As a proud Kansas business, we love celebrating all things Sunflower State. So it got us thinking–who are some famous people from Kansas?
Order wine made in Kansas with local produce and native Kansas grapes shipped right to your door, almost anywhere in the country.
For a state in flyover country, Kansas certainly boasts some impressive talent, inspiration, and dedication. Let’s take a look at some well-known and notable Kansans from the realms of entertainment, politics, science, technology, and more!
Athletes and Sports Legends
Of course, Kansas is famous for its sports. Who doesn’t love rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowl LIV champions, no big deal).
We all know that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has adopted Kansas as his home. However, as much as we love him, we’re curious about the athletes who were born and raised here. Here’s a list of Kansas athletes, native sons and daughters of the Sunflower State who went on to national–and international–fame and glory.
“BULLET JOE” ROGAN
Originally from Kansas City, Negro leagues star Charles Wilber Rogan led the Kansas City Monarchs to an impressive four league titles. He was called “Bullet Joe” because of the speed of his arm.
Rogan also boasted a 119-50 hitting record. He was admitted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.
BARRY SANDERS
Former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders is originally from Wichita, retiring from the NFL in 1999 as its second-leading all-time runner.
RUTH RILEY
Olympian Ruth Riley was born in Ransom, Kansas in 1979. A WNBA player, she was on the gold-medal US women’s basketball team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
JAMES NAISMITH
No, basketball isn’t exactly a homegrown sport. It was invented by James Naismith, who was born in Canada, came up with basketball while living in Massachusetts so that kids could play sports indoors during the New England winters. A University of Kansas basketball coach, he retired in Lawrence in 1937.
Entertainers
Kansas has quite a few folks to be proud of when it comes to the field of entertainment. These are just a few!
Tech N9ne
Rapper Tech N9ne was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Okay, so not technically from Kansas, but we’re going with it.
ROB RIGGLE
Actor (retired USMC officer) Rob Riggle is a Shawnee Mission graduate. Together with fellow alums Jason Sudeikis and Paul Rudd, they raise money for Children’s Mercy Hospital with the Big Slick benefit weekend.
DON JOHNSON
80s icon and Miami Vice star Don Johnson was raised in Wichita, and graduated from the University of Kansas.
Politicians
Home to former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower and former US Senator Bob Dole, Kansas definitely punches above its weight when it comes to political talent.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
Although born in Texas, Ike grew up in Abilene, Kansas, eventually graduating from Abilene High School. As an Army officer, he even served right up the road from our winery at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth!
BOB DOLE
Retired US Senator and presidential candidate Robert “Bob” Dole was born in Russell, Kansas. Like Eisenhower, he also had an illustrious military career before he went into politics, earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with an oak cluster for his service in World War II, where he was wounded twice while fighting in Italy.
Writers and Artists
LANGSTON HUGHES
Harlem Renaissance icon Langston Hughes claimed Lawrence as a hometown, since he moved there as a small child after his parents’ divorce. Although he left and moved to Illinois with his family as a young teen, Lawrence remains proud of Hughes’ affiliation with the town.
Lawrence celebrates Langston Hughes Day annually on the anniversary of his birth, February 1st.
GORDON PARKS
Filmmaker, writer, photographer, writer, and composer Gordon Parks was born in Fort Scott, Kansas. He is known for directing Shaft, as well as for being the first Black photographer at Life and Vogue.
Scientists
ROBERT BALLARD
Although he grew up in San Diego, where he developed his love of and interest in the ocean, famous oceanographer Robert Ballard was born in Wichita, Kansas. He’s perhaps best known for discovering the wreck of the Titanic, and using his Argo robotic system to explore and photograph the wreckage.
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
Agricultural scientist and pioneering inventor George Washington Carver led a truly remarkable life. He was born into slavery in Missouri the year before it was outlawed. After being kidnapped by slave raiders and separated from his mother, he was raised by the white farmer who had initially purchased him and his mother.
Carver travelled around the Midwest, working different jobs and cultivating his interest in plants and herbal life. He eventually graduated from high school in Kansas. He would have attended college in the state, as well, but the college where he was accepted–Highland College–rejected him after learning he was Black.
He eventually graduated from the school that became Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree. Although he contributed much to the field of agriculture, he is best known for developing over 300 uses for the peanut.
Z&M: A Proud Kansas Winery
We are certainly proud of the many pioneers, innovators, and icons that have called Kansas home. Their inspiration is one of the reasons we’ve adopted this state as our home. We strive to follow their example of tenacity and grit in the face of adversity.
It’s why we feel strongly about taking care of the land in our Kansas vineyard, why we believe in cultivating relationships with people and businesses in our community, and why we use local produce and native Kansas grapes in our Twisted Wines.
We take seriously the Kansas state motto, “Ad Astra Per Aspera,”–”To the stars through difficulty.” It’s something that keeps ups going on bad days and inspires us on the good ones.
See for yourself what Kansas wine is all about! Come see us at our Leavenworth winery or Lawrence vineyard, for either a tasting or to attend one of our popular indoor or outdoor events.