List of people from Kansas

The following are notable people who were either born, raised, or have lived for a significant period of time in Kansas:

Academics and Nobel Prize Laureates

• Milton S. Eisenhower, (1899-1985), university president, Abilene, Kansas.
• Wendell Johnson, (1906-1965), psychologist and speech pathologist, author of The Monster Study, Roxbury, Kansas.
• Jack S. Kilby, (1923-2005), Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Great Bend, Kansas.
• Solon Toothaker Kimball, (1909-1982), anthropologist, Manhattan, Kansas.
• Deane Waldo Malott, (1898-1996), president Cornell University, Abilene, Kansas.
• Abby Lillian Marlatt, (1869-1943), home economics, Manhattan, Kansas.
• M. Lee Pelton, (born 1950), president Willamette University, Wichita, Kansas.
• Vernon L. Smith, (born 1927), Nobel Memorial Prize winner in Economics, Wichita, Kansas.
• Earl Wilbur Sutherland Jr., (1915-1974), 1971 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology and Medicine, Burlingame, Kansas.

Arts and literature

Artists

• Grace Bilger, (1907-2000), artist, Olathe, Kansas.
• Blackbear Bosin, (1921-1980), Native American artist, Wichita, Kansas.
• John Steuart Curry, (1897-1946), artist, Winchester, Kansas.
• Aaron Douglas, (1900-1979), artist, Topeka, Kansas.
• Barbara Morgan, (1900-1992), photographer, Buffalo, Kansas.
• Gordon Parks, (1912-2006), photographer and film director, Fort Scott, Kansas.
• Birger Sandzen, (1871-1954), Artist, Art Professor at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas.

Authors

• Laura Abbot, author of Harlequin romance novels, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Gwendolyn Brooks, (born 1917), author, poet, Topeka, Kansas.
• William Burroughs, (1914-1997), author, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Don Coldsmith, (born 1926), author of Western fiction, Iola, Kansas.
• Mary Francis Craig, (1923-1990), children's author, Pratt, Kansas.
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher, (1879-1958), author of children's books, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Thomas Frank, (born 1965), author and editor, Mission Hills, Kansas.
• Jane Heap, (1883-1964), author and publisher, Topeka, Kansas.
• Scott Heim, (born 1966), author, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Langston Hughes, (1902-1967), author and poet, Lawrence, Kansas.
• William Inge, (1913-1973), playwright, Independence, Kansas.
• Bill James, (born 1949), author, Mayetta, Kansas.
• Scott Phillips, (born 1961), author, Wichita, Kansas.
• Vance Randolph, (1892-1980), folklorist, Pittsburg, Kansas.
• Red Reeder, (1902-1998), author and United States Army officer, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
• Richard Rhodes, (born 1937), author and historian, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Damon Runyon, (1884-1946), author, Manhattan, Kansas.
• William Stafford, (1914-1993), poet and pacifist, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Max Yoho, (born 1934), author, Colony, Kansas.

Musicians

• Karrin Allyson, jazz performer, Great Bend, Kansas.
• Chris Burnett, (born 1955), musician, Olathe, Kansas.
• Danny Carey, (born 1961), musician, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Dorothy DeLay, (1917-2002), violinist, Juilliard Professor, Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
• Phil Ehart, (born 1951), drummer for the rock band Kansas, Coffeyville, Kansas.
• Melissa Etheridge, (born 1961), musician, Leavenworth, Kansas.
• Wendell Hall, (1886-1969), musician, St. George, Kansas.
• Louis Thomas Hardin, (1916-1999), vocalist, percussionist and composer better known by his stagename, "Moondog," Marysville, Kansas.
• Nora Holt, (1885 or 1890-1975), singer and co-founder of National Association of Negro Musicians, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Dave Hope (born 1949), musician, Topeka, Kansas
• Eva Jessye, (1895-1992), choral conductor, Coffeyville, Kansas
• Jennifer Knapp, (born 1974), singer/songwriter, Chanute, Kansas
• Katrina Leskanich (born 1960), musician, Topeka, Kansas
• Kerry Livgren, (born 1949), founding member of Kansas, Topeka, Kansas.
• Frank Luther, (1905-1980), musician, Lakin, Kansas.
• Martina McBride, (born 1966), musician, Sharon, Kansas.
• Charlie Parker, (1920–1955), musician, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Samuel Ramey, (born 1942), opera, bass-baritone, Colby, Kansas
• Steven Stucky, (born 1949), Pulitzer Prize-winner in music, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Joe Walsh, (born 1947), musician, Wichita, Kansas.
• Bobby Watson, (born 1953), musician, Bonner Springs, Kansas.
• David Wetzel, (born 1983), musician, Westwood, Kansas.
• Chely Wright, (born 1970), musician, Wellsville, Kansas.
• Gordon Young, (1919-1998), organist and composer, McPherson, Kansas.
• Curt Ramm, (born ?), musician, Shawnee Mission, Kansas.

Athletics

Athletes

• John Adams, (born 1915), jockey, Iola, Kansas.
• Elden Auker, (1910-2006), baseball pitcher, Norcatur, Kansas.
• Chase Austin, (born 1989), NASCAR driver, Eudora, Kansas.
• Thane Baker, (born 1931), Gold Medalist 1956 Summer Olympics, Elkhart, Kansas.
• Judy Bell, (born 1936), member of World Golf Hall of Fame, Wichita, Kansas.
• Clint Bowyer, (born 1979), NASCAR driver, Emporia, Kansas.
• Orville Brown, (1908-1981), pro wrestler, NWA champion, Sharon, Kansas.
• Larry Cheney, (1886-1969), baseball pitcher, Belleville, Kansas.
• Tony Clark, (born 1972), baseball player, Newton, Kansas.
• Nolan Cromwell, (born 1955), football player, Smith Center, Kansas.
• Glenn Cunningham, (1909-1988), Silver Medalist, 1936 Olympic Games, Elkhart, Kansas.
• Johnny Damon, (born 1973), baseball player, Fort Riley, Kansas.
• Eldon Danenhauer, (born 1935), football player, Clay Center, Kansas.
• Lynn Dickey, (born 1949), football player, Osawatomie, Kansas.
• Wantha Davis, (born 1918), jockey, Liberal, Kansas.
• Galen Fiss, (1931-2006), football player, Johnson City, Kansas.
• Maurice Greene, (born 1974), track and field athlete (World and Olympic Champion), Kansas City, Kansas.
• Bobby Henrich, (born 1938), baseball player, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Scott Huffman, (born 1964), Pole Vaulter, Quinter, Kansas.
• Walter Johnson, (1887-1946), baseball Hall-of-Famer, Humboldt, Kansas.
• Franklin Lashley, (born 1976), professional Wrestler for the WWE, Junction City, Kansas.
• Danny Manning, (born 1966), NBA basketball player, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Rudy May, (born 1944), baseball player, Coffeyville, Kansas.
• Peter Mehringer, (1910-1987), Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler and professional football player, Kinsley, Kansas.
• Terence Newman, (born 1978), footall player, Salina, Kansas.
• Nicole Ohlde, (born 1982), WNBA player, Clay Center, Kansas.
• John Parrella, (born 1969), professional football player, Topeka, Kansas.
• John Riggins, (born 1949), Pro Football Hall of Famer, Seneca, Kansas.
• Lafayette Russell, (1905-1978), football player and B movie actor "Reb" Russell, Osawatomie, Kansas.
• Johnny Rutherford, (born 1938), racecar driver, Coffeyville, Kansas.
• Jim Ryun, (born 1947), athlete and politician, Wichita, Kansas.
• Barry Sanders, (born 1968), NFL Hall-of-Famer, Wichita, Kansas.
• Gale Sayers, (born 1943), NFL Hall-of-Famer, Wichita, Kansas.
• Wayne Simien, (born 1983), NCAA All-American, NBA basketball player, Leavenworth, Kansas.
• Jackie Stiles, (born 1978), WNBA basketball player, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Steve Tasker, (born 1962), NFL Pro-Bowl MVP in 1993, Smith Center, Kansas.
• Luther Haden "Dummy" Taylor, (1875-1958), baseball pitcher, Oskaloosa, Kansas.
• Earl Watson, (born 1979), NBA basketball player, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Tom Watson, (born 1949), 8 time PGA Tour major winner, Stilwell, Kansas.
• Kendra Wecker, (born 1982), WNBA player, Marysville, Kansas.
• Jess Willard, (1881-1968), World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, St. Clere, Pottawatomie County, Kansas.
• Lynette Woodard, (born 1959), basketball Hall-of-Famer, Wichita, Kansas.

Coaches

• Jack Christiansen, (1928-1986), pro football and college football coach, Sublette, Kansas.
• Don Gambril, (born 1934), Hall of Fame swimming coach, Altamont, Kansas.
• Bill Guthridge, (born 1937), college basketball coach, Parsons, Kansas.
• Ted Gilmore, (born 1967), college football coach, Wichita, Kansas.
• Ralph Houk, (born 1919), manager, New York Yankees, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Gene Keady, (born 1936), college basketball coach, Larned, Kansas.
• Jerry Kill, (born 1961), college football coach, Cheney, Kansas.
• Lon Kruger, (born 1952), college/NBA basketball coach, Silver Lake, Kansas.
• John McLendon, (1915-1999), Hall of Fame college/ABL/ABA basketball coach, Hiawatha, Kansas.
• John H. Outland, (1871-1947), namesake of Outland Trophy, Douglas County, Kansas.
• Adolph Rupp, (1901-1977), college basketball coach, Halstead, Kansas.
• Dean Smith, (born 1931), college basketball coach, Topeka, Kansas.
• Eddie Sutton, (born 1936), college basketball coach, Bucklin, Kansas.
• Mark Turgeon, (born 1965), college basketball coach, Topeka, Kansas.
• Brent Venables, (born 1970), college football coach, Salina, Kansas

Aviators and astronauts

• Clyde Vernon Cessna, (1879-1954), aviator and aircraft designer, Rago, Kansas.
• Walter Herschel Beech, (1891-1950), aviator and aircraft designer, Wichita, Kansas.
• Amelia Earhart, (1897-1937), aviator, Atchison, Kansas.
• Joe Engle, (born 1932), astronaut, Chapman, Kansas.
• Ron Evans, (1933-1990), astronaut, Topeka, Kansas.
• Daniel Forbes, (1920-1948), U.S. Army Aircorp photoreconnaissance pilot, Carbondale, Kansas.
• Steve Hawley, (born 1951), astronaut, Salina, Kansas.
• Lloyd Carlton Stearman, (1898-1975), aviator and aircraft designer, Wellsville, Kansas.

Business People and Inventors

• Philip Anschutz, (born 1939), billionaire investor, Russell, Kansas.
• Dan and Frank Carney, (Dan born 1931, Frank born 1938), founders of Pizza Hut, Wichita, Kansas.
• Walter Chrysler, (1875-1940), founder of Chrysler Corporation, Wamego, Kansas.
• William Coffin Coleman, (1870-1957), founder of the Coleman Company, Wichita, Kansas.
• James Harbord, (1866-1947), President and Chairman of Board of RCA, Manhattan, Kansas.
• William Wadsworth Hodkinson, (1881-1971), pioneer film marketer and distributor, Independence, Kansas.
• Charles G. Koch, (born 1935), CEO of Koch Industries, Wichita, Kansas.
• David H. Koch, (born 1940), executive and politician, Wichita, Kansas.
• Harry F. Sinclair, (1876-1956), founder of Sinclair Oil company, Independence, Kansas.

Film, television and stage

Actors and performers

• Kirstie Alley, (born 1951), actress, Wichita, Kansas.
• Fatty Arbuckle, (1887-1933), actor, Smith Center, Kansas.
• Ed Asner, (born 1929), actor, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Hugh Beaumont, (1909-1982), actor, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Annette Bening, (born 1958), actress, Topeka, Kansas.
• Roscoe Born, (born 1950), actor, Topeka, Kansas.
• Steve Brodie, (1919-1992), actor, El Dorado, Kansas.
• Louise Brooks, (1906-1985), actress, Cherryvale, Kansas.
• Madge Blake, (1899-1969), actress, Kinsley, Kansas.
• Del Close, (1934-1999), actor/comedian, Manhattan, Kansas.
• Jack Colvin, (1934-2005), actor, Lyndon, Kansas.
• Aneta Corsaut, (1933-1995), actress, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Lucinda Dickey, (born 1960), actress/dancer, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Marj Dusay, (born 1936), actress, Hays, Kansas.
• R. Lee Ermey, (born 1944), actor, Emporia, Kansas.
• Scott Foley, (born 1972), actor, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Dwight Frye, (1899-1943), actor, Salina, Kansas.
• Laurel Goodwin, (born 1942), actress, Wichita, Kansas.
• Phyllis Haver, (1899-1960), actress, Douglass, Kansas.
• Thelma Hill, (1906-1938), actress, Emporia, Kansas.
• Dennis Hopper, (born 1936), actor, Dodge City, Kansas.
• Don Johnson, (born 1959), actor, Wichita, Kansas.
• Buster Keaton, (1895-1966), actor, Piqua, Kansas.
• Emmett Kelly, (1898-1979), circus clown, Sedan, Kansas.
• Shirley Knight, (born 1936), actress, Goessel, Kansas.
• Lila Leeds, (1928-1999), actress, Dodge City, Kansas.
• Hattie McDaniel, (1895-1952), actress, Wichita, Kansas.
• George Murdock, (born 1930), actor, Salina, Kansas.
• Cassandra Peterson, (born 1949), actress better known as Elvira, Manhattan, Kansas.
• ZaSu Pitts, (1894-1963), actress, Parsons, Kansas.
• Rob Riggle, (born 1970), actor/comedian, Overland Park, Kansas.
• Charles "Buddy" Rogers, (1904-1991), actor and Jazz musician, Olathe, Kansas
• Paul Rudd, (born 1969), actor, Lenexa, Kansas.
• Max Showalter, (1917-2000), actor, Caldwell, Kansas.
• Cynthia Sikes, (born 1954), actress, Coffeyville, Kansas.
• Lois Smith, (born 1930), actress, Topeka, Kansas.
• Sara Sothern, (1895-1994), stage actress, Arkansas City, Kansas.
• Milburn Stone, (1904-1980), actor, Gunsmoke, Burrton, Kansas.
• Jason Sudeikis, (born 1975), actor Overland Park, Kansas.
• Fay Tincher, (1884-1983), actress, Topeka, Kansas.
• Vivian Vance, (1909-1979), actress, Cherryvale, Kansas.
• Dee Wallace-Stone, (born 1948), actress, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Claire Windsor, (1897-1972), actress, Cawker City, Kansas.

Directors

• Steve Balderson, (born 1975), film director, Wamego, Kansas.
• Oscar Micheaux, (1893-1951), film director, Great Bend, Kansas.
• Richard Thorpe, (1896-1991), film director, Hutchinson, Kansas.

Public figures

Journalists

• E. W. Howe, (1853-1937), author and newspaper editor, Atchison, Kansas.
• Bill Kurtis, (born 1940), television journalist, Independence, Kansas.
• Jim Lehrer, (born 1934), television journalist, Wichita, Kansas.
• Elizabeth Farnsworth, (born 1943), television journalist, Topeka, Kansas.
• Clementine Paddleford, (1898-1967), journalist & food critic, Stockdale, Kansas.
• Eugene C. Pulliam, (1889-1975), founder Central Newspapers, Inc., Ulysses, Kansas.
• Roy A. Roberts, (1887-1967), newspaper editor, Muscotah, Kansas.
• John Cameron Swayze, (1906-1995), television journalist, Wichita, Kansas.
• William Allen White, (1868-1944), author and newspaper editor, Emporia, Kansas.

Politics and law

• Arthur Capper, (1865-1951), Kansas Governor and newspaper editor, Garnett, Kansas.
• Frank Carlson, (1893-1987), only person to serve as US Representative, US Senator, and Governor for Kansas, Concordia, Kansas.
• Georgia Neese Clark, (1900-1995), first woman Treasurer of the United States, Richland, Kansas.
• Samuel J. Crawford, (1835-1913), Kansas Governor, Garnett, Kansas.
• Charles Curtis, (1860-1936), U.S. Senator and 31st Vice President of the United States, Topeka, Kansas.
• Harry Darby, (1895-1987), businessman and U.S. Senator, Kansas City, Kansas.
• George Docking, (1904-1964), Kansas Governor, Clay Center, Kansas.
• Bob Dole, (born 1923), Senator, 1996 presidential candidate, Russell, Kansas.
• Dwight Eisenhower, (1890-1969), 34th President of the United States, Allied commander in World War II, raised in Abilene, Kansas.
• Joan Finney, (1925-2001), Kansas Governor, Topeka, Kansas.
• Marlin Fitzwater, (born 1942), Press Secretary for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, Abilene, Kansas.
• Robert Gates, (born 1943), former CIA director, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Wichita, Kansas.
• Robert L. Gernon, (1943-2005), Kansas Supreme Court Justice, Sabetha, Kansas.
• Dan Glickman, (born 1944), Secretary of Agriculture, President of the Motion Picture Association of America, Wichita, Kansas.
• Bill Graves, (born 1953), Kansas Governor, Salina, Kansas.
• Paul Ranous Greever, (1891-1943), Wyoming Congressman, Lansing, Kansas.
• Gary Hart, (born 1936), Colorado Senator, Ottawa, Kansas.
• Carl Hatch, (1889-1963), New Mexico Senator, Kirwin, Kansas.
• Ural Alexis Johnson, (1908-1997), diplomat and ambassador, Falun, Kansas.
• Nancy Kassebaum Baker, (born 1932), Senator, Topeka, Kansas.
• Alf Landon, (1887-1987), Governor, 1936 presidential candidate, Topeka, Kansas.
• Roger Noriega, (born 1959), United States Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Wichita, Kansas.
• Gale Norton, (born 1954), United States Secretary of the Interior, Wichita, Kansas.
• Lawton Nuss, (born 1952), Kansas State Supreme Court Justice, Salina, Kansas.
• Roy Romer, (born 1928), Colorado Governor, Garden City, Kansas.
• Susanna M. Salter, (1860-1961), Mayor of Argonia, Kansas, first woman mayor in the United States.
• Bradley Schlozman, (born 1971), controversial figure in the George W. Bush Administration's Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy, Overland Park, Kansas.
• Harold Sebring, (1898-1968), Nuremberg Trial judge, Olathe, Kansas.
• Arlen Specter, (born 1930), Pennsylvania Senator, Russell, Kansas.
• Martin E. Trapp, (1877-1951), Oklahoma Governor, Robinson, Kansas.
• Harry Hines Woodring, (1890-1967), Kansas Governor and Secretary of War under Franklin Roosevelt, Elk City, Kansas.
• Ron Wyden, (born 1949), Oregon Senator, Wichita, Kansas.

Military and national security

• Stanley T. Adams, (1922-1999), Korean War Medal of Honor recipient, DeSoto, Kansas.
• Wilbur Bestwick, (1911-1972), first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sabetha, Kansas.
• Richard Cowan, (1922-1944), WWII Medal of Honor recipient, Wichita, Kansas.
• Rebecca L. Ediger, (born 1952), agent in charge of the Presidential Protective Division of U.S. Secret Service, born in Newton, Kansas and raised in Peabody, Kansas.
• Harry D. Felt, (1902-1992), WWII Naval aviator and Navy Admiral, Topeka, Kansas
• Arthur M. Ferguson, (1877-1922), Colonel, Medal of Honor recipient, Philippine-American War, Coffey County, Kansas.
• Frederick N. Funston, (1865-1917), Major General, Medal of Honor recipient, Iola, Kansas.
• Elizabeth P. Hoisington, (1918-2007), first WAC officer promoted to Brigadier General, Newton, Kansas.
• Bernard W. Rogers, (born 1921), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Fairview, Kansas
• Duane D. Thiessen, (born 1951), Major General, USMC, Goessel, Kansas.

Religion

• Charles J. Chaput, (born 1944), Archbishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver, Concordia, Kansas.
• Sheri L. Dew, (born 1953), influential Latter-day Saint spokeswoman, Ulysses, Kansas.
• Emil Kapaun, (1916-1951), Roman Catholic martyr in Korean War and candidate for Sainthood, Pilsen, Kansas
• Ron Kenoly, (born 1944), musical worship leader, Coffeyville, Kansas.
• Fred Phelps, (born 1929), controversial leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas.
• James Reeb, (1927-1965), Unitarian minister beaten to death by segregationists in Selma, Alabama, during the Civil Rights Movement, Wichita, Kansas.
• David Laurin Ricken, (born 1954), bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne, Dodge City, Kansas.
• Michael Jarboe Sheehan, (born 1939), Archbishop of Santa Fe, Wichita, Kansas.
• Gerald B. Winrod, (1900-1957), evangelical Christian and Nazi sympathizer, Wichita, Kansas.

Scientists and programmers

• C. Olin Ball, (1893-1982), food scientist, Abilene, Kansas.
• John D. Carmack, (born 1970), computer programmer, Shawnee Mission, Kansas.
• George Washington Carver, (1864-1943), botanist and chemist, Minneapolis, Kansas.
• David Fairchild, (1869-1954), botanist and explorer, Manhattan, Kansas.
• Philip Fox, (1878-1944), astronomer, Manhattan, Kansas.
• Ebbe Hoff, (1906-1985), neurologist, Rexford, Kansas.
• Homer A. McCrerey, (1919-1999), meteorologist and oceanographer, Hiawatha, Kansas.
• Karl Menninger, (1893-1990), psychiatrist, Topeka, Kansas.
• Charles D. Michener, (1918-), entomologist, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Ernest Fox Nichols, (1869-1924), scientist, Leavenworth County, Kansas.
• Wallace Pratt, (1885-1981), petroleum geologist, Phillipsburg, Kansas.
• Clyde Tombaugh, (1906-1997), astronomer, Burdett, Kansas.
• Samuel Wendell Williston, (1852-1918), scientist, Manhattan, Kansas.

Others

Notable individuals

• Danni Boatwright, (born 1975), winner of Survivor: Guatemala, Tonganoxie, Kansas.
• Erin Brockovich, (born 1960), environmental activist, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Richard Christy, (born 1974), comedian on the Howard Stern Show, Fort Scott, Kansas.
• Hilda Clark, (1872-1932), first woman to appear in a Coca-Cola advertisement, Leavenworth, Kansas.
• Earl Cole, (born 1971), winner of Survivor: Fiji, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Racquel Darrian, (born 1968), pornographic film star, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Elmer Dresslar, Jr., (1925-2005), voice actor and baritone voice of the Jolly Green Giant commercials, St. Francis, Kansas.
• Ann Dunham, (1942-1995), mother of Barack Obama, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
• Madelyn and Stanley Dunham, (Madelyn, b. 1922; Stanley, 1918-1992), maternal grandparents of Barack Obama, Peru, Kansas
• Tara Dawn Holland, (born 1972), Miss America 1997, Overland Park, Kansas.
• Carrie Ingalls, (1870-1946), sister of author Laura Ingalls Wilder, born in the Little House on the Prairie in Montgomery County near Independence, Kansas.
• Vicki Lynn Lasseter, (born 1960), February 1981 Playboy Playmate of the Month, Iola, Kansas.
• Candy Loving. (born 1956), January 1979 Playboy Playmate of the Month and Playboy's 25th Anniversary Playmate, Oswego, Kansas.
• Waldo McBurney, (born 1902), listed as oldest worker, Quinter, Kansas.
• Kelli McCarty, (born 1969), Miss USA 1991, Liberal, Kansas.
• Janet Murguía, (born 1954), President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of La Raza, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Carrie Nation, (1846-1911), temperance activist, Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
• Dan Perkins, (born 1961), cartoonist better known by the pen name Tom Tomorrow, Wichita, Kansas.
• Jeff Probst, (born 1962), television personality and host of Survivor, Wichita, Kansas.
• Satanta, (1830-1878), Chief of the Kiowa tribe, western Kansas.
• Kari Wahlgren, (born 1977), video game voice actress, Hoisington, Kansas.
• Carrie Westcott, (born 1969), September 1993 Playboy Playmate of the Month, Mission Hills, Kansas.

Infamous persons

• Edward J. Adams, (1887-1921), bank robber and murderer, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Fred “Killer” Burke, (1893-1940), Prohibition-era gangster, Mapleton, Kansas.
• Mark Essex, (1949-1973), mass murderer, Emporia, Kansas.
• Jake and Ralph Fleagle, bank robbers and murderers, Marienthal, Kansas
• Richard Hickock, (1931-1965), murderer, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Alvin "Creepy" Karpis, (1907-1979), bank robber and member of the Barker Gang, Topeka, Kansas.
• George Newcomb, (1866-1895), member of Bill Doolin's Wild Bunch, Fort Scott, Kansas.
• Dennis Rader, (born 1945), serial killer known as "BTK", Wichita, Kansas.

Fictional persons

• Gray Anderson, mayor, Jericho, Kansas.
• Helen Crump, (1962), girlfriend of Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry on the Andy Griffith Show, from rural Kansas.
• Dennis the Menace, (1951), neighborhood terror, Wichita, Kansas.
• Matt Dillon, (1949), Fictional marshal, Dodge City, Kansas.
• Dollar Bill, fictional 1940s superhero in the Watchmen universe who was a "star athlete from Kansas."
• Michael Dorie, mutant character from Marvel Comics X-Men series, Picayune, Kansas.
• Samuel Dullard, character on Rocket Power, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Dorothy Gale, (1900), fictional little girl who lived on a farm in Kansas with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. Dorothy was transported to the Land of Oz by a tornado, with her dog Toto.
• Gil Hamilton, (c.2083), futuristic detective, Topeka, Kansas.
• Will Kane, (1952), fictional sheriff in the 1952 classic Western High Noon, from Hadleyville, Kansas.
• Johnny Kaw, (1955), mythical Kansas settler, Manhattan, Kansas.
• Clark Kent, (1938), adopted child of Jonathan and Martha Kent of Smallville, Kansas, better known as Superman, born on Krypton.
• Colleen McMurphy, lead character from China Beach, from a "small town" in Kansas.
• Cameron Mitchell, Lieutenant Colonel of Stargate SG-1 television series, from Auburn, Kansas.
• Jack B. Quick, (1999), boy genius, Queerwater Creek, Kansas.
• Amanda Rogers, (born 2351), fictional character on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Topeka, Kansas.
• Mary Ann Summers, traveler on a "three-hour tour" that was lost at sea on Gilligan's Island, Winfield, Kansas.
• Dean Winchester, (1979), demon hunter, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Sam Winchester, (1983), demon hunter, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Wizard of Oz, (1850), balloonist, magician, ruler of the Land of Oz (1939 movie version only).