List of people from Decatur, Illinois

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Decatur, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Decatur, Illinois.

Authors and academics

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Givens, Charles J.Charles J. Givens		Feb 5, 1941	Jul 12, 1998	Financial lecturer and author	Born in Decatur
Loewen, James W.James W. Loewen		February 6, 1942		Author, historian, and sociology professor	Born in Decatur
Peck, RichardRichard Peck		April 10, 1934		Children's author; 2001 Newbery Medal winner	Born in Decatur
, Marvin A. SweeneyMarvin A. Sweeney		July 4, 1953		Author, biblical scholar, and professor	Grew up in Decatur

Commerce

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Millikin, JamesJames Millikin		Aug 2, 1827	Mar 2, 1909	Founder of Millikin National Bank and Millikin University	Lived in Decatur

Crime

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Boles, Charles E.Charles E. Boles (a.k.a. Black Bart)		1829	1888	Western outlaw	Lived in Decatur

Media and arts

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Berry (broadcaster), ChrisChris Berry (broadcaster)		Aug 11, 1960		Broadcasting Journalist and Management	Born in Decatur
Carson, Jenny LouJenny Lou Carson		Jan 13, 1915	Dec 16, 1978	Country singer-songwriter	Born in Decatur
Christy, JuneJune Christy		Nov 20, 1925	Jun 21, 1990	Jazz singer	Grew up in Decatur
Coleman, LorenLoren Coleman		Jul 12, 1947		Author, cryptozoologist, radio and television personality	Grew up in Decatur
Connelly, DaleDale Connelly		Oct 4, 1955		Host of Minnesota Public Radio's Radio Heartland		[1]
Culbertson, BrianBrian Culbertson		Jan 12, 1973		Jazz musician	Born in Decatur
Doe, JohnJohn Doe		Feb 25, 1954		Founder of L.A. punk band X	Born in Decatur
Frey, CeCeCeCe Frey		Jun 26, 1991		Pop singer featured on season 2 of The X Factor	From Decatur
Gray, ChadChad Gray		Oct 16, 1971		Singer of alternative metal band Mudvayne	Born in Decatur
Hunter, SteveSteve Hunter		Jun 14, 1948		Guitarist with Mitch Ryder, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, and Peter Gabriel	Born in Decatur
Krauss, AlisonAlison Krauss		Jul 23, 1971		Country/Bluegrass singer and songwriter; most-awarded singer in the history of the Grammys[2]	Born in Decatur
Lee, RonReacoRonReaco Lee		Aug 27, 1977		Actor (The Good Guys; Let's Stay Together)	Born in Decatur
Martin, JudyJudy Martin		Jul 23, 1917	Nov 17, 1951	Country and gospel singer; wife of Red Foley	Born in Decatur
Martin, NanNan Martin		Jul 15, 1927	Mar 4, 2010	Actress (Mr. Sunshine; The Thorn Birds, Santa Barbara)	Born in Decatur
Mason, StephenStephen Mason		Jul 8, 1975		Guitar player for Jars of Clay	Grew up in Decatur
Randolph, BootsBoots Randolph		Jun 3, 1927	Jul 3, 2007	Jazz saxophonist; composer of Yakety Sax	Played with Dink Welch's Kopy Kats in Decatur (1948 to 1954)
Rhodes, EmittEmitt Rhodes		Feb 25, 1950		Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and recording engineer	Born in Decatur
Ryman, HerbertHerbert Ryman		June 28, 1910	February 10, 1989	Artist and Disney Imagineer	Grew up in Decatur
Spinner, JackieJackie Spinner				Author, journalist, college professor; Fulbright Scholar	Grew up in Decatur

Bands

Name	Image	Founded	Disbanded	Music	Association	Reference
Icon For Hire		2007	present	Rock band	Formed in Decatur
V Shape Mind		1999	2004	Alternative rock band	Formed in Decatur

Military

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Lieb, HermannHermann Lieb		May 24, 1826	Mar 5, 1908	Union Army officer	Lived in Decatur
Holland, Lemuel F.Lemuel F. Holland		Jul 28, 1840	Jan 13, 1914	Union Army sergeant – awarded Metal of Honor	Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)
Pugh, Isaac C.Isaac C. Pugh		Nov 23, 1805	Nov 19, 1874	Union Army general	Born in Decatur
Schenck, Benjamin W.Benjamin W. Schenck		Aug 12, 1837	Feb 19, 1916	Union Army private – awarded Metal of Honor	Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)

Philanthropist

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Buffett, Howard WarrenHoward Warren Buffett		Oct 14, 1983		Faculty member at Columbia University; trustee of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation	Lived in Decatur

Politics

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Moore, Jesse HaleJesse Hale Moore		Apr 22, 1817	Jul 11, 1883	U.S. Representative from Illinois	Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)
McMillen, Rolla C.Rolla C. McMillen		Oct 5, 1880	May 6, 1961	U.S. Representative from Illinois	Lived in Decatur
Oglesby, Richard JamesRichard James Oglesby		Jul 25, 1824	Apr 24, 1899	U.S. senator and the 14th governor of Illinois	Grew up in Decatur
Westfall, Thomas D.Thomas D. Westfall		May 14, 1927	Mar 7, 2005	Mayor of El Paso, Texas	Born in Decatur

Sports

Baseball

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Beck, Walter "Boom-Boom"Walter "Boom-Boom" Beck		Oct 16, 1904	May 7, 1987	Pitcher for six Major League Baseball teams	Born in Decatur
Dressen, ChuckChuck Dressen		Sep 20, 1894	Aug 10, 1966	Manager and coach for six Major League Baseball teams	Born in Decatur
East, HarryHarry East		1862	1905	Infielder for the Baltimore Orioles	Born in Decatur
Innis, JeffJeff Innis		Jul 5, 1962		Pitcher for the New York Mets	Born in Decatur
Koslofski, KevinKevin Koslofski		Sep 24, 1966		Outfielder for the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers	Born in Decatur
Landrith, HobieHobie Landrith		Mar 16, 1930		Catcher and coach for seven Major League Baseball teams	Born in Decatur
Long, Fred T.Fred T. Long		Jan 22, 1896	Mar 23, 1966	Baseball player in the Negro Leagues; college football coach	Born in Decatur
Madlock, BillBill Madlock		Jan 12, 1951		Third baseman for the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers	Grew up in Decatur
Porter, DanDan Porter		Oct 17, 1931		Outfielder for the Washington Senators	Born in Decatur
Roberson, KevinKevin Roberson		Jan 29, 1968		Outfielder for the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets	Born in Decatur
Scharein, ArtArt Scharein		Jun 30, 1905	Jul 2, 1969	Infielder for the St Louis Browns	Born in Decatur
Scharein, GeorgeGeorge Scharein		Nov 21, 1914	Dec 23, 1981	Shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies	Born in Decatur
Sheridan, JackJack Sheridan		1862	Nov 2, 1914	Umpire (1890–1914), worked at four World Series including Cubs' victory of 1908	Born in Decatur
Skidmore, RoeRoe Skidmore		Oct 30, 1945		Pinch-hitter for the Chicago Cubs, rare MLB player with batting average of 1.000	Born in Decatur
Snitker, BrianBrian Snitker		Oct 17, 1955		Current Manager of Atlanta Braves	Born in Decatur
Unser, DelDel Unser		Dec 9, 1944		Center fielder for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies	Born in Decatur

Basketball

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Bond, LaToyaLaToya Bond		Feb 13, 1984		Guard for the Indiana Fever (WNBA)	Born in Decatur
Day, ToddTodd Day		Jan 7, 1970		Shooting guard for five National Basketball Association teams	Born in Decatur
Harangody, LukeLuke Harangody		Jan 2, 1988		Forward for the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers	Born in Decatur

Football

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Avant, JasonJason Avant		Apr 20, 1983		Wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs	Attended MacArthur High School in Decatur
Fairchild, SteveSteve Fairchild		Jun 21, 1958		Head football coach at Colorado State University	Born in Decatur
Halas, GeorgeGeorge Halas		Feb 2, 1895	Oct 31, 1983	Founder of the Decatur Staleys, which became the Chicago Bears	Lived in Decatur
Long, HarryHarry Long		Dec 28, 1897	Dec 8, 1945	College football coach and Wiley College biology professor	Born in Decatur
Miller, BritBrit Miller		Sep 15, 1986		Fullback for the St. Louis Rams	Born in Decatur

Other sports

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Chizevsky-Nicholls, KimKim Chizevsky-Nicholls		Apr 23, 1968		IFBB bodybuilder	Grew up in Decatur
Hammel, PennyPenny Hammel		Mar 24, 1962		Golfer on the LPGA Tour	Born in Decatur

References

1. Health Science Librarians of Illinois News Letter, Vol. 22, Issue ¾, page 6
2. http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/08/grammy.night/index.html