Famous Hoosiers
Believe it or not, there are many people from Indiana who became famous writers, musicians, politicians, artists, activists, inventors and sports figures. Just a few are highlighted here. For a more complete list, visit our Notable Hoosiers page.
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Madam C.J. WalkerMadam C.J. Walker started a hair care and beauty products business for African-Americans and became one of the first self-made millionaires in the country. |
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Jim DavisCreator of the Garfield comic strip, Davis grew up near Marion and attended Ball State University. |
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Ernie PyleErnie Pyle was a newspaper columnist during World War II. His columns were published in more than 400 newspapers nationwide. |
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Cole PorterBorn in Peru, Ind., Cole Porter was a legendary composer in his time. He wrote many Broadway hit songs and won a 1949 Tony Award for his musical Kiss Me, Kate. |
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Gene Stratton-PorterGene Stratton-Porter was an author who enjoyed nature and bird-watching. She is best known for her fiction books Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost. |
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Oscar RobertsonOscar Robertson led the Crispus Attucks High School basketball team to back-to-back state championship titles in 1955 and 1956. He went on to play at both the college and pro levels. |
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T.C. SteeleTheodore Clement Steele was a member of the “Hoosier Group” of American Impressionist painters. Steele settled in Brown County and used the surroundings as inspiration for his landscape paintings. |
