actress, cousin of Rip Torn
- Brent Spiner (born 1949), actor, star of Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Nick Stahl (born 1979), actor
- Patrick Swayze (born 1952), actor
- Sharon Tate (1943–1969), actress
- Henry Thomas (born 1971), actor E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, musician
- Rip Torn (born 1931), actor, cousin of Sissy Spacek
- Tommy Tune (born 1939), Broadway director, choreographer
- King Vidor (1894–1982), film director, producer
- Isaiah Washington (born 1963), actor
- Lisa Whelchel (born 1963), actress, author
- Forest Whitaker (born 1961), actor
- JoBeth Williams (born 1948), actress
- Van Williams (born 1934), actor
- Chill Wills (1903–1978), actor, singer
- Dooley Wilson (1886–1953), actor, singer, played "Sam" in Casablanca
- Luke Wilson (born 1971), actor
- Owen Wilson (born 1968), actor
- Robin Wright Penn (born 1966), actress, married to Sean Penn
- Renée Zellweger (born 1969), actress
[edit] Comedians
- Carol Burnett (born 1933), comedian, actor
- Rodney Carrington (born 1968), comedian
- Jade Esteban Estrada (born 1975), comedian, actor
- Bill Engvall (born 1957), comedian, actor
- Kinky Friedman (born 1944), comedian, novelist, politician
- Mark Garrison (born 1979), humorist, satirist
- Bill Hicks (1961–1994), comedian
- Steve Martin (born 1945), comedian, actor
- Ron White (born 1956), comedian, actor
[edit] Music
- Dimebag Darrell Abbott (1966–2004), musician
- Vinnie Paul Abbott (born 1964), musician
- Samuel Adler (born 1928), composer, conductor, educator
- Victor Alessandro (1915–1976), conductor
- Terry Allen (born 1943), musician
- Jerry Allison (born 1939), musician
- Nancy Ames (born 1937), pop/folk singer
- Gene Autry (1907–1998), country music singer
- Erykah Badu (born 1971), R&B and hip hop singer
- Marcia Ball (born 1949), blues singer
- Frank Beard (born 1949), drummer in ZZ Top
- Leila Bela, musician, writer, actress)
- Shelly Berg (born 1955), jazz pianist and educator
- Bill Smith Combo aka Tommy & The Tom Toms DFW Rock 'n Roll group
- Cedric Bixler-Zavala (born 1974), dub, salsa and progressive rock musician
- Clint Black (born 1962), country music singer, raised in Houston
- Julien Paul Blitz (1885–1951), conductor, cellist
- Maya Bond (born 2000), singer-songwriter, drummer
- Brent Bourgeois (born 1958), rock singer, producer
- Boxcar Willie (1931–1999), country singer
- Edie Brickell (born 1966), singer – married to Paul Simon
- The 5 Browns, classical pianist siblings raised in Utah and Texas
- Rex Brown (born 1964), musician
- Anshel Brusilow (born 1928), orchestra conductor and violinist
- William Butler (born 1982), member of Arcade Fire
- Win Butler (born 1980), lead singer of Canadian indie-rock band Arcade Fire
- Ryan Cabrera (born 1982), singer/songwriter
- Tevin Campbell (born 1976), musician
- Vikki Carr (born 1941), jazz, pop, country and Latin music singer
- Chamillionaire (born 1979), rapper
- Lakrea Clark (born 1991), singer-songwriter
- Kelly Clarkson (born 1982), singer, American Idol winner
- Van Cliburn (born 1934), famous pianist (born in Louisiana, raised in Texas)
- Ornette Coleman (born 1930), jazz musician
- Albert Collins (1932–1993), blues musician
- Cowboy Troy (born 1970), rap singer-songwriter
- Christopher Cross (born 1951), singer
- Wayne Crouse (1924–2000), violist
- Mac Davis (born 1942), musician
- Lindsay Deutsch (born 1984), concert violinist
- The D.O.C. (born 1968), rapper
- Deryl Dodd (born 1964), country music singer-songwriter
- Helen Donath (born 1940), operatic soprano
- Hilary Duff (born 1987), singer
- Steve Earle (born 1955), singer-songwriter, musician
- Danny Elfman (born 1953), musician, composer
- Paul Ellison (born 1941), classical bassist and teacher
- Ralna English (born 1942), singer from The Lawrence Welk Show
- Freddy Fender (1937–2006), musician
- Carl Finch (born 1951), Polka musician, founder of Brave Combo
- Carlisle Floyd (born 1926), opera composer
- Walter Fried (1877–1925), violinist and conductor
- Kinky Friedman (born 1944), singer-songwriter, novelist, columnist, candidate for governor of Texas
- Lefty Frizzell (1928–1975), country singer
- Bobby Fuller (1942–1966), rock singer and guitarist
- Justin Furstenfeld (born 1975), rock singer and guitarist
- Kyle Gann (born 1955), composer and music critic
- Red Garland (1923–1984), jazz pianist
- Larry Gatlin (born 1948), singer-songwriter, member of The Gatlin Brothers
- Billy Gibbons (born 1950), guitarist in ZZ Top
- Don Gillis (1912–1978), composer, conductor, producer, educator
- Jimmie Dale Gilmore (born 1945), singer-songwriter
- Jack Glatzer (born 1939), concert violinist
- David Golub (1950–2000), classical pianist
- Susan Graham (born 1960), opera singer
- Jerry Gray (1915–1976), Swing-Era arranger and bandleader
- Nanci Griffith (born 1953), singer / songwriter
- Keith Grimwood (born 1951), bassist in Trout Fishing in America
- Roy Hargrove (born 1969), jazz trumpet player
- Lynn Harrell (born 1944), concert cellist raised in Texas
- Ciara Harris (born 1985), musician
- Gibby Haynes (born 1957), lead singer of the Butthole Surfers
- Roy Head (born 1941), Roy Head and The Traits
- Don Henley (born 1947), musician with rock group the Eagles
- Dusty Hill (born 1945), bass guitarist in ZZ Top
- Tish Hinojosa (born 1955), Mexican-American folk singer
- Ernst Hoffmann (c. 1899 – 1956), orchestra conductor
- Buddy Holly (1936–1959), singer-songwriter
- Steve Holy (born 1972), country singer
- Brad Houser (born 1960), rock instrumentalist
- Frank Huang (born 1978), concert violinist
- Ray Wylie Hubbard (born 1946), country singer-songwriter
- Bobbi Humphrey (born 1950), jazz flutist
- Jerry Hunt (1943–1993), avant-garde composer
- Ezra Idlet (born 1953), guitarist, Trout Fishing in America
- Blind Lemon Jefferson (1897–1929), blues musician
- Waylon Jennings (1937–2002), country singer
- Flaco Jiménez (born 1939), musician
- Nicholas Jonas (born 1992), singer, guitarist of the Jonas Brothers
- Mike Jones (born 1981), rapper
- Norah Jones (born 1979), soul/folk singer-songwriter, born in New York City but raised in Texas
- Tom Jones (born 1928), lyricist of musical theater
- Janis Joplin (1943–1970), singer
- Scott Joplin (c. 1867 – 1917), ragtime musician and composer
- Milton Katims (1909–2006), concert violist and conductor
- Robert Earl Keen (born 1957), singer-songwriter
- Freddie King (1934–1976), blues guitarist, singer
- Ralph Kirshbaum (born 1946), cellist
- Beyoncé Knowles (born 1981), R&B singer, actress
- Karl Korte (born 1928), composer, music educator
- Hans Kreissig (1856–1929), conductor, pianist, educator; created Dallas Symphony Orchestra
- Kris Kristofferson (born 1936), singer-songwriter, actor
- Philip Krumm (born 1941), composer
- Fredell Lack (born 1922), concert violinist
- Miranda Lambert (born 1983), singer/songwriter
- Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter) (1888–1949), blues musician
- Raymond Lewenthal (1923–1988), concert pianist
- Mance Lipscomb (1895–1976), Blues singer, guitarist
- Robert Lipsett (born 1947), concert violinist and master teacher
- Andrew Litton (born 1959), orchestra conductor
- John Lomax (1867–1948), musicologist, folklorist
- Trini Lopez (born 1937), Hispanic musician, singer
- Lyle Lovett (born 1957), singer-songwriter
- Ray Lynch (born 1943), classical guitarist and lutenist
- Lloyd Maines (born 1951), musician, producer
- Natalie Maines (born 1974), musician
- Will Makar (born 1989), singer, born and raised in The Woodlands/Houston.
- Barbara Mandrell (born 1948), country singer
- Chris Marion (born 1962), rock musician member of Little River Band
- David (Dave) Martin (1937–1987) [1] rock musician, original member of Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs, Bill Smith Combo, Tommy & The Tom Toms
- Eduardo Mata (1942–1995), orchestra conductor
- Johnny Mathis (born 1935), singer
- W. Francis McBeth (born 1933), composer, music educator
- Meat Loaf (born 1951), singer, actor
- Lydia Mendoza (1916-2007), Tejano singer
- Jason Miller, drummer
- Roger Miller (1936–1992), singer-songwriter
- Steve Miller (born 1943), blues/rock guitarist
- Michael Martin Murphey (born 1945), country singer-songwriter
- Emilio Navaira (born 1962), Latin pop/country musician
- Nelly (born 1978), rapper
- Willie Nelson (born 1933), country singer-songwriter
- Michael Nesmith (born 1942), singer with The Monkees
- David "Fathead" Newman (born 1933), jazz saxophonist
- Elena Nikolaidi (1909–2002), opera singer and teacher
- Pauline Oliveros (born 1932), avant-garde composer, performance artist
- Roy Orbison (1936–1988), singer-songwriter
- Buck Owens (1929–2006), country singer
- Patrice Pike, rock/soul singer-songwriter-guitarist
- Billy Preston (1946–2006), soul musician
- Ray Price (born 1926), country singer
- Charley Pride (born 1938), country singer
- Selena Quintanilla (1971–1995), singer
- Dewey Redman (1931-2006), jazz saxophonist
- J.P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson (1930–1959), singer
- LeAnn Rimes (born 1982), country singer, born in Mississippi, but grew up in Garland, Texas
- Tex Ritter (1905–1974), singer/ actor, father of actor John Ritter
- Hal Robinson (born 1952), classical string bass player
- Sharon Robinson (born 1949), concert cellist
- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (born 1975), Dub and Progressive rock musician
- Kenny Rogers (born 1938), country singer-songwriter
- A. Clyde Roller (1914–2005), conductor and music educator
- Carl St.Clair (born 1952), orchestra conductor
- Olga Samaroff (1880–1948), classical pianist and teacher
- Domingo “Sam” Samudio (born 1937), rock 'n' roll musician, bandleader, entertainer ("Sam the Sham")
- Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio (born 1960), violinist
- Simon Sargon (born 1938), classical composer, pianist, conductor
- Boz Scaggs (born 1944), singer-songwriter
- Haley Scarnato (born 1982), American Idol 6 finalist (8th place)
- Harvey Schmidt (born 1929), musical theatre composer (The Fantasticks)
- Scarface (born 1970), rapper
- Michelle Shocked (born 1962), singer-songwriter, musician
- Ashlee Simpson (born 1984), singer
- Jessica Simpson (born 1980), singer
- Lori Singer (born 1957), concert cellist (better known as actress)
- Slim Thug (born 1980), rapper
- Stephen Stills (born 1945), singer-songwriter Crosby, Stills & Nash
- George Strait (born 1952), country singer
- Deanna Summers (born 1940), songwriter, born in Mississippi
- Gene Summers (born 1939), rock 'n roll singer ("School Of Rock 'n Roll", "Big Blue Diamonds")
- Helen Sung (born 1970), jazz pianist
- Jeffrey Swann (born 1951), classical pianist
- Jack Teagarden (1905–1964), jazz trombonist and bandleader
- Alfred Teltschik (born 1918), classical pianist and teacher
- Chris Theofanidis (born 1967), classical composer
- B. J. Thomas (born 1942), country singer-songwriter
- Frank Ticheli (born 1958), classical composer
- Tommy & The Tom Toms aka Bill Smith Combo DFW Rock 'n Roll group
- Ernest Tubb (1914–1984), country singer-songwriter
- Tanya Tucker (born 1958), country singer
- Fisher Tull (1934–1994), composer and educator
- Uncle John Turner (1944–2007), blues drummer
- "Blue" Gene Tyranny (born 1945), avant-garde composer
- Alexander Uninsky (1910–1972), concert pianist and teacher
- Mary Jeanne van Appledorn (born 1927), composer and educator
- Frank Van der Stucken (1858–1929), conductor, composer; founder of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
- Vanilla Ice (born 1968), rapper
- Paul van Katwijk (1885–1974), pianist, conductor, composer, educator
- Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954–1990), musician
- Carl Venth (1860–1938), composer, conductor, violinist, music educator
- T-Bone Walker (1910–1975), blues musician
- Paul Wall (born 1980), rapper
- Cedar Walton (born 1934), jazz pianist
- Michael Weiss (born 1958), jazz composer and pianist
- Dan Welcher (born 1948), composer, music educator, bassoonist
- Barry White (1944–2003), soul singer and record producer
- Sudie L. Williams (died 1940), music educator
- Bob Wills (1905–1975), country singer with The Texas Playboys
- Johnny Winter (born 1944), blues guitarist
- Roger Wright (born 1974), classical pianist
- Trea,Rapper
- Mason Eaton,Rapper
[edit] Electronic media/communications
- Walter Cronkite (born 1916), former CBS Evening News anchor, born in Missouri raised in Texas
- Sam Donaldson (born 1934), ABC News reporter
- John Henry Faulk (1913–1990), storyteller and radio broadcaster
- Phil McGraw (born 1950), television psychologist
- Gary Perkins (1937–1991), radio broadcaster
- Bob Phillips (born 1951), creator, producer, and host of Texas Country Reporter
- Stone Phillips (born 1954), co-anchor of Dateline NBC
- Cactus Pryor (born 1923), radio personality, actor
- Dan Rather (born 1931), former CBS Evening News anchor
- Bob Schieffer (born 1937), CBS Evening News anchor
- Aaron Spelling (1923–2006), TV producer
[edit] Miss America/ Miss USA pageant winners
- Shirley Cothran (born 1955), Miss America 1975
- Jo-Carroll Dennison (born 1923), Miss America 1942
- Christy Fichtner (born c. 1963), Miss USA 1986
- Phyllis George (born 1949), Miss America 1971
- Courtney Gibbs (born 1966), Miss USA 1988
- Kandace Krueger (born c. 1977), Miss USA 2001
- Laura Martinez-Harring (born 1964), Miss USA 1985
- Gretchen Polhemus (born c. 1966), Miss USA 1989
- Michelle Royer (born c. 1966), Miss USA 1987
- Chelsi Smith (born c. 1974), Miss USA 1995 and Miss Universe 1995
- Kimberly Tomes (born c. 1956), Miss USA 1977
[edit] Athletics
- LaMarcus Aldridge (born 1985) NBA player, Chicago Bulls, power forward
- Lance Armstrong (born 1971), cyclist, seven-time Tour de France winner
- Ernie Banks (born 1931), Baseball Hall of Famer
- Josh Beckett (born 1980), baseball pitcher, MVP of the 2003 World Series
- David Boston, NFL
- Chris Bosh (born 1984) NBA player, Toronto Raptors, power forward
- Brian Bosworth, NFL
- Drew Brees, NFL
- Mark Calaway AKA "The Undertaker" (born 1965), professional wrestler
- Earl Campbell (born 1955), Pro Football Hall of Famer, Heisman Trophy winner
- Joie Chitwood (1912–1988), professional racecar driver
- Roger Clemens (born 1962), baseball pitcher, seven-time Cy Young Award winner
- Randall "Tex" Cobb (born 1950), champion boxer
- Josh Davis (born 1972), Olympic gold & silver medallist in freestyle swimming
- Ty Detmer, NFL
- Eric Dickerson, NFL
- Santana Dotson, NFL
- George Foreman (born 1949), World Heavyweight champion boxer, TV pitchman, ordained minister
- Barry Foster, NFL
- Bill Foster (1904–1978), Baseball Hall of Famer
- A. J. Foyt (born 1935), race car driver
- Zina Garrison, tennis player
- Ben Hogan (1912–1997), golf great
- Priest Holmes, NFL
- Jack Johnson (1878–1946), first black Heavyweight Champion of the World
- Michael Johnson (born 1967), Olympic gold medalist, World Record holder
- Tom Kite (born 1949), golfer
- Courtney Kupets (born 1986), World and U.S. champion gymnast, silver medalist in the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Ernie Ladd (born 1938), American college and professional football player, professional wrestler.
- John Layfield professional wrestler
- Tara Lipinski (born 1982), figure skater, Olympic gold medalist
- Taj McWilliams-Franklin (born 1970), basketball player, gold medalist
- "Dandy" Don Meredith (born 1938), Quarterback Dallas Cowboys and TV Football Commentator
- Shawn Michaels professional wrestler
- Jim Morris (born 1964), Major League Baseball player and oldest rookie
- Grady Little (born 1950), current baseball manager for the (Los Angeles Dodgers), and former Boston Red Sox manager
- Emeka Okafor basketball player, Charlotte Bobcats
- Carly Patterson Olympic Gymnast
- Mac Percival (born 1940), former National Football League placekicker for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears
- Adrian Peterson (born 1985), National Football League running back for the Minnesota Vikings
- Bum Phillips (born 1923), head coach in the National Football League
- Bill Pickett (1870–1932), cowboy and rodeo performer
- Dennis Rodman, NBA
- Kyle Rote (1928–2002), All-American running back at Southern Methodist University and 1951–1961 NFL New York Giants wide receiver
- Nolan Ryan (born 1947), Baseball Hall of Famer
- Willie Shoemaker (1931–2003), most successful jockey in history
- Sheryl Swoopes (born 1971), WNBA, Olympic gold medalist
- Jordan Tata (born 1981) Detroit Tigers relief pitcher
- Ladainian Tomlinson, NFL
- Lee Trevino (born 1939), golfer
- Dana Vollmer (born 1987), swimmer who won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Jeremy Wariner, Track & Field Olypic Gold Medalist
- Kathy Whitworth (born 1939), golfer
- Darold Williamson Olympic Gold Medalist in Track & Field
- Smokey Joe Williams (1886–1951), Baseball great
- Vince Young (born 1983) football quarterback, MVP of the 2005 and 2006 Rose Bowl
- Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1914–1956), gold medalist 1932 Olympics, golf great
Alfred Irving (b.1986) College Football Player
[edit] Business
- Red Adair (1915–2004), offshore oil field firefighter
- Mary Kay Ash (1918–2001), businesswoman and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics
- Michael Dell (born 1965), founder of Dell Inc.
- Tom Ford (born 1961), fashion designer, former chief director of Gucci
- Bryson Eric Gallegos billionaire businessman owner of 36.6 of all ownable properties in Texas
- Pattillo Higgins (1863–1955), oil pioneer and businessman, known as the "Prophet of Spindletop"
- Howard Hughes (1905–1976), Aviator, filmmaker, eccentric billionaire
- Radcliffe Killam (1910–2007), oilman, businessman, rancher, large landowner, philanthropist*John Henry Kirby (1860–1940), businessman, founder of the Kirby Petroleum Company
- William Johnson McDonald (1844–1926), banker, philanthropist
- Gerald Lyda (1923-2005), Chairman and President of general contractors Lyda Inc. and Lyda Constructors Inc., owner of La Escalera Ranch, former owner of Ladder Ranch in Sierra County, New Mexico
- Ross Perot (born 1930), entrepreneur, founder of EDS & Perot Systems, and 1992 U.S. Presidential candidate
- Tex Thornton (1913–1981), founder of Litton Industries
[edit] Art/fashion/literature/journalism
- John Ardoin (1935–2001), music critic and author
- Arthello Beck (1941–2004), artist
- John Henry Brown (1820–1895), historian, newspaper founder and editor, politician
- Sandra Cisneros (born 1954), author and poet
- Marisol Deluna (born 1967), fashion designer
- J. Frank Dobie (1888–1964), folklorist and writer about open-range days
- Burlan Eugene Ellison (born 1946), author and painter
- Linda Ellerbee (born 1944), journalist, correspondent, reporter
- Horton Foote (born 1916), author and playwright
- Mel Gabler (1915–2004), public school textbook monitor and cofounder of Educational Research Analysts of Longview
- Natasha Galkina (born 1985), model, runner-up on America's Next Top Model, cycle 8
- Allison Hedge Coke (born 1958), poet and writer
- Heloise (born 1919 [mother] and born 1951 [daughter]), syndicated columnists
- Patricia Highsmith (born 1921), writer, author of Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr. Ripley
- Robert E. Howard (1906–1936), author of the Conan the Barbarian stories, and other pulp adventure tales.
- Molly Ivins (1944–2007), political commentator, liberal journalist, and author
- Donald Judd (1928–1994), sculptor,
- Jeremy Maines (born 1986), architect
- Stanley Marsh 3 (born 1938), millionaire, artist, philanthropist
- Larry McMurtry (born 1936), Pulitzer Prize winning author of Lonesome Dove
- Katherine Anne Porter (1890–1980), journalist, essayist, novelist
- Robert Rauschenberg (born 1925), painter, sculptor, graphic artist
- Rex Reed (born 1938), movie critic
- Dorothy Scarborough (1878–1935), author, folklorist
- Liz Smith (born 1923), syndicated columnist
- Frank X. Tolbert (1912-1984), author, historian, journalist, restaurateur
- Sergio Troncoso (born 1961), author of The Last Tortilla and Other Stories, and The Nature of Truth
[edit] Science/medicine
- Chu Ching-wu, physicist
- Denton Cooley (born 1920), pioneering heart surgeon
- Michael E. DeBakey (born 1908), pioneering heart surgeon
- Robert Dennard (born 1932), computer scientist and inventor
- Bryce DeWitt, physicist, co-developed Wheeler-DeWitt equation ("wave function of the Universe")
- Leonard Eugene Dickson, mathematician
- G.B. Halsted, mathematician
- M. King Hubbert (1903–1989), geophysicist
- Jack Kilby, electrical engineer
- Oscar Monnig (1902–1999), astronomer and meteoricist
- Hermann Joseph Muller, geneticist, Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
- Ilya Prigogine, physicist and chemist, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
- John Tate, mathematician, Wolf Prize in Mathematics
- Beatrice Tinsley, astronomer
- Karen Uhlenbeck, mathematician, National Medal of Science
- Harry Vandiver, mathematician
- Steven Weinberg, Nobel Laureate in Physics
- Spencer Wells, geneticist and anthropologist
- John A. Wheeler, physicist, Wolf Prize in Physics, coined the term 'black hole'
[edit] Aviation/space exploration
- William Anders (born 1933), Apollo program astronaut
- Anousheh Ansari (born 1966 in Mashhad, Iran), first female space tourist.
- Alan Bean (born 1932), astronaut
- John E. Blaha {b. 1942), astronaut
- Kenneth Cockrell (born 1950), astronaut
- Bessie "Queen Bess" Coleman (1892–1926), first African American female aviator
- Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan (1907–1995), aviator
- John Oliver Creighton (born 1943), astronaut
- Howard Hughes (1905–1976), billionaire playboy, entrepreneur and aviation pioneer
- Richard Douglas Husband (1957–2003), commander of the Space Shuttle Columbia, killed in its crash.
- Paul Lockhart (born 1956) astronaut
- Richard Mullane (born 1945) astronaut
- John D. Olivas (born 1965) NASA astronaut of Mexican descendant, currently aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-117, launched on June 8], 2007
- Wiley Post (1898–1935), first pilot to fly solo around the world
- Edward White (1930–1967), first American astronaut to walk in space
- Jeana Yeager (born 1952), broke distance records during her (and Dick Rutan's) nonstop flight around the world in the experimental Voyager airplane in 1986
[edit] Infamous Texans
- Clyde Barrow (1909–1934), bank robber
- Sam Bass (1851–1878), train robber and western icon
- Mark David Chapman (born 1955), murdered Beatle John Lennon
- Jesse Evans (1853-?), Old West Outlaw (Possibly)
- John Wesley Hardin (1853–1895), outlaw and gun-fighter, reputed to be "the meanest man alive"
- John Hinckley, Jr. (born 1955), attempted to assassinate President Reagan
- David Koresh (1959–1993), self proclaimed messiah and head of Branch Davidian cult
- Tom O'Folliard (1858–1880) Outlaw and Billy the Kid's best friend
- Bonnie Parker (1910–1934), bank robber
- Richard Ramirez (born 1960), serial killer
- Ollie P. Roberts (1879?-1950), claimed to be Billy the Kid
- Soapy Smith (1860–1898), infamous confidence man of Round Rock, Texas and Fort Worth, Texas
- Belle Starr (1848–1889), the Wild West's "bandit queen"
- Pearl Starr (1868–1925), Belle's daughter and infamous Texas brothel owner
- Libby Thompson (1855–1953), dancehall girl, prostitute, and brothel owner better known as Squirrel-tooth Alice
- Charles "Tex" Watson (born 1945), convicted murderer, former member of the Charles Manson "Family"
[edit] See also
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