List of people from Wheaton, Illinois

This list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Wheaton, Illinois.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Business

• Elbert Henry Gary (1846–1927), lawyer, county judge and founder of U.S. Steel
• Dan and Ada Rice (Daniel 1896–1975; Ada 1898–1977), businesspeople, Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeders, and philanthropists; owners of Kentucky Derby winner Lucky Debonair

Media and entertainment

• Shane Acker (born 1971), filmmaker and animator
• Jane Adams (born 1965), film, television, and theatre actress
• Selamawi Asgedom (born 1976), author of Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard
• Bobbie Battista (born 1952), CNN anchor; attended high school in Wheaton^[1]
• Andrew Belle (born 1984), singer and songwriter
• Jim Belushi (born 1954), actor (According to Jim, K-9, Red Heat)
• John Belushi (1949–1982), actor (Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers, and Animal House)
• Wes Craven (1939–2015), horror film director (A Nightmare on Elm Street); alumnus of Wheaton College
• John Drury (1927–2007), Chicago television news anchor
• Dennis Dugan (born 1946), actor and director (Happy Gilmore and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry)
• Tami Erin (born 1974), actress and model (The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking)
• Danny Gonzalez (born 1994), YouTuber and former Viner
• A. Wilson Greene (born 1949), writer and historian
• Paul Hendrickson (born 1944), author, journalist and professor
• Clyde S. Kilby (1902–1986), author and professor at Wheaton College
• Ned Locke (1919–1992), Chicago TV and radio announcer^[2]
• Paul Maxey (1907–1963), actor who played character roles in films and television, starting in 1937
• Brian McCann (born 1965), actor, writer, and comedian
• Robert R. McCormick (1880–1955), publisher of the Chicago Tribune
• Joseph Medill (1823–1899), Mayor of Chicago; co-owner and managing editor of the Chicago Tribune
• Everett Mitchell (1898–1990), radio announcer
• Gail O'Grady (born 1963), actress (NYPD Blue, American Dreams)
• Lorraine Olivia (born 1968), November 1990 Playboy Playmate of the Month; graduated from Wheaton Central High School (1986)^[3]
• Kate Pierson (born 1948), lead singer of the B-52s, past spokesperson for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
• Janet Pilgrim (1934–2017), model and actress
• Rick Santelli (born 1953), on-air editor for the CNBC Business News cable network
• Sonal Shah (born 1980), actress (Scrubs)
• Sandra Smith (born 1980), reporter for Fox Business Network
• Bob Woodward (born 1943), author and reporter with The Washington Post; broke the Watergate scandal, co-writer of All the President's Men

Military

• Mark S. Inch (born 1960), retired US Army Major General and ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (2017–2018); graduate of Wheaton College; son of Morris Inch, Wheaton Professor^[4]
• Robert James Miller (1983–2008), US Army Special Forces staff sergeant; Medal of Honor recipient; graduate of Wheaton North High School^[5]
• James Howard Monroe (1944–1967), US Army PFC; Medal of Honor recipient; graduate of Wheaton Central High School; namesake of James Howard Monroe Middle School^[6]

Music

• Andrew Belle (born 1984), musician
• Steve Camp (born 1955), Christian singer
• Blake Judd (born 1982), musician; lead vocalist of Nachtmystium

Politics and law

• Ralph H. Barger (1923–2002), Illinois state legislator and mayor of Wheaton^[7]
• Joe Birkett (born 1955), Illinois Appellate Court justice; former DuPage County State's Attorney
• George Peter Foster (1858–1928), U.S. congressman from Illinois, 3rd and 4th districts
• Amy Grant, member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2019–present)^[8]
• William L. Guild (1910–1993), Illinois Attorney General and jurist
• Randy Hultgren (born 1966), U.S. congressman, represented Illinois's 14th congressional district from 2011 to 2019.
• Jeanne Ives (born 1964), Illinois state legislator (2013-2018), and candidate for Governor of Illinois (2018).^[9]
• Robert Jauch (born 1945), Wisconsin state legislator
• John McCandish King (1927–2016), member of the Illinois House of Representatives; between 1951–2015, he held the record as the youngest person to serve in the Illinois General Assembly^[10][11]
• Prentice Marshall (1926–2004), U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois (1973–1996)
• Lewis V. Morgan (1929–2018), American judge, lawyer, and politician^[12]
• Evelyn Sanguinetti (born 1970), Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
• Samuel K. Skinner (born 1938), U.S. Secretary of Transportation and White House Chief of Staff under President George H. W. Bush^[13]

Religion

• Jonathan Blanchard (1811–1892), pastor, educator, social reformer, and abolitionist; founder of Wheaton College
• Jim Elliot (1927–1956), evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador who was killed while evangelizing to the Waodani people; alumnus of Wheaton College
• Billy Graham (1918–2018), Christian evangelist; alumnus of Wheaton College
• R. Kent Hughes (born 1942), author; pastor Emeritus of College Church
• Isobel Miller Kuhn (1901–1957), Canadian missionary to the Lisu people of Yunnan Province, China, and northern Thailand
• John R. Rice (1895–1980), Baptist evangelist and journalist
• Miles J. Stanford (1914–1999), Christian author
• Kenneth N. Taylor (1917–2005), translator of The Living Bible and founder of Tyndale House Publishers
• Phil Vischer (born 1966), creator of the children's show VeggieTales

Science and design

• Edwin Hubble (1889–1953), astronomer after whom the Hubble Space Telescope is named
• Jarvis Hunt (1863–1941), architect and designer of Chicago Golf Club's clubhouse in Wheaton
• Grote Reber (1911–2002), amateur astronomer, radio engineer and pioneer of radio astronomy

Sports

Baseball

• Herb Adams (1928–2012), outfielder for Chicago White Sox
• Don Bollweg (1921–1996), first baseman for St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics
• Mike Joyce (born 1941), pitcher for Chicago White Sox
• Chet Lemon (born 1955), outfielder for Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers; World Series champion (1984)
• J. C. Martin (born 1936), catcher for New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs; World Series champion (1969)
• Dave Otto (born 1964), pitcher for Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago White Sox; sports broadcaster^[14]
• Milt Pappas (1939–2016), pitcher for Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs
• Jimmy Piersall (1929–2017), outfielder for Boston Red Sox, broadcaster for Chicago White Sox, lived and died in Wheaton
• Lee Pfund (1919–2016), pitcher for Brooklyn Dodgers
• Sy Sutcliffe (1862–1893), catcher for Baltimore Orioles and Washington Statesmen
• Ollie Voigt (1899–1970), pitcher for St Louis Browns

Basketball

• Katie Meier (born 1967), head coach of University of Miami women's basketball team
• Randy Pfund (born 1951), former head coach of NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and General Manager of Miami Heat

Boxing

• Mike Lee (born 1987), light heavyweight boxer^[15]

Football

• Jon Beutjer (born 1980), former professional football quarterback in the Arena Football League and Canadian Football League
• Corey Davis (born 1995), NFL wide receiver for the New York Jets
• Titus Davis (1993–2020), former American professional football player who was a wide receiver
• Scott Dierking (born 1955), former NFL running back
• Rick Fox, football head coach, Drake University
• Kent Graham (born 1968), quarterback for eight NFL teams; 1986 National High School Quarterback of the Year at Wheaton North
• Garland Grange (1906–1981), former Chicago Bears player and younger brother of Red Grange
• Harold "Red" Grange (1903–1991), running back for the Chicago Bears and New York Yankees (NFL); known as "the Wheaton Ice Man"
• A. J. Harris (born 1984), former Canadian football running back
• Pete Ittersagen (born 1985), former NFL and CFL cornerback
• Rick Johnson (born 1961), former CFL quarterback, actor and director
• Jim Juriga (born 1964), former guard for the Denver Broncos^[16]
• Tim Lester (born 1977), head football coach at Western Michigan University, from 2017 - 2022
• Chuck Long (born 1963), College Football Hall of Fame quarterback; offensive coordinator of University of Kansas football
• Tony Moeaki (born 1987), tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills
• Todd Monken (born 1966), offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for University of Georgia
• Matt Rahn (born 1982), retired American football player and since 2020, the acting head coach of the College of DuPage Chaparrals football team
• Steve Thonn, American football coach
• Clayton Thorson (born 1995), American football quarterback who is a free agent
• Danny Vitale (born 1993), former American football fullback
• Bob Zeman (1937–2019), defensive back for the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos, later coach for several college and professional teams

Golf

• Charles B. Macdonald (1855–1939), golfer; built the first 18-hole course in the US
• Kevin Streelman (born 1978), golfer on the PGA Tour

Hockey

• Alain Chevrier (born 1961), goaltender for five NHL teams
• Jacques Cloutier (born 1960), goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, and Quebec Nordiques
• Ryan Dzingel (born 1992), forward for the Ottawa Senators
• Bobby Hull (1939–2023), forward for the Chicago Blackhawks
• Darren Pang (born 1964), goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks; commentator for the St. Louis Blues
• Wayne Presley (born 1965), right wing for five NHL teams
• Denis Savard (born 1961), Hockey Hall of Fame centre and head coach for the Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, and Tampa Bay Lightning
• Trent Yawney (born 1965), defenceman for the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, and St. Louis Blues

Olympics

• Adam Harris (born 1987), Olympic sprinter
• Thomas Jaeschke (born 1993), bronze medalist of the 2016 Olympic Games for indoor volleyball^[17]
• Sean Rooney (born 1982), Olympic volleyball outside hitter; gold medalist
• Jim Spivey (born 1960), three-time Olympic 1500 meter and 5000 meter track and field athlete
• Nancy Swider-Peltz (born 1956), Olympic speedskater (1976, 1980, 1984, 1988); mother of Nancy Jr.
• Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr. (born 1987), Winter Olympian speed skater (2010)

Soccer

• Charlie Fajkus (born 1957), former professional soccer midfielder

Tennis

• Tim Gullikson (1951–1996), tennis player; coach of no. 1 ranked Pete Sampras; lived in Wheaton^[18]

References

1. Cress, Doug (May 5, 1993). "CNN Anchor Bobbie Battista Has Become A Worldwide Hit". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
2. . Chicago Tribune. 10 May 2004. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
3. Dellios, Hugh (October 8, 1990). "Son also arises as county worker". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
4. Obituary of Morris Inch
5. Lauren Jiggetts and James Langton (2010-09-10). "Wheaton Soldier Receives Posthumous Medal of Honor". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
6. Hanley, Matt (16 February 2009). . www.suburbanchicagonews.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
7. 'Illinois Blue Book 1989-1990,' biographical Sketch of Ralph H. Barger, pg. 83
8. Grant, Amy (October 12, 2018). "Amy Grant: Candidate profile" (Interview). Interviewed by Daily Herald Editorial Board. Arlington Heights, Illinois: Daily Herald. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
9. "Ives' anti-Rauner ad ripped as 'racist, sexist, homophobic'". Chicago Tribune.
10. Howard, Robert (October 15, 1950). "Mrs. O'Neill Favored for State Senate: Fights Hard to Take Barr's Seat". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois – via ProQuest.
11. Staff Report (2015-02-16). "22-year-old law student named to replace Rosenthal as state rep in 95th District". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
12. 'Illinois Blue Book 1967-1968,' Biographical Sketch of Lewis V. Morgan, Jr., pg. 266-267
13. Mehler, Neil H. (9 December 1991). "Wheaton Pals Recall 'Good Guy' Skinner". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
14. Cox, Ted (September 27, 2002). "Thankful Otto misses the cut with Cubs". Daily Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
15. Mike Lee bio page
16. "Broncos' Juriga faces back surgery". Chicago Tribune. May 6, 1992. p. 2. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
17. Wood, Becca; Lopez, Carina (23 July 2021). "Meet Team USA's Olympians From the Chicago Area". WMAQ-TV. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
18. Finn, Robin (4 May 1996). "Tim Gullikson, 44, Tennis Coach and Player". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 July 2014.