The famous (and infamous) of Joplin, Missouri

[KansDem]

Notable people
Ferrell Anderson, baseball player
Thomas Hart Benton began his art career with a local newspaper
Lonny Chapman, actor, graduated from Joplin High School and Joplin Junior College (now Missouri Southern State University)
Alan Cockrell, coach, Seattle Mariner
H. Dale Jackson, Baptist minister and ethicist, lived here with his wife when they were newly married in 1949
Oliver Winfield Killam, Texas oil industrialist; former Oklahoma state legislator
Preston Lacy, member of the cast of Jackass, graduated from Joplin High School
Mickey Mantle, played with the Class C "Joplin Miners" minor league baseball team, 1950
Jamie McMurray NASCAR driver, 2003 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, 2010 Daytona 500 champion 2010 Brickyard 400 winner.
J. Eddie Peck, actor, was raised in Joplin graduating from Parkwood High School
Rod Smith, wide receiver for the NFL's Denver Broncos, graduated from Missouri Southern State University
Gabby Street, manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, adopted Joplin as his hometown
James Thrash, wide receiver for the NFL's Washington Redskins, graduated from Missouri Southern State University
Christofer Drew Ingle, musician, under the alias Never Shout Never
Harvey Bailey, Depression-era criminal, the "Dean of American Bank Robbers," spent his last years in Joplin, and died there in 1979. He is buried in Joplin
Jeff Speakman, actor, graduated from Missouri Southern State University
Bill Grigsby, sportscaster, began career broadcasting Joplin Miners baseball games

Famous people born in Joplin, Missouri
Tony Alamo, religious evangelist, convicted child sexual abuser and polygamist
John Whitby Allen, photographer and model railroading pioneer
Emily Newell Blair, was an American writer, suffragist, national Democratic Party political leader, a founder of the League of Women Voters and feminist.
Robert Cummings, actor
Langston Hughes, poet and writer
Christofer Drew Ingle Singer
Hale Irwin, golfer
Jack Jewsbury, captain of the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer
Tito Landrum, baseball player
Jamie McMurray, NASCAR driver
Charles McPherson, jazz musician
Elva Miller, singer
Darrell Porter, baseball player
Mel Purcell, tennis player
Pattiann Rogers, poet
Pauline Starke, silent film actress
William Tobin, journalist
Dennis Weaver, actor
Percy Wenrich, composer
Grant Wistrom, former American football defensive end
Billy Cook, a serial killer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joplin,_Missouri

[SheilaT]

1. Gosh. I only recognize three names on the notable list

and four names on the famous list. I guess I don't pay enough attention to sports and I don't watch enough TV.

[aquart]

2. Nice motley crew. Met Langston Hughes.

When most people get to shake the hand of famous people, they know it and say something winsomely appropriate. I hadn't a clue who he was. So I never got to say how awed I am by his brilliance, and how dog-eared his autographed book is now, the book I never opened until I read in the papers that he'd died.

[kestrel91316]

3. I only recognize 4........Thomas Hart Benton, Mantle, Langston Hughes, and Dennis Weaver.

ETA: Make that 5: Hale Irwin

[trumad]

4. Madison Trumad

My daughter was born in Joplin.

She's famous to me.... :-)

[KansDem]

5. Congratulations!

:hi:

I was impressed with the list: actors, writers, poets, artists, athletes, etc. And famous DUers' children!

Joplin (for its population) has a culture that rivals any major city!

[RebelOne]

6. I only recognize three names.

Mickey Mantle, Robert Cummings and Dennis Weaver. I'm not into sports, so don't know the others.

[yesphan]

7. Had a dollar bill

signed by Bob Cummings. I think I bought a quart of beer with it.
Dennis Weaver went to OU and ran track. He was pretty good to. Was quite a liberal as well.