Famous Iowans
Iowans have made a big difference in the world — from the Oval Office to the box office, from the Old West frontier to the new frontiers of science, from theaters of war to the stages of Broadway, Iowans have led the way. Here are the names of a few famous Iowans.
President Herbert Hoover, Thirty-first president of the United States
Vice President Henry A. Wallace, Served under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and founded Pioneer Hi-Bred International
First Lady Mamie Doud Eisenhower, Wife of General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Carrie Chapman Catt, Suffragist leader whose efforts resulted in women’s right to vote
William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Celebrated frontier scout and Wild West showman
Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and father of the Green Revolution
John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry, Co-inventors of the digital computer
Grant Wood, Leader of the Regionalist art movement and painter of American Gothic
Bob Feller, Baseball Hall of Fame member; pitcher for the Cleveland Indians in the 1930s, ‘40s and ’50s
Mac Kinlay Kantor, Author and screenwriter whose work includes Civil War novels and the movie classic The Best Years of Our Lives
Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and author of A Thousand Acres
John Wayne, Oscar-winning actor remembered for cowboy and combat hero roles
Ashton Kutcher, Film and television actor seen in That ’70s Show
Elijah Wood, Actor and star of the Lord of the Rings trilogy
Donna Reed, Academy Award-winning actress and star of It’s a Wonderful Life
Glenn Miller, Big Band leader and popular musician of the Swing Era
Simon Estes, World-renowned opera singer
Meredith Willson, Composer of the Broadway musical The Music Man
Dan Gable, Olympic champion wrestler and coach, all-time leader in NCAA history for titles won.