List of people from Elgin, Illinois

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

Authors and academics

• E.C. "Mike" Alft, historian, author, and former mayor of Elgin
• Nina Burleigh, journalist and author
• Paul Flory, chemist; Nobel Prize winner (1974)
• Lloyd Hall, chemist
• Donella Meadows, environmentalist
• Jessica Mink, astronomer; co-discoverer of the rings around Uranus
• John Platt, computer scientist
• Tom Shales, journalist; Pulitzer Prize winner (1988)
• Dwight Smith Young, physicist with the Manhattan Project
• Carleton Washburne, educator; author

Business and invention

• Max Adler, vice president of Sears & Roebuck; benefactor of the Adler Planetarium
• Lawrence B. Hamlin, marketer and purveyor of Hamlin's Wizard Oil
• Lysander Hamlin, co-originator of Hamlin's Wizard Oil with John Austen Hamlin
• James P. Liautaud, industrialist, inventor, and business theorist
• Earl "Madman" Muntz, marketer, car stereo and 4-track cartridge pioneer
• James Roche, chairman of General Motors

Media and arts

• Dan Andriano, musician
• BarlowGirl, Christian rock band
• Joe Becker, musician
• Bruce Boxleitner, actor
• Josh Caterer, songwriter, musician, singer
• Citizen Way, Christian rock band
• Daniel de Marbelle, songwriter; wrote When They Ring Those Golden Bells
• Erik Foss, artist and curator
• Jim Gaffigan, comedian, actor, and author
• Mitzi Gaynor, actress and entertainer; lived in Elgin
• George Hamlin, opera singer; son of John Austin Hamlin
• John Austin Hamlin, magician
• Matt Hoffman, contestant on Big Brother 12
• Charles Ingalls, father of Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie); lived in nearby Campton Township
• Laurence Kaptain, recording artist; Dean at the College of Music and Dramatic Arts, Louisiana State University
• William LeBaron, playwright and film producer
• Kevin Martin, musician
• Norman Mayell, musician (Sopwith Camel, Blue Cheer, Norman Greenbaum)
• Paleo (David Strackany), folk singer-songwriter
• Jane Peterson, painter and artist
• John Qualen, actor
• Courtney Reed, stage actress; originated the role of Jasmine in Aladdin on Broadway
• Marie Sidenius Zendt, singer

Military

• Harry Chamberlin, U.S. Army brigadier general and Olympic medalist in equestrian events
• William Francis Lynch, American Civil War veteran and US Army brigadier general

Politics and law

• Ray Barnhart, Texas state representative
• Robert L. Bergman (1948–2013), Illinois state representative
• DeGoy B. Ellis (1876–1949), Illinois state representative and lawyer
• Thomas W. Ferry (1827–1896), acting President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate and U.S. Senator
• Peter Fitzgerald, U.S. Senator from Illinois
• Barbara Giolitto, Illinois state representative
• Adam Neylon, Wisconsin state representative
• Jeanette Ward, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives; lived in Elgin until moving to Casper, Wyoming in 2021

Sports

• Charlene Barnett (1928–1979), baseball player
• Earl Britton (1903–1973), football player
• Bethany Goldsmith (1927–2004), baseball player
• Harry Hanson (1896–1966), baseball player
• Hunkey Hines (1867–1928), baseball player
• Tony Kaufmann (1900–1982), baseball player
• Scott Kellar (born 1963), football player
• Ed McDonough (1886–1926), baseball player
• Lou North (1891–1974), baseball player
• Brian Oldfield (born 1945), Olympic shot putter
• David Otunga (born 1980), wrestler
• Erwin Renfer (1891–1957), baseball player
• Flynn Robinson (born 1941), basketball player
• Rick Short (born 1972), baseball player
• Roger Smithberg (born 1966), baseball player
• Ray Whipple (1893–1973), football player

References