List of people from Peoria, Illinois
The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Peoria, Illinois .
For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Peoria, Illinois .
Authors and academics
Caroline Brown Bourland , college professorDorothy Cannell , mystery authorWilliam Lane Craig , Christian apologistPhilip José Farmer , science fiction and fantasy authorBetty Friedan , feminist author (The Feminine Mystique Kendall Gott , author and historianJoseph C. Hafele , physicistJohn Grier Hibben Kent Hovind , Christian creationist; convicted of 58 federal counts involving money fraudKate Klise , children's book authorDan Simmons , author (Hyperion Cantos Morris Kleiner , economist and professor
Business and engineering
Bill Ballance , radio hostMark Staff Brandl , artistAdam Tod Brown , comedian and podcasterCharles Correll , performer (Amos and Andy Mariclare Costello , actressLee Garmes , cinematographerHarry Harrison , radio host, disc jockeyTeck Holmes , actor, rapper, former Direct Effect The Real World: Hawaii Tom Irwin , actor; founding member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company Jim and Marian Jordan , radio performers (Fibber McGee and Molly Tami Lane , makeup artist; Academy Award winner for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Camryn Manheim , actressKathryn McGuire , actressJames Millhollin , character actor; born in PeoriaDavid Ogden Stiers , actor (Major Charles Emerson Winchester III on M*A*S*H Angie Ostaszewski , a Tiktoker who promotes relocating to Peoria.[ 1] Richard Pryor , comedian and actorCynthia Stone , actressSander Vanocur , television news journalistMarty Wombacher , writer, photojournalist, blogger
Music
Dan Fogelberg , musicianJerry Hadley , opera tenorBruce Johnston , member of the Beach Boys ; born in Peoria, then adopted and moved to Chicago and Los AngelesJulia H. Johnston , Christian songwriter who composed Grace Greater Than All Our Sin Tim Kelley , recipient of Key To The City of Peoria; Grammy Award-winning record producer; half of the production duo Tim & Bob Cristy Lane , singerElaine "Spanky" McFarlane , lead singer for Spanky and Our Gang ; replaced Cass Elliot in The Mamas & the Papas Craig Moore , lead singer and bassist of 1960s garage rock band Gonn ; grew up in PeoriaAbbie Parker , member of the contemporary Christian music band I Am They Gary Richrath , guitarist from REO Speedwagon ; raised in East Peoria Bob Robinson , recipient of Key To The City of Peoria; Grammy Award-winning record producer; half of the production duo Tim & Bob Bart Shatto , featured vocalist with Trans-Siberian Orchestra Fred Stobaugh , 96-year-old widower; wrote a love letter that became the viral video "Oh Sweet Lorraine"Greg X. Volz , lead singer of Christian rock band Petra Richard A. Whiting , composerMike Somerville , lead guitarist, songwriter for rock band Head East
Bands
Philanthropists and activists
Medicine
Military
Politics and law
Prescott E. Bloom , Illinois state senator[ 3] Nancy Brinker , founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure ; Chief of Protocol of the United States ; U.S. Ambassador to Hungary Jefferson R. Boulware , Illinois state representative and lawyer[ 4] Robert L. Burhans , Illinois state legislator and lawyer[ 5] John Edward Cassidy , Illinois Attorney GeneralMark Clark , Black Panther; killed in infamous Chicago police raid in 1969Joseph E. Daily , Chief Justice of Illinois Supreme CourtWilliam L. Eagleton , US diplomatSherman W. Eckley , legislator and businessman[ 6] Susan Fargo , Massachusetts state senator[ 7] Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll , controversial orator; Illinois Attorney General Garrett D. Kinney , state treasurerRaja Krishnamoorthi , Representative of Illinois's 8th congressional district Ray LaHood , Representative of Illinois's 18th congressional district ; Secretary of Transportation under President Obama James B. McCoy , Wisconsin state legislatorRobert H. Michel , longest-serving Republican leader of US House of Representatives Robert Dale Morgan , US federal judge and mayor of PeoriaNorman H. Purple , Illinois Supreme Court justice and lawyerDon Saltsman , state legislator[ 8] Aaron Schock , former US CongressmanRobert Scholes , state legislator and lawyerFred J. Schraeder , Illinois state legislator and businessman[ 9] Daniel R. Sheen , Illinois state legislator and lawyer[ 10] David Sills , former mayor of Irvine , California and son-in-law to President Ronald Reagan LeRoy Smallenberger , lawyer, judge, state chairman of Louisiana Republican Party 1960-64Hudson R. Sours , Illinois state legislatorClyde E. Stone , Chief Justice of Illinois Supreme CourtFred J. Tuerk , Illinois state legislator[ 11] Hubert W. Woodruff , Illinois state legislator and lawyer[ 12] Nikki Budzinski , Representative of Illinois's 13th congressional district
Religion
Sports
Auto racing
Baseball
Amy Irene Applegren , pitcher and infielder in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Charlie Bartson , pitcher for Chicago Pirates Harry Bay , outfielder for Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Bronchos/Naps Lynn Brenton , pitcher for Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds Ben Caffyn , outfielder for Cleveland Naps Mike Donlin , outfielder for several Major League Baseball teamsDan Dugdale , catcher for Kansas City Cowboys and Washington Senators Elizabeth Farrow , pitcher in All-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueNorwood Gibson , pitcher for Boston Americans Tom Gilles , pitcher for Toronto Blue Jays June Gilmore , outfielder in All-American Girls Professional Baseball LeagueJoe Girardi , MLB catcher and manager of New York Yankees , 3-time World Series champion, raised in East Peoria Irene Kerwin , catcher in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, born in Peoria, member of three Halls of FameEsther Lyman , catcher in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, born in PeoriaChris Mabeus , pitcher for Milwaukee Brewers Zach McAllister , pitcher for Cleveland Indians , raised in Chillicothe, Illinois Zach Monroe , pitcher for New York Yankees Darby O'Brien , outfielder for New York Metropolitans and Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Grooms ; born in PeoriaLeo Schrall , baseball head coach at Bradley University Allyn Stout , pitcher for St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , New York Giants , and Boston Braves ; born in PeoriaLee Thomas , All-Star player for six MLB teams, general manager of Philadelphia Phillies ; born in PeoriaJim Thome , first baseman for Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians and other teams; born and raised in PeoriaWalter Thornton , outfielder and pitcher for Chicago Cubs Bill Tuttle , center fielder for three MLB teams; born and raised in Cramer, 18 miles west of PeoriaPete Vonachen , owner of Peoria Chiefs minor league club; born and raised in PeoriaGeorge Whiteman , outfielder for Boston Americans , New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox ; World Series champion (1918); born in PeoriaBen Zobrist , 2nd baseman for Chicago Cubs, World Series Champion (2016), voted MVP; born in Peoria
Basketball
Acie Earl , power forward selected by Boston Celtics with 19th overall pick in 1993 NBA draft Ray Giacoletti , head coach, University of Utah , Drake , Eastern Washington , North Dakota State AJ Guyton , point guard selected by Chicago Bulls with 32nd overall pick in 2000 NBA draft Charlotte Lewis , 1976 Olympic silver medalist, ISU sports Hall of FameShaun Livingston , guard for NBA champion Golden State Warriors , 4th overall pick in 2004 NBA draft Sergio McClain , NBA D-League forward for Asheville Altitude and University of Illinois Carla McGhee , basketball forward, gold medalist at 1996 Summer OlympicsHoward Nathan , point guard for Atlanta Hawks Brian Randle , power forward for University of Illinois and Euroleague team Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. Jamar Smith , guard for Euroleague team Limoges CSP J. R. Koch , professional basketball playerDick Versace , head coach for Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers ; NBA executive; head coach for Bradley University basketball in PeoriaFrank Williams , point guard for University of Illinois , 25th overall pick in 2002 NBA draft
Ice skating
Matt Savoie , Olympic figure skater; bronze medalist (2006)
Kendrick Green , offensive guard for Illinois and current center for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Eddie Sutter , NFL Linebacker, played for Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Atlanta Falcons, Went to Richwoods Highschool.
Pool
Jack Brickhouse , broadcaster; radio-TV announcer of the Chicago Cubs Ralph Lawler , broadcaster; radio-TV announcer of the Los Angeles Clippers Jack Quinlan , broadcaster, radio announcer of the Chicago CubsLyall Smith , sports columnist, editor and PR director of the Detroit Lions , alumnus of Bradley University Charley Steiner , broadcaster, radio-TV announcer of the Los Angeles Dodgers , alumnus of Bradley UniversityRick Telander , sports columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times Sportswriters on TV
Tennis
Track
Swimming
References
^ Kodé, Anna (March 29, 2023). "How a TikToker Brought Hundreds of Transplants to a Midwestern City" . The New York Times ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved April 4, 2023 . ^ "Obituary for Thomas D. Duane Duane (Aged 75)" . The Daily Item . June 25, 1993. p. 13.^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1985-1986,' Biographical Sketch of Prescott E. Bloom, pg. 110
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1903-1904,' Biographical Sketch of Jefferson R. Boulware, pg. 365
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1963-1964,' Biographical Sketch of Robert L. Burhans, pg. 290-291
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1927-1928, Biographical Sketch of Sherman W. Eckley, pg. 246
^ 'Public Officials of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2009-2010,' William F. Welch/Steven T. James-editors, Biographical Sketch of Susan C. Fargo, pg. 52
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1995–1996,' Biographical Sketch of Donald L. Saltsman, pg. 109
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1981-1982,' Biographical Sketch of Fred J. Schraeder, pg. 162
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1905-1906,' Biographical Sketch of Daniel R. Sheen, pg. 270-271
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1988-1989,' Biographical sketch of Fred J. Tuerk, pg. 110
^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1959-1960, Biographical Sketch of Hubert W, Woodruff, pg. 174-175
