Texas Famous People

Famous Americans: History and Biographies

Links to histories and biographies of the famous people of Texas. Many famous people of Texas have made significant contributions to the history of our nation and the state of Texas. These famous Americans, famous entertainers, famous players, famous scientist, famous singers, famous statesmen, famous women, heroes, great explorers, and others Texas famous Americans have all made Texas their home. This list includes Texas historical figures, celebrities and those individuals of Texas who have influenced the lives of others.

Famous People from Texas

• Mary Kay Ash (1915 -2001) Cosmetics entrepreneur and founder of Mary Kay cosmetics; born in Hot Wells.
• Steven Fuller Austin (1793 - 1836) Founding father of Texas and namesake of the state's capital.
• Clyde Barrow (1909 - 1934) Born in Teleco, Texas and half of the infamous Bonnie and Clyde duo, Clyde "Champion " Barrow assisted his partner, Bonnie Parker, in a nationwide crime spree that lasted from 1932 until their deaths in 1934. The two met in West Dallas, Texas in January 1930, and after Clyde's parole from burglary charges in 1932 they began a nationwide campaign of crime. Together the pair committed 13 murders, numerous kidnappings, and several burglaries and robberies. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies engaged in one of the largest manhunts the United States had seen up to that time, capturing national attention. With most of their accomplices already dead or captured, Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed and killed instantly by a posse of lawmen on May 23, 1934.
• Carol Burnett (1933 - ) Comedian and actress of "The Carol Burnett Show"; born in San Antonio.
• George W. Bush (1946 - ) 43rd US President; grew up in Midland and Houston.
• Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890 - 1969) The 34^th US President (1953-1961); born in Denison.
• Conrad Hilton (1887-1979) was born in San Antonio. He founded the international chain of business hotels that bear his name and became one of the world's wealthiest men. Today, there are more than 230 Hilton Hotels worldwide.
• Buddy Holly (1936 - 1959) Considered one of the fathers of rock 'n roll; Buddy Holly was born Charles Hardin Holley in Lubbock, Texas. Holly was first noticed by Decca Records as part of an opening act for Bill Haley and the Comets. Eventually, Holly formed his own band "The Crickets." His promising career was cut short when he was touring with Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson ("The Big Bopper") and a small plane carrying the group crashed in Iowa, killing all aboard. This incident is widely believed to be the event referred to as "The Day the Music Died" in Don McLean's song "American Pie."
• Lyndon B. Johnson (1908 - 1973) The 36^th US President (1963-1969); born in Stonewall.
• Willie Nelson (1933 - ) Country music singer and songwriter; born in Abbott.
• Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Supreme Court justice; born in El Paso, Texas. O'Connor, the first woman appointed to the US Supreme Court, grew up on 198,000 acre ranch in Texas. After practicing law, O'Connor was elected to the state Senate in Arizona. She also served on the Arizona Court of Appeals. She was encouraged to run for governor, but declined. President Ronald Reagan appointed her to the Supreme Court in 1981
• Roy Orbison (1936 - 1988) Singer; born in Vernon.
• Selena Perez (1971 - 1995) Famous Latin singer; born in Texarkana.
• H. Ross Perot (1930 - ) Dallas computer billionaire, philanthropist, and independent (Reform Party) candidate for US president in 1992 and 1996; born in Texarkana.
• Dan Rather (1931 - ) TV newscaster and host of CBS Evening News; born in Wharton.(born October 31, 1931) is an American journalist and the former news anchor for the CBS Evening News. He is now managing editor and anchor of the television news magazine Dan Rather Reports on the cable channel AXS TV. Rather was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from March 9, 1981, to March 9, 2005. He also contributed to CBS's 60 Minutes. Rather became embroiled in controversy about a disputed news report involving President George W. Bush's Vietnam-era service in the National Guard and subsequently left CBS Evening News in 2005, and he left the network altogether after 43 years in 2006
• Ernest Tubb (February 9, 1914 - September 6, 1984), nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was an American singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of country music. Born on a cotton farm near the modern-day ghost town of Crisp, Texas, Tubb became an important country musician. His drawling vocals, unaffected lyrics, and espousal of the electric guitar made him a major influence on honky tonk. His radio program, Midnight Jamboree, helped launch such stars as Elvis Presley. Tubb once drunkenly fired a .357 Magnum at someone in Nashville. Luckily for the near-victim, who was not the man Tubb had been looking for, he missed. Who was Tubb's intended target?
• Nolan Ryan (1947 - ) Baseball pitcher who pitched seven no-hitters; born in Refugio.
• Sandra Day O'Connor (1930 - ) US Supreme Court justice; born in El Paso.

More Famous People of Texas

Find more more Texas famous people below. You may not even realize many of these famous people were born in Texas or notable associated with Texas, including actors, actresses, explorers, historical figures, inventors, musicians, novelists, professional athletes, important politicians, singers, sport stars and more.

• Red Adair fireman oil well fires, Houston
• Alvin Ailey choreographer, Rogers
• Gene Autry singer, actor, Tioga
• Kathy Baker actress, Midland
• Cyd Charisse actress, dancer, Amarillo
• Henry Cisneros politician, San Antonio
• Denton A. Cooley heart surgeon, Houston
• Joan Crawford actress, San Antonio
• Robert Dennard inventor, Terrell
• A. J. Foyt auto racer, Houston
• Larry Hagman actor, Fort Worth
• Ben Hogan golfer, Dublin
• Howard Hughes industrialist, film producer, Houston
• Jack Johnson boxer, Galveston
• Michael Johnson olympic sports, Dallas
• George Jones singer, Saratoga
• Janis Joplin blues singer, Port Arthur
• Tommy Lee Jones actor, San Saba
• Trini Lopez singer, Dallas
• Mary Martin singer, actress, Weatherford
• Roger Miller singer, songwriter, Fort Worth
• Spanky McFarland actor, Fort Worth
• Audie Murphy actor, war hero, Kingston
• Chester Nimitz admiral, Fredricksburg
• Buck Owens singer, Sherman
• Bonnie Parker outlaw, Rowena
• Katherine Anne Porter author, Indian Creek
• Wiley Post aviator, Grand Saline
• Robert Rauschenberg painter, Port Arthur
• Tex Ritter singer, Murval
• Eugene Wesley Gene Roddenberry screenwriter, El Paso
• Tabitha Soren TV journalist, San Antonio
• Rip Torn actor, director, Temple
• Tommy Tune dancer, choreographer, Wichita Falls
• Kathy Whitworth golfer, Monahans
• Dooley Wilson actor, musician, Tyler
• Babe Didrikson Zaharias athlete, golfer, Port Arthur