List of people from Adrian, Michigan explained

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Adrian, Michigan.

Academics and engineering

• William James Beal, botanist; co-founder of Collegeville (later known as East Lansing); born in Adrian^[1]
• Norman Bel Geddes, theatrical and industrial designer (1939 New York World's Fair pavilion "Futurama"); born in Adrian^[2]
• Myrtle Craig Mowbray, educator and first African American woman to graduate from the Michigan Agricultural College in 1907; born in Adrian^[3]
• Garry Wills, prolific Pulitzer Prize-winning author, journalist, and historian, grew up in Adrian^[4]

Business

• Orville D. Merillat, founder of Merillat Kitchens, later Merillat Industries; moved to Adrian as a young man

Media and music

• Kirk Baily (1963–2022), actor
• Priscilla Bonner (1899–1996), silent screen movie star; grew up in Adrian
• Byron Darnton, war correspondent for the New York Times during World War II; born in Adrian^[5]
• Allen Lee Haff, television personality (Auction Hunters); born in Adrian^[6]
• Margaret Wynne Lawless (1847–1926) poet, author, educator, philanthropist^[7]
• Matt Noveskey, bass player for Blue October; born in Adrian^[8]
• James Royce Shannon (1881–1946), composer and lyricist; born in Adrian

Politics and law

• Fernando C. Beaman, former U.S. Congressman; lived in Adrian and was mayor in 1856^[9]
• Jerome B. Chaffee, U.S. Senator from Colorado; lived in Adrian where he was a teacher and local businessman^[10]
• Thomas M. Cooley, 25th Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court; lived in Adrian^[11]
• Charles Croswell, 17th Governor of Michigan; lived in Adrian^[12]
• William L. Greenly, fifth Governor of Michigan; lived in Adrian^[13]
• Chris Gregoire, 22nd Governor of Washington; born in Adrian^[14]
• Haviland H. Lund, inspector of home settlement projects for the United States Department of the Interior; born in Adrian^[15]

Crime

• Sile Doty, infamous criminal gang leader; lived in Adrian^[16]

Sports

Baseball

• Rube Kisinger (1876–1941), pitcher for the Detroit Tigers; born in Adrian^[17]
• Mike Marshall (1943-2021), pitcher with 9 different Major League Baseball teams; 2× All-Star (1974, 1975); recipient of the Cy Young Award (1974); born in Adrian^[18]
• Frank Navin (1871–1935), principal owner of the Detroit Tigers (1909–1935); vice president and acting president of the American League; born in Adrian^[19]

Coaching

• William Reid, basketball player, led Adrian High School to 1912 state title, coach at Colgate University, NCAA administrator and member of Basketball Hall of Fame
• Dale R. Sprankle, championship coach at Adrian College^[20]

Football

• Marcus Benard, linebacker for Arizona Cardinals; born in Adrian^[21]
• Kellen Davis, tight end for New York Jets, formerly for Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns; born in Adrian^[22]
• Dorne Dibble, wide receiver for the Detroit Lions; 2x NFL Champion (1953, 1957); born in Adrian^[23]
• John Maulbetsch, All-American football halfback; played for Adrian College in 1911^[24]
• Bob Westfall (1919–1980), All-American football fullback; played for Michigan 1939–1941; played for Detroit Lions 1945 All-pro; inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987; lived in Adrian^[25]

Military

• John Hack, awarded the Medal of Honor; grew up in Adrian and joined the Union Army there

Notes and References

1. Book: Beal, William James Bea. History of the Michigan Agricultural College: And Biographical Sketches of Trustees and Professors. 1915. Agricultural college. 414. William James Beal adrian mi..
2. Book: Magill, Frank N. Magill. The 20th Century A-GI: Dictionary of World Biography, Volume 7. 2013. Routledge. 1319. 978-1136593345.
3. Book: Widder, Keith R.. Michigan Agricultural College: The Evolution of a Land-Grant Philosophy, 1855-1925. Michigan State University Press. 2005. 0870137344. East Lansing. 94; 346–348.
4. Garry Wills, Why I Am A Catholic (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002), 14-16.
5. News: World War correspondent killed at New Guinea. UM Libraries. 139. The Michigan Alumnus. 1942.
6. Web site: Allen Lee Haff Biography. TV.com. February 24, 2014.
7. Book: Curtis. Georgina Pell. Elder. Benedict. The American Catholic Who's who. Public domain. 1. 1911. NC News Service. 359–.
8. Web site: Blue October Matt Noveskey. Spirit of Metal Webzine. February 24, 2014.
9. Web site: BEAMAN, Fernando Cortez (1814 - 1882) . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . February 24, 2014.
10. Web site: CHAFFEE, Jerome Bunty (1825 - 1886). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. February 24, 2014.
11. Web site: Thomas M Cooley . The University of Michigan Law School. February 22, 2014.
12. Web site: Charles M. Croswell . Governors of Michigan. February 22, 2014.
13. Book: GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. 1873. 703.
14. News: Chris Gregoire (D). https://web.archive.org/web/20141029001309/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/chris-gregoire-d/gIQA1eOFAP_topic.html. dead. October 29, 2014. The Washington Post . February 24, 2014.
15. News: Man Governed World Criticized By Women . ... at the sessions of the National Council of Women by Mrs. Haviland Haines Lund, inspector of home settlement projects in the Department of the Interior. ... . . November 11, 1921 . 2011-11-29 .
16. Web site: Silas Doty made early entry in state history. Ludington Daily News . February 24, 2014.
17. Web site: Rube Kisinger . Baseball-Reference.com. February 22, 2014.
18. Web site: Mike Marshall . Baseball-Reference.com. February 22, 2014.
19. Web site: Frank Navin . Society for American Baseball Research. February 22, 2014.
20. Web site: Football Game-by-Game Results. Adrian College Bulldogs. February 22, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140228154515/http://archive.adrian.edu/sports/football_results_all_time.php. February 28, 2014. dead.
21. Web site: Marcus Benard #59 LB. NFL Enterprises LLC . February 24, 2014.
22. Web site: Kellen Davis #89 TE. NFL Enterprises LLC . January 8, 2015.
23. Web site: Dorne Dibble . NFL Enterprises LLC . February 24, 2014.
24. Web site: [{{College Football HoF/url|id=1315}} Johnny Maulbetsch ]. National Football Foundation. February 24, 2014.
25. Web site: Bob Westfall. Pro-Football-Reference.com. February 24, 2014.