List of people from Decatur, Illinois

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

Authors and academics

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
John Dossey Mar 15, 1944 Feb 5, 2024 Mathematician Born in Decatur [1]
Karl August Folkers Sep 1, 1906 Dec 7, 1991 Biochemist known for work on the structure of coenzyme Q10 Born in Decatur [2]
Charles J. Givens Feb 5, 1941 Jul 12, 1998 Financial lecturer and author Born in Decatur [3]
John J. Green Sociologist Born in Decatur
Nathan H. Lents Sep 22, 1978 Biologist, professor, and author Born in Decatur
James W. Loewen Feb 6, 1942 Aug 19, 2021 Author, historian, and sociology professor Born in Decatur [4]
Andrew R. Neureuther Jul 30, 1941 Sep 9, 2025 Electrical engineer Born in Decatur
Richard Peck Apr 10, 1934 May 24, 2018 Children's author; 2001 Newbery Medal winner Born in Decatur
Marvin A. Sweeney Jul 4, 1953 Author, biblical scholar, and professor Grew up in Decatur
Alice S. Tyler Apr 27, 1859 Apr 18, 1944 Librarian, president of American Library Association 1920–1921 Born in Decatur
Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)

Commerce


Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Dwayne Andreas Mar 4, 1918 Nov 16, 2016 Former CEO and chairman of Archer Daniels Midland ADM Lived in Decatur
Died in Decatur
James Millikin Aug 2, 1827 Mar 2, 1909 Founder of Millikin National Bank and Millikin University Lived in Decatur
Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)

Crime

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Charles E. Boles

(a.k.a. Black Bart)

 1829 1888 Western outlaw Lived in Decatur

Media and arts


Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Chris Berry Aug 11, 1960 Broadcasting journalist and management Born in Decatur
Jenny Lou Carson Jan 13, 1915 Dec 16, 1978 Country singer-songwriter inducted in Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Born in Decatur
June Christy Nov 20, 1925 Jun 21, 1990 Jazz singer Grew up in Decatur
Loren Coleman Jul 12, 1947 Author, cryptozoologist, radio and television personality Grew up in Decatur
Dale Connelly Oct 4, 1955 Host of Minnesota Public Radio's Radio Heartland [5]
Brian Culbertson Jan 12, 1973 Jazz musician Born in Decatur
Annamary Dickey Apr 11, 1911 June 1, 1999 Soprano at the Metropolitan Opera and star of Broadway musicals Born in Decatur
John Doe Feb 25, 1954 Founder of L.A. punk band X Born in Decatur
Thelma Given Mar 9, 1896 Dec 25, 1977 Concert pianist Raised in Decatur
Chad Gray Oct 16, 1971 Singer of alternative metal band Mudvayne Born in Latham
Jonathan Hammond Filmmaker Grew up in Decatur [6]
Tiny Hill July 19, 1906 Dec 13, 1971 Big band leader Briefly lived in Decatur [7]
Steve Hunter Jun 14, 1948 Guitarist with Mitch Ryder, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, and Peter Gabriel Born in Decatur [8]
Alison Krauss Jul 23, 1971 Country/bluegrass singer and songwriter; most-awarded singer in history of Grammy Awards[9] Born in Decatur
RonReaco Lee Aug 27, 1977 Actor (The Good Guys, Let's Stay Together) Born in Decatur
Judy Martin Jul 23, 1917 Nov 17, 1951 Country and gospel singer; wife of Red Foley Born in Decatur
Nan Martin Jul 15, 1927 Mar 4, 2010 Actress (Mr. Sunshine, The Thorn Birds, Santa Barbara, The Drew Carey Show) Born in Decatur
Stephen Mason Jul 8, 1975 Guitar player for Jars of Clay Grew up in Decatur
Boots Randolph Jun 3, 1927 Jul 3, 2007 Jazz saxophonist; composer of Yakety Sax Played with Dink Welch's Kopy Kats in Decatur (1948 to 1954)
Nala Ray Dec 3, 1997 Social media influencer Born in Decatur
Emitt Rhodes Feb 25, 1950 Jul 19, 2020 Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and recording engineer Born in Decatur
Herbert Ryman Jun 28, 1910 Feb 10, 1989 Artist and Disney Imagineer Grew up in Decatur
Jackie Spinner Author, journalist, college professor; Fulbright Scholar Grew up in Decatur
Edwin B. Willis Jan 28, 1893 Nov 26, 1963 Academy Award-winning motion picture set designer and decorator Born in Decatur

Bands

Name Image Founded Disbanded Music Association Reference
Icon For Hire 2007 present Rock band Formed in Decatur
V Shape Mind 1999 2004 Alternative rock band Formed in Decatur

Military

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Loren D. Hagen Feb 25, 1946 Aug 7, 1971 United States Army first lieutenant, awarded Medal of Honor 1964 Graduate of MacArthur High School [10]
Lemuel F. Holland Jul 28, 1840 Jan 13, 1914 Union Army sergeant, awarded Medal of Honor Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)
Hermann Lieb May 24, 1826 Mar 5, 1908 Union Army officer Lived in Decatur
Isaac C. Pugh Nov 23, 1805 Nov 19, 1874 Union Army general Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)
James H. Rupp May 17, 1918 Sep 30, 1998 United States Navy lieutenant commander Lived in Decatur
Benjamin W. Schenck Aug 12, 1837 Feb 19, 1916 Union Army private, awarded Medal of Honor Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)

Philanthropists

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Connie Boochever Jul 5, 1919 1999 Patron and advocate for the arts; member of Alaska Women's Hall of Fame Born in Decatur
Howard Warren Buffett Oct 14, 1983 Faculty member at Columbia University; trustee of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation Lived in Decatur
Elizabeth Parke Firestone Nov 15, 1897 Oct 13, 1990 Patron and collector of rare art pieces, widow of Harvey S. Firestone Jr. Born in Decatur

Politics

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Rolla C. McMillen Oct 5, 1880 May 6, 1961 U.S. representative from Illinois Lived in Decatur
Jesse Hale Moore Apr 22, 1817 Jul 11, 1883 U.S. representative from Illinois Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)
Richard James Oglesby Jul 25, 1824 Apr 24, 1899 U.S. senator and the 14th governor of Illinois Grew up in Decatur
James Benton Parsons Aug 13, 1911 Jun 19, 1993 Chief judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Attended school in Decatur, Buried in Greenwood Cemetery [11]
Thomas D. Westfall May 14, 1927 Mar 7, 2005 Mayor of El Paso, Texas Born in Decatur

Sports

Baseball

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Walter "Boom-Boom" Beck Oct 16, 1904 May 7, 1987 Pitcher for six Major League Baseball teams Born in Decatur
Chuck Dressen Sep 20, 1894 Aug 10, 1966 Manager and coach for six Major League Baseball teams, 2-time World Series champion Born in Decatur
Harry East 1862 1905 Infielder for Baltimore Orioles Born in Decatur
Jeff Innis Jul 5, 1962 Jan 30, 2022 Pitcher for New York Mets Born in Decatur
Kevin Koslofski Sep 24, 1966 Outfielder for Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers Born in Decatur
Hobie Landrith Mar 16, 1930 Apr 6, 2023 Catcher and coach for seven Major League Baseball teams Born in Decatur
Fred T. Long Jan 22, 1896 Mar 23, 1966 Baseball player in Negro leagues; college football coach Born in Decatur
Bill Madlock Jan 12, 1951 Third baseman for Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers, 4-time NL batting champion Grew up in Decatur
Joe McGinnity Mar 20, 1871 Nov 14, 1929 MLB pitcher 1899–1908, won 246 games, inducted 1946 in Baseball Hall of Fame Grew up in Decatur
Dan Porter Oct 17, 1931 Jan 7, 2017 Outfielder for Washington Senators Born in Decatur
Kevin Roberson Jan 29, 1968 Outfielder for Chicago Cubs and New York Mets Born in Decatur
Art Scharein Jun 30, 1905 Jul 2, 1969 Infielder for St Louis Browns Born in Decatur
George Scharein Nov 21, 1914 Dec 23, 1981 Shortstop for Philadelphia Phillies Born in Decatur
Jack Sheridan 1862 Nov 2, 1914 Umpire (1890–1914), worked at four World Series including Cubs' victory of 1908 Born in Decatur
Roe Skidmore Oct 30, 1945 Pinch-hitter for Chicago Cubs, rare MLB player with batting average of 1.000 Born in Decatur
Brian Snitker Oct 17, 1955 Manager of Atlanta Braves (2016–Present) Born in Decatur
Del Unser Dec 9, 1944 Center fielder for Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies Born in Decatur

Basketball

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
LaToya Bond Feb 13, 1984 Guard for the Indiana Fever (WNBA) Born in Decatur
Todd Day Jan 7, 1970 Shooting guard for five National Basketball Association teams Born in Decatur
Luke Harangody Jan 2, 1988 Forward for the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers Born in Decatur

Football

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Jason Avant Apr 20, 1983 Wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs Attended MacArthur High School in Decatur
Steve Fairchild Jun 21, 1958 Head football coach at Colorado State University Born in Decatur
George Halas Feb 2, 1895 Oct 31, 1983 Founder of the Decatur Staleys, which became the Chicago Bears Lived in Decatur
Harry Long Dec 28, 1897 Dec 8, 1945 College football coach and Wiley College biology professor Born in Decatur
Brit Miller Sep 15, 1986 Fullback for the St. Louis Rams Born in Decatur
Dante Ridgeway Apr 18, 1984 Wide receiver for the New York Jets, St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints Grew up in Decatur, MacArthur High School graduate

Other sports

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Guy Carlton Jan 16, 1954 May 11, 2001 Weightlifter, Olympic medal winner Went to High School in Decatur
Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls Apr 23, 1968 IFBB bodybuilder Grew up in Decatur
Penny Hammel Mar 24, 1962 Golfer on the LPGA Tour Born in Decatur

References

  1. ↑ "John Dossey Obituary (1944-2024)". The Pantagraph. February 12, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2025 – via Legacy.com.
  2. ↑ Olson, R E (September 1, 2001). "Karl August Folkers (1906–1997)". Journal of Nutrition. 131 (9): 2227–30. doi:10.1093/jn/131.9.2227. PMID 11533258.
  3. ↑ "Get-Rich Guru Charles J. Givens Dies". The Washington Post. Fred Ryan. July 1998. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  4. ↑ McFadden, Robert (August 20, 2021). "James W. Loewen, Who Challenged How History Is Taught, Dies at 79". The New York Times. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  5. ↑ Health Science Librarians of Illinois News Letter, Vol. 22, Issue ¾, page 6
  6. ↑ Evans, Julia Dixon (June 9, 2020). "'Expect A Miracle': A Pandemic And A Boiling Point". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  7. ↑ Osborne, Paul (January 25, 2023). "City Beat: Memories Of Famous Decatur And Central Illinois Bandleader Tiny Hill Remain Strong". Decatur Tribune. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  8. ↑ Greene, Andy (November 11, 2020). "Guitarist Steve Hunter on His Journey From 'Berlin' to 'Billion Dollar Babies'". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  9. ↑ Todd Leopold (February 9, 2009). "Plant, Krauss rise with 'Raising Sand' at Grammys". CNN. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  10. ↑ Fallstrom, Bob (November 8, 2010). "Honoring 'a natural born leader'". Herald & Review. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  11. ↑ MarK W., Sorenson (February 4, 2026). "Decatur's James Benton Parsons And The Macon County Africian-American Trail". Decatur Tribune. Paul Osborne.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.