List of people from Fort Wayne, Indiana

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

Baseball
- Isabel Álvarez, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- Lenna Arnold, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (1946 Fort Wayne Daisies)
- Phyllis Bookout, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (1953 Fort Wayne Daisies)
- Rob Bowen, MLB (2003–2008)^[4] Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics
- Dottie Wiltse Collins, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1944–1950; Minneapolis Millerettes, Fort Wayne Daisies)
- David Doster, MLB (1996, 1999)^[4] Philadelphia Phillies
- Washington Senators
- Harold Greiner (1907–1993), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League manager (Fort Wayne Daisies) and restaurant entrepreneur
- Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves
- Louie Heilbroner, manager, MLB (1900) St. Louis Cardinals
- Brooklyn Robins, Chicago White Sox
- Kevin Kiermaier, MLB player (2013–present) Tampa Bay Rays
- Naomi Meier, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- Bruce Miller, MLB (1973–1976) San Francisco Giants
- Washington Senators
- Jarrod Parker, MLB pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks (2011) and Oakland Athletics (2012–2013)^[4]
- Josh VanMeter, MLB utility (2019–present) Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Cleveland Indians, (2011–2013)^[4]Seattle Mariners

Professional basketball
Dan Godfread, NBA (1990/91–1991/92)^[5] Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets

Henry James, NBA (1990/91–1997/98)^[5] Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks

Kyle Macy, NBA (1980/81–1986/87)^[5] Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers; sportscaster

Mason Plumlee, NBA (2013–present)^[5] Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets

Miles Plumlee, NBA (2012–present)^[5] Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies

St. Louis Bombers

Caleb Swanigan, NBA (2017–2022)^[5] Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings
College basketball
- Deshaun Thomas, player for Ohio State

Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fort Wayne native Rod Woodson

Professional football
- Scott Auer, NFL (1984–1985) Kansas City Chiefs
- Mike Augustyniak, NFL (1981–1983)^[6] New York Jets
- Jason Baker, NFL (2001–2012)^[6] San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers
- Jessie Bates III, NFL (2018–present) Cincinnati Bengals
- Bill Boedeker, NFL (1946–1950)^[6] Chicago Rockets, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers
- Johnny Bright Incident
  "
- NFL (1947–1949), Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts
- Vaughn Dunbar, NFL (1992–1995)^[6] New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tyler Eifert, NFL (2013–present) Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Eric England, NFL (1994–1996)^[6] Arizona Cardinals
- Trai Essex, NFL (2005–2012)^[6] Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII champion
- Washington Redskins
- James Hardy, NFL (2008–2011)^[6] Buffalo Bills
- Selwyn Lymon, NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins
- Austin Mack, NFL (2020–present) New York Giants
- Le'Ron McClain, NFL (2007–2013)^[6] Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers
- Bernard Pollard, NFL (2006–2014)^[6] Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans
- Chicago Cardinals
- Ben Skowronek, NFL (2021–present) Los Angeles Rams
- Jaylon Smith, NFL (2016–present) Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants
- Lamar Smith, NFL (1994–2003)^[6] Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers
- Rod Smith, NFL (2015–present)^[6] Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders
- Anthony Spencer, NFL (2007–2015)^[6] Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints
- Drue Tranquill, NFL (2019–present)^[6] Los Angeles Chargers
- Elmer Wilkens, NFL (1925)^[6] Green Bay Packers
- Pro Football Hall of Famer
Golf
- Amanda Blumenherst, U.S. Amateur champion
- Cathy Gerring, 3-time winner on LPGA Tour
- Billy Kratzert, 4-time winner on PGA Tour, sportscaster
Professional hockey
- Drake Batherson, NHL Ottawa Senators
- 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
- Chicago Fire
- Chicago Fire
- Rece Buckmaster, New York Red Bulls
Olympic swimming and diving
- Steve Bigelow, swimmer, 1988 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
Olympic track and field
- LeShundra "DeDee" Nathan, 2000 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 notables
- USA national high jump champion 1994
- Eugene E. Parker, sports agent, 45th in Sports Illustrated's 101 most influential minorities in sports^[8]
- 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)^[9]
Ross Lockridge Jr., novelist
Patricia Lockwood, writer
Michael Martone
, author
George Jean Nathan, author, drama critic, founder of American Spectator
Kansas City Star
Emmanuel Ortiz, poet, writer
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)^[10]
Andrew George Burry, philanthropist, paper box manufacturer
Overstock.com
Xirrus
Jeff Hammerbacher, founder of Cloudera^[11]
AngiesList.com
Zach Klein, co-founder of social networking site Vimeo
Winston Cup Series
race car owner (1966–1977)
Russell W. Kruse, auctioneer, founder of Kruse International
Cook Lougheed, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and Allen County Councilman
Central Soya
Ian Rolland,^[12] CEO, Chairman of the Board Lincoln National
Cosette Simon, philanthropist, politician, first female Mayor of Fort Wayne (1985)
Chuck Surack, philanthropist, founder of Sweetwater Sound
Wendy's International
Kevin Wall, Emmy Award-winning producer, environmentalist, founder of Live Earth
Childe Wills, associate of Henry Ford

Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons

Inventors and scientists

gas pump
Philo T. Farnsworth
, inventor of the television
genetic algorithms
Alfred Mellowes, inventor of the electric refrigerator

Media

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
The Office
Sharon Gabet, actress
Hilliard Gates, sportscaster
Molly Hagan, actress
Drake Hogestyn, actor
Neil LaBute, director, screenwriter, playwright
Playmate of the Month
Oscar-nominated actress, My Man Godfrey

Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actress, Cheers

Marilyn Maxwell, actress
Patrick McVey, actor
Robert Rusler, actor
Andrea Russett, actress, Internet celebrity
Chris Schenkel, sportscaster
Jan Schweiterman, actor
Carrie M. Shoaff, artist, author, potter, playwright, correspondent
Herb Shriner, comedian, game show host
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

The Voice
Joey Allen, glam metal guitarist, Warrant
Jeoffrey Benward, contemporary Christian singer, songwriter
Sonny Charles, soul singer, Checkmates, Ltd., Steve Miller Band
Daniel E. Gawthrop, contemporary classical composer
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)

U.S. Surgeon General

(1948–1956)

ADHD

Allen Steere, MD, identifier of Lyme disease

Public servants

United States Ambassador to Ethiopia
(1971–1974)
Robert E. Armstrong, Fort Wayne Mayor (1975–1979), Allen County Councilman (1990–2002)
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)
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–present)
James R. Clapper, Director of National Intelligence
(2010–2017)

United States Ambassador to Germany (2001–2005), U.S. Senator
(1989–1999, 2011–present)

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)
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)
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–present)
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)
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)