List of people from Mobile, Alabama

Notable people, past and present, who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Mobile, Alabama:

Arts and literature

*Gregory Benford, science fiction author and physicist.
*Augusta Jane Evans, author.
*Winston Groom, author, best known for his book "Forrest Gump".cite web|title="Winston Groom"|work="Alabamiana, A Guide to Alabama"|url=http://www.al.com/alabamiana/index.ssf?literary.html|accessdate=2007-10-16]
*Melinda Haynes, author.
*Roy Hoffman, author.
*William March, author and World War I veteran.
*Bryant H. McGill, editor and author.
*William P. McGivern, author.
*Albert Murray, author.
*Michelle Richmond, author.
*Geoffrey Sauer, theorist and author.
*Eugene Sledge, university professor and author.
*Stanley R. Tiner, former executive editor of the Mobile "Press-Register". Now with "The Sun Herald in Biloxi-Gulfport, Mississippi, Tiner and his staff won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in journalism for Hurricane Katrina coverage.
*John Augustus Walker, artist known for his paintings and murals.
*Eugene Walter, labeled as "Mobile's Renaissance Man" because of his diverse activities in many areas of the arts. He was interred in 1998 in the historic Church Street Graveyard by special resolution of the city.cite web|title="Eugene Walter"|work="The Internet Movie Database"|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0910022/bio|accessdate=2007-10-16]

Film and television

*Jason Guy, contestant on the third season of "Big Brother".
*Orlando Jones, comedian and TV actor.
*Mary Lanier, film actress.
*Richard Tyson, film actor.
*Connie Bea Hope, television personality

Historic

*Joseph Stillwell Cain, Jr., largely credited with the rebirth of Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile after the Civil War. Mobile celebrates Joe Cain Day on the Sunday before Mardi Gras.cite web|title="Joe Cain Articles"|work=Joe Danborn & Cammie East,"Mobile Register", 2001.|url=http://cainsmerrywidows.org/articles.html|accessdate=2007-10-16]
*Alva Erskine Smith Vanderbilt, born and raised in Mobile, wife of William K. Vanderbilt and mother of Consuelo Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. Known for building several of the most noted houses of the Gilded Era and later a crusader for the women's suffrage movement and the Equal Rights Amendment. [Stuart, Amanda Mackenzie. "Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt: The Story of a Daughter and a Mother in the Gilded Age". New York: HarperCollins, 2006. ISBN 0066214181]

Military

*Jeremiah Denton, Admiral US Navy.
*William Crawford Gorgas, United States physician and 22nd Surgeon General of the U.S. Army who is best known for his work in abating the transmission of yellow fever and malaria.
*Kathryn P. Hire, Captain US Naval Reserve, NASA Astronaut.
*John D. New, United States Marine in World War II
*Admiral Raphael Semmes, captain of the CSS "Alabama" during the American Civil War and resident of Mobile. The Mobile suburb of Semmes is named in his honor.cite web|title="Raphael Semmes"|work="Alabama Hall of Fame"|url=http://www.archives.state.al.us/famous/famebama.html|accessdate=2007-10-16]
*Leighton W. Smith, Jr., four-star Admiral in the United States Navy. In 1994, he became the Commander in Chief of U. S Naval Forces Europe and Allied Forces Southern Europe.

Music

*Billy Bang, jazz violinist and composer.
*Jimmy Buffett, vocalist, songwriter and entrepreneur. [Buffett, J: "A Pirate Looks at Fifty",page 402. Random House, 1998. ISBN 0679435271 ] cite web|title="Jimmy Buffett"|work="Alabamiana, A Guide to Alabama"|url=http://www.al.com/alabamiana/index.ssf?music.html|accessdate=2007-10-16]
*Vice Cooler, lead vocalist and songwriter for XBXRX.
*James Reese Europe, conductor and composer.
*Urban Clifford "Urbie" Green, professional jazz trombonist.
*Jimmy Hall,lead vocalist and harmonica player for Wet Willie.
*Will Kimbrough, vocalist, songwriter, musician and producer.
*Allison Moorer, Oscar-nominated songwriter.
*Bernard Odum, bass player, best known for performing in James Brown's band.
*Rich Boy, rap and hip hop artist.
*Terrance Quaites, aka TQ, R&B artist.
*Ray Sawyer, lead vocalist. of Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show.
*Ward Swingle, jazz vocalist.
*Fred Wesley, jazz and funk trombonist.
*Cootie Williams, jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter, performed with Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman.

Political

*Sanford Bishop, Democratic Party, member of the United States House of Representatives.
*Vivian Davis Figures, Democratic Party, serving her third full term in the Alabama State Senate.
*Alexis Herman, Democratic Party, served as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton.
*Ethan Allen Hitchcock, U.S. minister to Russia under President William McKinley, U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Theodore Roosevelt.
*Samuel L. Jones, Democratic Party, elected as in 2005 as Mobile's first African American Mayor.
*William Holcombe "Bill" Pryor, Jr., Republican Party, formerly Alabama Attorney General, currently a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
*Jeff Sessions, Republican Party, formerly Alabama Attorney General, United States Senator.
*Donald Eugene Siegelman, Democratic Party, only person in the history of Alabama to be elected to serve in all four of the top statewide offices: Secretary of State, Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor and Governor.

Religious

*Oscar Hugh Lipscomb, first Archbishop of Mobile (Roman Catholic) and its eighth bishop.
*Michael Portier ,first Bishop of Mobile.
*Dominic Manucy, third Bishop of Mobile.
*Abram Joseph Ryan, poet, and a Roman Catholic priest at St. Mary's parish in Mobile. Was known as the "Poet-priest of the South".
*Thomas Joseph Toolen, sixth Bishop of Mobile.

ports

Mobile is the birthplace of five members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Only New York City and Chicago can claim to be the birthplace of more members of the Hall.
*Hank Aaron, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and (prior) all-time home run leader.Reichler, Joseph L. "The Baseball Encyclopedia", New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1979. ISBN 0025789708] Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile is named in his honor as is the Hank Aaron Loop in downtown Mobile.cite web|title=Baseball Page Bio|work=thebaseballpage.com|url=http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/aaronha01.php|accessdate=2007-10-16]
*Tommy Aaron, Major League Baseball player.
*Bill Adair, Major League Baseball and manager.
*Terry Adams, Major League Baseball player.
*Willie Anderson, offensive lineman for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals .
*Frank Bolling, Major League Baseball player.
*Robert William Howard a.k.a. Bob Holly, professional wrestler.
*Antonio Lang, former Duke men's basketball and NBA player.
*Tamaurice "Tee" Martin, former University of Tennessee, NFL and CFL quarterback. Led Tennessee to an undefeated season (13-0) and a National Championship in 1998.
*Willie McCovey, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
*Amos Otis, Major League Baseball player.
*Jake Peavy, baseball pitcher, currently with the San Diego Padres. Achieved National League Triple Crown in 2007 season and is the frontrunner for the Cy Young Award.
*Satchel Paige, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Satchel Paige Drive in Mobile is named in his honor. cite web|title="Satchel Paige"|work="Satchel Paige Biography"|url=http://www.satchelpaige.com/bio2.html|accessdate=2007-10-16]
*Juan Pierre, Major League Baseball player, currently with the L.A. Dodgers.
*Jamarcus Russell, first round first pick Quarterback for Oakland Raiders, LSU Alumni.
*Ozzie Smith, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
*Erick Walder, American long jumper.
*Billy Williams, Baseball Hall of Fame.

Others

*Yolande Betbeze, Miss America 1951
* Percy Pringle (real name: William Moody), professional wrestling manager best known for his WWE tenure as Paul Bearer

References