List of people from Downriver

U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Wayne County. Areas shaded in pink represent Downriver communities.

This is a list of notable people from the Downriver region of Metro Detroit, Michigan, United States. Although not everyone listed was born in a Downriver community, they all live (or have lived) there, and have significant connections to the region. The communities of Downriver are:

Notable people

NameCommunityKnown for
Paul Assenmacher Allen Park[1]
Southgate[2]		 Former MLB pitcher who played for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians
Steve Avery Trenton
Taylor
Dearborn[3][4]		 Former MLB pitcher who played for the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers
Lucille Ball Wyandotte[5] Actress
Joe C. Trenton
Taylor[6]		 Rapper; hype man for Kid Rock
Lloyd Carr Riverview[7][8] Former head football coach for the University of Michigan
Al Cicotte Melvindale[9] Former MLB pitcher who played for several teams including the New York Yankees, Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, and Cleveland Indians
Archie Clark Ecorse Former professional basketball player who played for five NBA teams 1966–1976; considered the father of the crossover dribble
Dann Florek Flat Rock[10] Actor and film director, best known for his role as NYPD Captain Donald Cragen on NBC's Law & Order
Max Gail Grosse Ile[11] Actor
Fred Gladding Flat Rock[12] Former MLB pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros
Andy Greene Trenton[13][14][15] Former NHL defenseman for the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders
Bob Guiney Riverview[16][17] Television personality who was a contestant on the first season of The Bachelorette and the fourth season of The Bachelor; host of GSN Live 2009–2012
Mike Jolly Melvindale[18] Former NFL safety for the Green Bay Packers
William S. Knudsen Grosse Ile[19] Automotive industry executive and U.S. Army general
Bob Kuzava Wyandotte
Grosse Ile		 Former professional baseball pitcher who played for eight MLB teams 1946–1957
Charley Lau Romulus Former MLB player (1956–1967) and hitting coach (1969–1983)
John Long Romulus Former professional basketball player; played in the NBA, CBA, and for the Tours Joué Basket in France
Budd Lynch Wyandotte Public address announcer and radio play-by-play announcer of the Detroit Red Wings from 1949 to 2012 (his death)
Eric Lynch Woodhaven Former NFL running back for the Detroit Lions; played for the WLAF Scottish Claymores
Lee Majors Wyandotte Actor
Terry Mills Romulus[20] Former NBA power forward who played for five NBA teams, including the Detroit Pistons 1990–2001
Bill Morrison Lincoln Park Co-creator of Bongo Comics
Kevin Nash Trenton Retired professional wrestler; actor
Ransom E. Olds Grosse Ile[19][21] Automotive industry pioneer; namesake for Oldsmobile and REO brands
Heinz Prechter Grosse Ile Automotive industry entrepreneur who founded the American Sunroof Company
J. J. Putz Trenton Former MLB pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Brian Rafalski Wyandotte Former NFL defenseman for the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings; also played hockey for Team USA at the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2006
Mary Lynn Rajskub Trenton Actor
Bob Seger Lincoln Park[22] Retired singer, songwriter, and rock musician
Matt Shoemaker Wyandotte Former MLB player who played for the Los Angeles Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins; also played for the Yomiuri Giants
Jessica Smith Melvindale[23]

Allen Park[24]

 Professional speed skater; competed in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games
Derek St. Holmes Riverview Guitarist for Ted Nugent
Chester Taylor River Rouge Former NFL running back for the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Baltimore Ravens
Robert Teet River Rouge
Riverview		 Professional and amateur wrestler; U.S. Wrestling Team member and All World honors recipient; author
Tom Tresh Allen Park[25] Former MLB player who played for the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers; MLB Rookie of the Year 1962
Preston Tucker Lincoln Park[26] Automotive industry entrepreneur, known for designing the Tucker 48
Rob Tyner Lincoln Park Rock musician; vocalist of MC5
Jennifer Valoppi Allen Park Newscaster, producer, and author
John Varvatos Allen Park[27] Fashion designer
Vickie Winans Ecorse Gospel singer

References

  1. ↑ Gorgon, Dave (November 6, 2017). "Allen Park Sports Hall of Fame has inducted dozens over the years". News-Herald. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  2. ↑ Pesch, Ron (June 4, 2019). "Flashback 1979: Detroit Dominates Diamonds". Michigan High School Athletic Association. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  3. ↑ Hufford, Tom. "Steve Avery". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Steve Avery". Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame. Michigan. 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ Alley, Jason (August 6, 2011). "Wyandotte Loves Lucy: Lucille Ball Lived Here as a Child". Patch. Wyandotte, MI. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  6. ↑ Graff, Gary (November 21, 2000). "Kid Rock's Joe C. Dies". ABC News. Retrieved February 19, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ↑ Komer, David (November 29, 2007). "City of Riverview honors Lloyd Carr". The News-Herald. Southgate, Michigan. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Inductee: Lloyd Henry Carr. Jr". Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  9. ↑ Skelton, David E. "Al Cicotte". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 16, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ↑ Rose, Judy (December 1, 1988). "Roxanne`s Beau Is A Leading Man In Real Life". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  11. ↑ Black, Ariel (August 26, 2015). "'Say nice things about Detroit' creator helps carry on message". Crain's Detroit Business. Detroit, Michigan: Crain Communications. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  12. ↑ Hofmann, Paul. "Fred Gladding". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 16, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ "Meet Trenton's first family of hockey". News-Herald. March 21, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ↑ Caples, Michael (August 11, 2016). "How Andy Greene and his mom team up for a hockey camp in Trenton every summer". MiHockey. Retrieved February 19, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ↑ Stemen, Nate (November 22, 2012). "NHL Star Andy Greene Honored in Trenton Among Fans, Friends and Family". Patch. Retrieved February 19, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ↑ Kasuba, Jim (March 8, 2014). "Riverview Hall of Fame to induct John Price and Robert Guiney". The News-Herald. Southgate, Michigan: The News-Herald. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  17. ↑ Bao, Robert (October 1, 2003). "Spartan Profiles: Bob Guiney". Spartan Story Hub. East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  18. ↑ Engelhardt, Henry (October 5, 1978). "Blue defensive back has Jolly outlook". The Michigan Daily. p. 10. Retrieved March 16, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. 1 2 Rose, Lacey (August 14, 2006). "Grosse Ile Grandeur". Forbes. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Mr. Basketball". Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  21. ↑ Wright, Mandi (August 30, 2025). "Historic Grosse Ile mansion once belonged to auto baron Ransom E. Olds". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  22. ↑ Herndon, Dave (November 16, 2017). "Bob Seger Day set for Friday in Lincoln Park". The News-Herald. Southgate, Michigan. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  23. ↑ Donaldson, Amy (January 21, 2014). "Unafraid to follow her own path, Jessica Smith now has Olympic glory within her grasp". Deseret News. Archived from the original on January 23, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  24. ↑ Seidel, Jeff (January 7, 2014). "Melvindale's Jessica Smith qualifies for 3 short-track speed skating races in Sochi Olympics". The Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  25. ↑ Wancho, Joseph. "Tom Tresh". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  26. ↑ Day, Jeff (May 4, 2017). "Preston Tucker talk coming to Lincoln Park Historical Museum". The News-Herald. Retrieved March 16, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ↑ Conlin, Jennifer (April 29, 2015). "John Varvatos Goes Home to Detroit". The New York Times. p. D7. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
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.