There are many levels of “fame”.
There is Harrison Ford / Han Solo / Indiana Jones famous (who isn’t from Wichita, but often frequents it) that pretty much anyone can recognize. There are other levels of fame where you recognize a face or a name from something. There is also famous in niche communities or interests.
Wichita has its fair share of the whole spectrum. I won’t get to everyone, but hopefully get the household names.
According to this article (based off google search volume), Wichitans own 4 of the top 10 most famous people in Kansas.
Who do you think cracks the top 10 in Kansas?
Joanna Gaines
That’s right, the Queen of Magnolia was in fact born in Wichita, Kansas, attended elementary school in Rose Hill and lived here until she was 12.
Her family then moved to Austin, Texas before eventually landing in Waco, Texas her junior year of high school (where her and ole Chip met and built their empire).
If you have no idea who or what i’m talking about, Joanna and Chip Gaines had a very famous HGTV show called Fixer Upper and now an empire called Magnolia down in Waco, Texas.
(p.s. if anyone has the hook-up, forward this to Joanna. I’d love to have her on the Wichita Life Podcast!)
Kirstie Alley
Depending on if you’re a a Boomer, Gen X, Millennial, or Gen Z, Kirstie Alley might just be at the top of your most famous Wichitans list or not on your list at all.
Kirstie Alley is best known for role on Cheers. She has starred in many movies and shows, but you might also know her from her time as the spokesperson for Jenny Craig (weight loss company).
Kirstie was born and raised in Wichita and graduated a Golden Buffalo from Wichita Southeast High School.
Barry Sanders
I’m kind of surprised Barry Sanders isn’t first on this list. Sanders is the greatest running back of all time.
Before starring for the Oklahoma State Cowboys (where he had arguably the greatest single season with video game numbers – 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in 11 games and won the Heisman) or the Detroit Lions (where he led the league in rushing 4 times among many other accolades, Barry played ball at Wichita North. He was also born in Wichita.
Fun fact: he used to play biddy basketball, who else remembers those days?
Jeff Probst
Of the top 4 from Wichita, this is not a name I initially recognized.
I also haven’t been super into reality shows in a while and never was really a Survivor Super Fan. BUT if you are a fan of voting people off islands, you likely know who Jeff Probst is. He has been the host of Survivor since it kicked off in the year 2000.
Probst was born at Wesley, but moved to Washington halfway through high school.
The rest of the top 10 famous people from Kansas (not Wichita) included the likes of:
- Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Janelle Monae, Eric Stonestreet, Rob Riggle, and Martina McBride. Many of which are from the KC area – there must be something in the water to produce all those comedians.
Now back to famous people from Wichita, you’ll likely recognize some of these faces or names, or perhaps some of their work. It is really cool to dive in and see who else is from Wichita or at the least has a connection to Wichita.
Other famous people from Wichita:
Hattie McDaniel
This was a little before my time, but Hattie McDaniel is a name that every Wichitan should know.
McDaniel played Mammy in Gone with the Wind where she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She was the first African American to win an Oscar and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
She was born in Wichita in 1893.
Don Johnson
Donnie Wayne Johnson was not born in Wichita (born in Missouri), but was relocated here when he was 6 years old.
He graduated from Wichita South High school and was very involved in the theatre program there including the lead role in West Side Story.
Don Johnson is best known for his role in the original Miami Vice TV show that ran from 1984 to 1990.
Gale Sayers
Speaking of some of the best running backs to ever play the game, Gale Sayers was also born in Wichita. He was raised in Omaha, but we’re going to claim him.
Sayers went on to star at KU and the Chicago Bears.
The first time I heard of Gale Sayers was watching the movie *Brian’s Song.*
Lynette Woodard
Lynette Woodard is a retired hall of fame basketball player who was born and raised in Wichita.
She won two state titles at Wichita North High School before going on to rack up accolades such as an olympic Gold Medal in 1984, the first woman to play with the Globetrotters, and playing in the WNBA when it was first founded in 1997.
Joe Walsh
Welcome to the Hotel Cali..Wichita
Joe Walsh is the guitarist and keyboardist for the Eagles (he joined and Hotel California was his first album with the band).
Walsh was born in Wichita before moving to Ohio.
Colton Haynes
Many of you likely don’t know who Colton Haynes is, but I was a sucker for the early CW superhero shows like Arrow. Haynes played Roy Harper on Arrow for many seasons.
He was born in Wichita / Andale, KS. He grew up on a farm in Andale and attended high school at Andale before hopping around a few states and graduating from a school in Texas.
There are still a lot of people left including WSU legends like Antoine Carr, X-Man McDaniel, Cliff Levingston and Dave Stallworth to Olympic Athletes to Barack Obama’s Mom, but for the sake of the length of this email, we’ll cut if off here.
If you’d like to read up on even more people from Wichita, check out our blog here. Consider it a work in progress.
Who are we missing?
Darnell Valentine
Although Darnell Valentine wasn’t born in Wichita, he graduated from Wichita Heights high School before going onto play at KU, in the 1980 Summer Olympics and going in the first round of the NBA draft to the Portland Trail Blazers.
He played 10 seasons for 3 teams.
Antoine Carr
The “Big Dawg” Antonie Carr was born in OKC, but went to Wichita Heights and WSU before going #8 in the 1983 NBA draft.
Xavier McDaniel
“X-Man” Xavier McDaniel wasn’t born in Wichita, but is a Shocker legend and went 4th overall in the 1985 NBA draft.
Cliff Levingston
Cliff Levingston also wasn’t born in Wichita, but left his mark at WSU before preceding Big Dawg and X-Man as first rounders when he went 9th overall in the 1982 NBA draft.
Dave Stallworth
Dave Stallworth went #3 in the 1965 NBA draft after his career at WSU. Stallworth also wasn’t born in Wichita, but lived here until he passed away in 2017.
Lynbert “Cheese” Johnson
Lynbert Johnson was drafted in the 1979 NBA Draft after his career at WSU.
Rolf Potts
This is another name and face you may or may not recognize, but you might recognize his work
Rolf Potts is a best-selling travel author of the book Vagabonding. I first heard about this when Tim Ferriss (one of the biggest podcasters in the world) used to recommend this book during pretty much every podacst.
Rolf was born and raised in Wichita and went to North High.
I don’t have time to cover everyone in depth, so let’s do some rapid fire:
- Sinbad – comedian, not born in Wichita, but joined the Air Force and lived at McConnell.
- Kendall Schmidt – Musician, part of boyband Big Time Rush. Born in Wichita, Kansas. Moved away when he was 10.
- Rich Mullins – Christian musician. Not born in Wichita, went to Friends University.
- Tiffany Bias – WNBA Champion, played at Oklahoma State and Andover Central High School. Born and raised in Wichita.
- Chris Mann – Musician, The Voice contestant. Born and raised in Wichita. Graduated from Wichita Southeast High School.
- Jim Ryun – former Olympic Athlete and politician. 1st High School athlete to run a mile under 4 minutes. Born and raised in Wichita.
- Ann Dunham – Barack Obama’s mother. Born in Wichita, KS.
- Barbara Sinatra – 4th Wife of Frank Sinatra. Not born in Wichita, graduated from Wichita North High School.
- Arthur Gunn – Musician. American Idol Runner-up. Not born in Wichita, but lived here for several years.
- Phil Ruffin
- Koch Brothers
- Beech Family
- Cessna Family
- Jesse Chilsholm
- Wyatt Earp
- Breece Hall
- Korleone Young
- Dennis the Menace
Who are we missing?
If you know anyone one this list, I would seriously love to have them on the podcast, so forward this to them and let’s get it set up!
