List of people from Peoria, Illinois
Encyclopedia
The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Peoria, Illinois
.
Peoria has the three largest hospitals in its metropolitan area; many people said to be "from Peoria" in biographies may have actually been born in a Peoria hospital but grown up in Peoria County
, Tazewell County
, or Woodford County, Illinois.
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
.
Peoria has the three largest hospitals in its metropolitan area; many people said to be "from Peoria" in biographies may have actually been born in a Peoria hospital but grown up in Peoria County
Peoria County, Illinois
Peoria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 186,494, which is an increase of 1.7% from 183,433 in 2000. Its county seat is Peoria....
, Tazewell County
Tazewell County, Illinois
Tazewell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 135,394, which is an increase of 5.4% from 128,485 in 2000. Its county seat and largest city is Pekin. The majority of the population live in the suburbs and bedroom communities...
, or Woodford County, Illinois.
Authors and academics
- William Lane CraigWilliam Lane CraigWilliam Lane Craig is an American analytic philosopher, philosophical theologian, and Christian apologist. He is known for his work on the philosophy of time and the philosophy of religion, specifically the existence of God and the defense of Christian theism...
— Christian apologist. - Philip José FarmerPhilip José FarmerPhilip José Farmer was an American author, principally known for his award-winning science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories....
— science fiction and fantasy author. - Betty FriedanBetty FriedanBetty Friedan was an American writer, activist, and feminist.A leading figure in the Women's Movement in the United States, her 1963 book The Feminine Mystique is often credited with sparking the "second wave" of American feminism in the twentieth century...
— feminist author, The Feminine MystiqueThe Feminine MystiqueThe Feminine Mystique, published February 19, 1963, by W.W. Norton and Co., is a nonfiction book written by Betty Friedan. It is widely credited with sparking the beginning of second-wave feminism in the United States....
. - Kent HovindKent HovindKent E. Hovind is an American young earth creationist. Hovind speaks on creation science and aims to convince listeners to reject theories of evolution, geophysics, and cosmology in favor of the Genesis creation narrative as found in the Bible...
— Christian creationist, convicted of 58 federal counts involving money fraud. - Kate KliseKate KliseCatherine "Kate" Klise is an American author. She has authored several humorous children's literature titles in collaboration with her sister, illustrator M. Sarah Klise. Their Regarding series is presented in a scrapbook style format, with letters, journal entries, and related ephemera telling...
— children's book author. - Dan SimmonsDan SimmonsDan Simmons is an American author most widely known for his Hugo Award-winning science fiction series, known as the Hyperion Cantos, and for his Locus-winning Ilium/Olympos cycle....
— author of the Hyperion CantosHyperion CantosThe Hyperion Cantos is a series of science fiction novels by Dan Simmons. Set in the far future, and focusing more on plot and story development than technical detail, it falls into the soft science fiction category...
series and other novels. - Frank WeadFrank WeadFrank Wilbur "Spig" Wead was a U.S. Navy aviator turned screenwriter who helped promote United States Naval aviation from its inception through World War II.-Military service:A 1916 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Wead began to promote Naval Aviation after World War...
— U.S. Navy aviator turned screenwriter.
Business and engineering
- Bruce BorlandBruce BorlandBruce Borland was a golf course designer who worked for Jack Nicklaus. He died in the 1999 South Dakota Learjet crash on October 25, 1999 while traveling with golf Hall of Famer Payne Stewart.-Biography:...
— golf course designer for Jack Nicklaus, died in 1999 plane crash with Hall of Famer Payne StewartPayne StewartWilliam Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42....
. - John ColemanJohn Coleman (meteorologist)John Coleman is an American TV weatherman noted, along with entrepreneur Frank Batten, for founding The Weather Channel. He presently works as an on-camera weather caster at KUSI-TV in San Diego but is no longer affiliated with The Weather Channel....
— meteorologist and weatherman, founder of The Weather Channel. - Susan G. Komen — namesake of Susan G. Komen for the CureSusan G. Komen for the CureSusan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, often referred to as simply Komen, is the most widely known, largest and best-funded breast cancer organization in the US....
. - George D. SaxGeorge D. SaxGeorge D. Sax was the chairman of the board of Exchange International Corporation and Chicago's former Exchange National Bank...
— entrepreneur, credited with the innovation of drive-through banking.
Media and arts
- Bill BallanceBill BallanceWillis "Bill" Ballance , was an American radio talk show host.Ballance studied journalism at the University of Illinois before serving in the United States Marines. He had radio station stints in Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and San Diego. Ballance was the evening personality late...
— radio host. - Mark Staff BrandlMark Staff BrandlMark Staff Brandl is an American-born artist, art historian and art critic now living primarily in Switzerland.-History:...
— artist. - Jack BrickhouseJack BrickhouseJohn Beasley "Jack" Brickhouse was an American sportscaster. Known primarily for his play-by-play coverage of Chicago Cubs games on WGN-TV from 1948 to 1981, he received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983...
— announcer, voice of the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. - Charles CorrellCharles CorrellCharles James Correll was an American radio comedian, best known for his work on the Amos 'n' Andy show with Freeman S. Gosden. Correll voiced the central character of Andy Brown, along with various supporting characters. Before teaming up with Gosden, Correll worked as a stenographer and a...
— performer, star of Amos and Andy on radio. - Dan FogelbergDan FogelbergDaniel Grayling "Dan" Fogelberg was an American singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, whose music was inspired by sources as diverse as folk, pop, rock, classical, jazz, and bluegrass music...
— musician. - Jerry HadleyJerry HadleyJerry Hadley was an American operatic tenor. He received three Grammy awards for his vocal performances in the recordings of Jenůfa , Susannah , and Candide...
— opera tenor. - Harry HarrisonHarry Harrison (radio)Harry Harrison has been a popular American radio personality for over 50 years. Harrison is the only DJ to be a WMCA “Good Guy,” a WABC “All-American,” and on the WCBS-FM line-up when the New York station flipped to the “Jack” format in June, 2005.-WBEZ, Chicago, Illinois—1953:At age 23, Harrison...
— radio host: "Morning Mayor of Peoria" on WPEOWPEOWPEO is a daytime-only AM radio station licensed for Peoria, Illinois. One of the oldest stations in Peoria, it was once a top 40 radio station before switching to Christian radio...
; disc jockey on several New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
radio stations - Tecumseh "Teck" Holmes III — actor, rapper, former Direct EffectDirect effectDirect effect is the principle of European Union law according to which provisions of Union law may, if appropriately framed, confer rights and impose obligations on individuals which the courts of European Union member states are bound to recognise and enforce...
host, The Real World: HawaiiThe Real World: HawaiiThe Real World: Hawaii is the eighth season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. First airing in 1999, the...
cast member - Tom IrwinTom Irwin (actor)Tom Irwin is an American film, television, and stage actor.-Biography:Born in Peoria, Illinois, Irwin graduated from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. He was a founding member of the Steppenwolf Theatre after college, along with Laurie Metcalf, John Malkovich, Joan Allen, and Gary...
— actor, founding member of the Steppenwolf Theatre CompanySteppenwolf Theatre CompanySteppenwolf Theatre Company is a Tony Award-winning Chicago theatre company founded in 1974 by Gary Sinise, Terry Kinney and Jeff Perry in the basement of a church in Highland Park, Illinois. It has since relocated to Chicago's Halsted Street, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Its name comes from...
. - Bruce JohnstonBruce JohnstonBruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
— member of the Beach BoysThe Beach BoysThe Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
; born in Peoria, then adopted and moved to Chicago and Los Angeles. - Jim and Marian JordanFibber McGee and MollyFibber McGee and Molly was an American radio comedy series which maintained its popularity over decades. It premiered on NBC in 1935 and continued until its demise in 1959, long after radio had ceased to be the dominant form of entertainment in American popular culture.-Husband and wife in real...
— radio stars of Fibber McGee and MollyFibber McGee and MollyFibber McGee and Molly was an American radio comedy series which maintained its popularity over decades. It premiered on NBC in 1935 and continued until its demise in 1959, long after radio had ceased to be the dominant form of entertainment in American popular culture.-Husband and wife in real...
. - Tim KelleyTim & BobTim & Bob aka Funktwons, are Grammy Award-winning songwriting musicians and a Hip-hop/R&B pop production duo. Tim & Bob have discovered and or worked on some of the biggest artists in the music industry and has helped develop the Atlanta music scene as it is widely known for today...
— Grammy Award winning record producer: half of the production duo Tim & BobTim & BobTim & Bob aka Funktwons, are Grammy Award-winning songwriting musicians and a Hip-hop/R&B pop production duo. Tim & Bob have discovered and or worked on some of the biggest artists in the music industry and has helped develop the Atlanta music scene as it is widely known for today...
. - Sam KinisonSam KinisonSamuel Burl "Sam" Kinison was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Kinison was known for his intense, harsh and politically incorrect genre humor...
— comedian. - Tami LaneTami LaneTami Lane is an American prosthetic makeup artist. She was educated in Peoria, Illinois, where she attended Woodruff High School and graduated from Bradley University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Art and emphasis in Graphic Design. She was also a member of Alpha Chi Omega-Zeta...
— Academy Award for MakeupAcademy Award for MakeupThe Academy Award for Best Makeup is the Oscar given to the best achievement in makeup for film. Usually, only three films are nominated each year rather than five as in most categories...
winner for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a 2005 epic fantasy adventure film directed by Andrew Adamson and based on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first published and second chronological novel in C. S. Lewis's children's epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of...
. - Ralph LawlerRalph LawlerRalph Lawler is the television and radio voice of the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers. Going back to the franchise's six-year stint in San Diego , Lawler has broadcast virtually every Clippers game, whether it be radio and/or television...
— legendary voice of the Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles ClippersThe Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. - Camryn ManheimCamryn ManheimCamryn Manheim is an American actress known primarily for her roles as attorney Ellenor Frutt on ABC's The Practice and Delia Banks on CBS's Ghost Whisperer and as Elvis's mother, Gladys Presley in the 2005 mini-series Elvis....
— actress. - Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane — lead singer for Spanky and Our GangSpanky and Our GangSpanky and Our Gang was an American 1960s folk-rock band led by Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane. The band derives its name from Hal Roach's popular Our Gang comedies of the 1930s...
; replaced Cass Elliott in The Mamas & the PapasThe Mamas & the PapasThe Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
. - James MillhollinJames MillhollinJames A. Millhollin was an American character actor known for his portrayal of nervous, excited, and befuddled men with pop eyes and peculiar mannerisms, usually occupying such positions as hotel clerks, government bureaucrats, military officers, or other authority figures. He portrayed Major...
— character actor, born in Peoria - Craig MooreGONNGONN is a 1960s American garage rock band from Keokuk, Iowa whose signature song is "Blackout of Gretely". Although releasing only two singles in 1966-67, the band also recorded numerous other tracks that have been collected on three retrospective albums. Following a 1989 solo album released by...
— lead singer and bassist of 1960s garage rock band GonnGONNGONN is a 1960s American garage rock band from Keokuk, Iowa whose signature song is "Blackout of Gretely". Although releasing only two singles in 1966-67, the band also recorded numerous other tracks that have been collected on three retrospective albums. Following a 1989 solo album released by...
; grew up in Peoria - Richard PryorRichard PryorRichard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets...
— comedian and actor - Gary RichrathGary RichrathGary Richrath is an American guitarist, best known as a member of the band REO Speedwagon from 1970 until 1989...
— guitarist from REO SpeedwagonREO SpeedwagonREO Speedwagon is an American rock band. Formed in 1967, the band grew in popularity during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. Hi Infidelity is the group's most commercially successful album, selling over ten million copies and charting four Top 40 hits in the US... - Bob RobinsonTim & BobTim & Bob aka Funktwons, are Grammy Award-winning songwriting musicians and a Hip-hop/R&B pop production duo. Tim & Bob have discovered and or worked on some of the biggest artists in the music industry and has helped develop the Atlanta music scene as it is widely known for today...
— Grammy Award winning record producer, half of the famous duo Tim & BobTim & BobTim & Bob aka Funktwons, are Grammy Award-winning songwriting musicians and a Hip-hop/R&B pop production duo. Tim & Bob have discovered and or worked on some of the biggest artists in the music industry and has helped develop the Atlanta music scene as it is widely known for today...
. - Bart ShattoBart ShattoBart Shatto is a Broadway theatre actor/singer who has appeared in the Broadway musicals Les Misérables, The Civil War and Dracula, the Musical as well as the national tour of Cats. He is a veteran member of the rock band The Trans-Siberian Orchestra.Shatto is from Peoria, Illinois, but lived in...
— featured vocalist with Trans-Siberian OrchestraTrans-Siberian OrchestraTrans-Siberian Orchestra is an American progressive metal band founded in 1993 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to form the core of the creative team. Since then, TSO sold nearly 8...
. - David Ogden StiersDavid Ogden StiersDavid Ogden Stiers is an American actor, director, vocal actor, and musician, noted for his roles in Disney movies, as well as his performances in the television series M*A*S*H as Major Charles Emerson Winchester III and the science fiction drama The Dead Zone as Reverend Gene Purdy...
— actor, Major Charles Emerson Winchester III on M*A*S*H. - Cynthia StoneCynthia StoneCynthia Stone was an American television actress.-Biography:Born in Peoria, Illinois, Stone had a brief career in the 1950s and 1960s as a television actress. Though she mainly appeared in guest spots in various television series, she and then-husband Jack Lemmon starred together in the short...
— actress. - Rick TelanderRick TelanderRick Telander is the senior sports columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. Hired in 1995 from Sports Illustrated where he was a Senior Writer, Telander's presence at the newspaper was expected to counter the stable of sports columnists the rival Chicago Tribune had.Telander is a native of Peoria,...
— sports columnist for the Chicago Sun-TimesChicago Sun-TimesThe Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
, panelist on Sportswriters on TVSportswriters on TVThe Sports Writers on TV was a sports talk show produced by John E. Roach for the Chicago-based SportsChannel and syndicated to most of the other ones across the SportsChannel America network...
. - Greg X. VolzGreg X. VolzGregory Xavier Volz is a Christian singer. He is most noted for being the former lead singer of Christian rock band Petra from 1979 to 1985 and is currently the lead vocalist of the reunited lineup.-Biography:...
— lead singer of Christian rock band PetraPetra (band)Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
. - Richard A. WhitingRichard A. WhitingRichard Armstrong Whiting was a composer of popular songs including the standards, "Hooray for Hollywood", "Ain't We Got Fun?" & "On the Good Ship Lollipop"....
— composer.
Bands
- The ForecastThe ForecastThe Forecast is an American Western Indie Rock band from Peoria, Illinois. The Forecast's sound is most recognizable for containing strong two and three part harmonies performed by combinations of their multiple vocalists, as heard in tracks such as "Red as the Moon" and "One Hundred Percent". The...
— indie rock band. - MinskMinsk (band)Minsk is a doom metal/post-metal band from Peoria, Illinois founded in 2002. They are signed to Relapse Records. Self described as "psychedelic metal", their songs tend to start out as slow and simple, and become heavy and complex towards the end...
— metal band. - MudvayneMudvayneMudvayne is an American heavy metal band. Their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate visual appearance, which has included face and body paint, masks and uniforms...
— metal band. - Planes Mistaken for StarsPlanes Mistaken for StarsPlanes Mistaken for Stars was a emocore band formed in Peoria, Illinois in 1997. They released music on Deep Elm Records, Dim Mak Records, No Idea Records and Abacus Recordings.-History:...
— punk and hardcore band.
Military
- General Wayne A. DowningWayne A. DowningWayne Allan Downing was a retired four-star United States Army general born in Peoria, Illinois. He graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962 and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Tulane University.-Military career:*Sep 62 - Feb...
— U.S. Special Operations Commander, U.S. Army Special Operations Commander Joint Special Operations Commander, 75th Ranger Regiment. - General John M. ShalikashviliJohn M. ShalikashviliJohn Malchase David Shalikashvili was a United States Army General who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 to 1997. He was born in Warsaw, Poland, to Georgian refugee parents....
— former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
. - Frank WeadFrank WeadFrank Wilbur "Spig" Wead was a U.S. Navy aviator turned screenwriter who helped promote United States Naval aviation from its inception through World War II.-Military service:A 1916 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Wead began to promote Naval Aviation after World War...
— a U.S. Navy aviator turned screenwriter who helped promote United States Naval aviation from its inception through World War II.[
Politics
- Nancy BrinkerNancy BrinkerNancy Goodman Brinker is the founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization named after her only sister, Susan, who died from breast cancer in 1980 at age 36. Brinker was also United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2001 to 2003 and Chief of Protocol of the United States from...
— former Chief of Protocol of the United StatesChief of Protocol of the United StatesThe Chief of Protocol is an officer of the United States Department of State responsible for advising the President of the United States, the vice president, and the secretary of state on matters of national and international diplomatic protocol...
, former United States Ambassador to HungaryUnited States Ambassador to HungaryThis is a list of ambassadors of the United States to HungaryUntil 1867 Hungary had been part of the Austrian Empire, when the empire became Austria-Hungary. Hungary had no separate diplomatic relations with other nations...
, founder of Susan G. Komen for the CureSusan G. Komen for the CureSusan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, often referred to as simply Komen, is the most widely known, largest and best-funded breast cancer organization in the US....
. - Mark ClarkMark Clark (Black Panther)Mark Clark was a member of the Black Panther Party. He was killed with Fred Hampton in a Chicago police raid on December 4, 1969.-Youth:...
— Black Panther, killed in an infamous Chicago police raid (12/4/1969). - William L. EagletonWilliam L. EagletonWilliam Lester Eagleton, Jr. was a United States Foreign Service Officer and diplomat.-Early life:Born in Peoria, Illinois, Eagleton served in the United States Navy from 1944–46, and graduated from Yale University in 1948. He joined the U.S...
— United States diplomat - Colonel Robert G. IngersollRobert G. IngersollRobert Green "Bob" Ingersoll was a Civil War veteran, American political leader, and orator during the Golden Age of Freethought, noted for his broad range of culture and his defense of agnosticism. He was nicknamed "The Great Agnostic."-Life and career:Robert Ingersoll was born in Dresden, New York...
— popular and controversial orator and former Illinois Attorney GeneralIllinois Attorney GeneralThe Illinois Attorney General is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by election through universal suffrage...
. - Raja KrishnamoorthiRaja KrishnamoorthiS. Raja Krishnamoorthi is currently a Democratic candidate for United States House of Representatives in Illinois' 8th congressional district....
— Democratic candidate for Illinois Comptroller (2010). - Ray LaHoodRay LaHoodRaymond H. "Ray" LaHood is a Republican politician from Illinois who is currently the United States Secretary of Transportation, having served since 2009. Previously, he represented the Illinois's 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms .-Early life and...
— former congressman from Illinois's 18th congressional district, current Secretary of Transportation under President Obama. - Robert H. MichelRobert H. MichelRobert Henry "Bob" Michel is an American Republican Party politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives for 38 years. He represented central Illinois' 18th congressional district, and was the GOP leader in Congress, serving as Minority Leader for 14 years during an era...
— longest serving Republican leader of the House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. - Robert Dale MorganRobert Dale MorganRobert Dale Morgan was mayor of Peoria, Illinois in the 1950s and a United States federal judge in Illinois from 1967 to 2002....
a United States federal judge and mayor of PeoriaPeoria-United States:* Peoria, Arizona** Peoria Unified School District**Peoria Sports Complex**Peoria High School* Peoria, Illinois** Peoria County, Illinois** Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria* Peoria, Franklin County, Indiana* Peoria, Miami County, Indiana...
. - Aaron SchockAaron SchockAaron Schock is the United States Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Peoria and includes part of Springfield. At the age of , Schock is currently the youngest U.S. representative and the first member of the U.S. Congress born...
— current congressman for Illinois's 18th congressional district.
Religion
- Archbishop Fulton J. SheenFulton J. SheenServant of God Fulton John Sheen, born Peter John Sheen was an American archbishop of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio...
— Bishop of RochesterRoman Catholic Diocese of RochesterThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester is a diocese of the Catholic Church in the Greater Rochester region of New York State in the United States. The region that the Diocese comprises extends from its northern border on the south shore of Lake Ontario through the Finger Lakes region to its...
and host of The Catholic Hour on radio and Life is Worth LivingLife is Worth LivingLife is Worth Living is an inspirational American television series which ran on the DuMont Television Network from February 12, 1952 to April 26, 1955, then on ABC until 1957.-Broadcast history:Hosted by Bishop Fulton J...
on television, cause for canonization opened in 2002.
Sports
- Amy Irene Applegren — All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (1944-1953)
- Darryl AshmoreDarryl AshmoreDarryl Allan Ashmore is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins. He played college football at Northwestern University. He replaced Hall Of Famer Jackie Slater in 1995 for two years...
— retired football player; cousin of Carla McGheeCarla McGheeCarla McGhee was an American basketball player most notable for her career at the University of Tennessee. She was injured in a motor vehicle accident in 1987 and was in a coma for 47 hours, suffering brain injuries and breaking nearly every bone in her face. She was told she’d never play again....
. - Harry BayHarry BayHarry Elbert "Deerfoot" Bay was a professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1901 to 1908...
— Major League Baseball player (1901-1908). - Acie EarlAcie EarlAcie Boyd Earl is a retired American professional basketball player, who appeared in four NBA seasons, as a 6'10" center.-High school/college:...
— NBA player for the Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsThe Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
, and the Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
. - Joe GirardiJoe GirardiJoseph Elliott Girardi is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the New York Yankees. During a 15-year playing career, he played from 1989–2003 for the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals...
— catcher, manager of the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, raised in East PeoriaEast Peoria, IllinoisEast Peoria is a city in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,402 at the 2010 census. East Peoria is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area, located across the Illinois River from downtown Peoria. It is home to many Caterpillar Inc. facilities...
. - Earl GrantEarl GrantEarl Grant was an American easy listening pianist, Hammond organist, and vocalist popular in the 1950s and 1960s.-Career:...
— Running Back with the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
(1979-1980). - Dick JauronDick JauronRichard Manuel Jauron is the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was the head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2006 until November 2009. Jauron has previously held head coaching positions with the Chicago Bears and, on an interim basis, with the...
— former head coach for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Shaun LivingstonShaun LivingstonShaun Patrick Livingston is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks.-Early years:Livingston was born in Peoria, Illinois. He led Concordia Lutheran Grade School, coached by Mr. Tom Ruppert, to LSA state titles in 1999 and 2000...
— current NBA player for the Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
. - Chris MabeusChris MabeusChristopher Eugene Mabeus is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during one season at the major league level for the Milwaukee Brewers....
— former MLB player for the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. - Carla McGheeCarla McGheeCarla McGhee was an American basketball player most notable for her career at the University of Tennessee. She was injured in a motor vehicle accident in 1987 and was in a coma for 47 hours, suffering brain injuries and breaking nearly every bone in her face. She was told she’d never play again....
— basketball forward, gold-medalist at 1996 Summer Olympics. - D. A. PointsD. A. PointsDarren Andrew "D.A." Points is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.Points was born in Pekin, Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois and was a third team All-American member of the golf team. Points won the Illinois State Amateur three times; he lost to...
— PGA tour golfer. - Jeff SalzensteinJeff SalzensteinJeff "Salzy" Salzenstein is an American former tour professional left-handed tennis player.Salzenstein's highest ranking was World No. 91 in June 2004...
— tennis player. - Matt Savoie — U.S. bronze medalist figure skater (2006).
- Leo SchrallLeo SchrallLeo Schrall was an infielder and manager in minor league baseball and a head coach in college baseball....
— baseball head coach at Bradley UniversityBradley UniversityBradley University, founded in 1897, is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. It is a small institution with an enrollment of approximately 6,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students and a full-time faculty of approximately 350....
during 24 seasons. - Jim ThomeJim ThomeJames Howard "Jim" Thome is a Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is the eighth player to hit 600 home runs in the major leagues. He is widely considered a future Hall of Famer.-Cleveland Indians :...
— baseball player for the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. - Dick VersaceDick VersaceDick Versace is a former basketball coach and National Basketball Association executive. He's also the first person of Puerto Rican descent to have coached an NBA team.-Early years:...
— former Bradley UniversityBradley UniversityBradley University, founded in 1897, is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. It is a small institution with an enrollment of approximately 6,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students and a full-time faculty of approximately 350....
basketball coach, first NBA coach of Puerto RicanPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
descent. - Sherrick McManisSherrick McManisSherrick Terravis McManis is an American football cornerback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Texans in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
— NFL player for the Houston Texans