Massillon, Ohio - Notable Natives

Notable Natives

Listed alphabetically, by last name:

• John Blackburn, wrote the lyrics of "Moonlight in Vermont"
• Paul Brown, football player and hall of fame coach
• David Canary, actor
• Jacob S. Coxey, Sr., politician and activist
• Shawn Crable, second-team All-American linebacker and defensive team captain at the University of Michigan; selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft by the New England Patriots
• Joseph Davenport, founder of the Massillon Bridge Company, inventor of the locomotive cab and cow catcher.
• Jan DeGaetani, mezzo-soprano
• Mayhew Folger, ship captain and uncle of Lucretia Mott
• Lillian Gish, film star
• Rod Graber, member of 1958 Cleveland Indians.
• Bobby Grier, first African-American to play in a college football bowl game (the 1956 Sugar Bowl)
• Morton Grossman, known as the "father of modern gastrointestinal endocrine physiology"
• Mike Hershberger, MLB player for the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, and the Milwaukee Brewers
• Jim Houston, member of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Bowl linebacker for the Cleveland Browns
• Lin Houston, an All-American guard who played for Paul Brown in Massillon, at Ohio State and with the Cleveland Browns
• Don James, college football coach
• Bob Knight, college basketball coach
• Mark Kozelek, singer/songwriter
• Matt Lanter, actor and model
• Stanley Macomber, inventor of the open-web steel joist.
• Ed Molinski, member of College Football Hall of Fame, two-time All-American guard, member of 1938 Tennessee Volunteers National Championship team
• Robert R. Scott, Machinist's Mate First Class aboard the USS California (BB-44) posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
• Warren Shanabrook, Major League Baseball player
• Joe Sparma, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and quarterback for Ohio State University
• Chris Spielman, 1987 Lombardi Award winner at Ohio State and two-time All-Pro NFL linebacker
• Rick Spielman, GM of Minnesota Vikings
• Stalley, rapper
• Harry Stuhldreher, three-time All-American quarterback at Notre Dame, one of the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame
• Patrick Sweany, blues-rock musician
• Jeff Timmons, founder/member of pop group, 98 Degrees

• Ryan Travis, Tuslaw High School graduate signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks
• Bob Vogel, football player
• John Wager, NFL center
• Tom Weiskopf, professional golfer
• Stanfield Wells, Massillon's first All-American football player, selected in 1910
• Alex Wood, college and NFL football coach
• James Young, White House physician to John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson