Famous People from Texas

Mary Kay Ash (1915 - 2001) Cosmetics entrepreneur and founder of Mary Kay cosmetics. Born in Hot Wells, TX (557)

Orvon Eugene Autry (1907 - 1998) Better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s. Born in Tioga, TX (1415)

Clyde Barrow (1909 - 1934) Outlaw and partner in crime with Bonnie Parker. Born in Newburn, TX (558)

Carol Burnett (1933 - ) Comedian and actress of "The Carol Burnett Show". Born in San Antonio, TX (546)

Horace Seaver "Stump" Carswell, Jr. (1916 - 1944) Was a Medal of Honor recipient as a Major in the United States Army Air Corps who served in World War II. Born in Fort Worth, TX (1214)

Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault (1893 - 1958) Was an American military aviator who commanded the "Flying Tigers" during World War II. Born in Commerce, TX (1215)

Joan Crawford (1905 - 1977) Born Lucille Fay LeSueur was an American actress in film, television and theatre. Starting as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway, Crawford was signed to a motion picture contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1925. Born in San Antonio, TX (800)

Lou Dobbs (1945 - ) Anchor and managing editor of CNN's Lou Dobbs Moneyline. Born in Childless, TX (133)

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890 - 1969) The 34th U.S. President (1953-1961) who ended the Korean War. He also served as supreme commander of the Allied Forces in Europe, and became the 1st supreme commander of NATO. Born in Denison, TX (547)

Oveta Culp Hobby (1905 - 1995) Was the first secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, first commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps, and chairman of the board of the Houston Post. Born in Killeen, TX (1216)

Buddy Holly (1936 - 1959) Musician, considered one of the fathers of rock 'n roll; He was killed in a deadly plane crash in 1959. Born in Lubbock, TX (559)

Waylon Arnold Jennings (1937 - 2002) was an American country music singer and musician. A self-taught guitar player, he rose to prominence as a bass player for Buddy Holly following the break-up of The Crickets. Jennings escaped death in the February 3, 1959 plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson when he gave up his seat to Richardson who had been sick with the flu. Born in Littlefield, TX (1303)

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908 - 1973) The 36th U.S. President (1963-1969); He also served in the U.S. Congress, was the 37th vice-president, and was a leader of the Democratic Party. Born in Stonewall, TX (548)

Scott Joplin (1867 - 1917) Musician, composer; lived in Texarkana. Born in Linden, TX (33)

Leighton Marissa Meester (1986 - ) Is an American actress, singer, songwriter, and fashion model best known for her role as Blair Waldorf in the television series Gossip Girl. Born in Fort Worth, TX (1442)

Michael Martin Murphey (1945 - ) Famous American country singer/songwriter; Known for his hit song "Wildfire". Born in Dallas, TX (393)

Willie Nelson (1933 - ) Country music singer/songwriter and entertainer; Most famous during the "outlaw country" movement of the 1970s. Born in Abbot, TX (554)

Sandra Day O'Connor (1930 - ) American jurist who served as the first female Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1981. Born in El Paso, TX (556)

Roy Orbison (1936 - 1988) American singer/songwriter, guitarist and pioneer of rock and roll music. Born in Vernon, TX (552)

Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. (1929 - 2006) Better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 number one hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos. Born in Sherman, TX (1304)

Bonnie Elizabeth Parker (1910 - 1934) Was the female half of the notorious crime duo, Bonnie and Clyde. Born in Rowena, TX (797)

Fess Parker (1924 - 2010) Was an American film and television actor best known for his 1950s portrayals of Davy Crockett for Walt Disney and his late 1960s portrayals of Daniel Boone. Born in Fort Worth, TX (940)

Selena Perez (1971 - 1996) Famous Latin singer who is known as the queen of Tejano music; She was murdered by the president of her fan club when she was only 23 years old. Born in Texarkana, TX (553)

H. Ross Perot (1930 - ) Dallas computer billionaire, philanthropist, and independent (Reform Party) candidate for U.S. president in 1992 and 1996. Born in Texarkana, TX (560)

Dan Rather (1931 - ) TV newscaster and host of CBS Evening News. Born in Wharton, TX (549)

Jesse Raudales (1970 - ) Is an American Artist and Illustrator. He is best known for being a 2006 Olympic artist. Born in McAllen, TX (1685)

Felix Huston Robertson (1839 - 1928) Was the only native-born Texan to serve as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Born in Washington-on-the-Brazos, TX (1212)

Nolan Ryan (1947 - ) Baseball pitcher who pitched seven no-hitters; Played for the New York Mets, the California Angels, the Houston Astros, and the Texas Rangers. Born in Refugio, TX (555)

Ann Sheridan (1915 - 1967) Was an American film actress Born in Denton, TX (1203)

Sissy Spacek (1949 - ) Born Mary Elizabeth Spacek is an American actress and singer. Born in Qutiman, TX (1204)

Tanya Denise Tucker (1958 - ) Is an American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13. Over the succeeding decades, Tucker became one of the few child performers to mature into adulthood without losing her audience, and during the course of her career, she notched a streak of Top 10 and Top 40 hits. She has produced a long string of successful albums, several nominations for awards from the Country Music Association, and hit songs that includes 1973's "What's Your Mama's Name?" and "Blood Red and Goin' Down," 1975's "Lizzie and the Rainman," and 1988's "Strong Enough to Bend". Born in Seminole, TX (1301)