Kirksville, Missouri - Notable People

Notable People

• Doris Akers, gospel singer and composer.
• Samuel W. Arnold, three-term U.S. Representative from Missouri 1st District (1943–49)
• Joseph Baldwin, founder and first president of First District Normal School, now Truman State University
• William Beckner, mathematician
• Gordon Bell, early computer engineer
• Robert J. Behnen, a genealogist and former Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives
• Anthony Cistaro, actor, born In Kirksville but grew up in California.
• Charles F. Cochran, U.S. Representative (1897–1905), born in Kirksville. Raised in Kansas.
• Debra Di Blasi, prize-winning writer
• Rusty Draper, singer
• Harry H. Laughlin, eugenics proponent in the early 20th century
• Alex Linder, White Supremacy leader and owner/operator of the Vanguard News Network, an antisemitic, white supremacist website launched in 2000.
• Rebecca Mark-Jusbasche, former head of Enron International.
• Rebecca McClanahan, Professor of Nursing and former Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives
• Archie Musick painter 1902–1978
• John R. Musick, late 19th century historian & author
• Jim Musick, American professional football player.
• Ruth Ann Musick, folklorist and author
• Geraldine Page, Academy Award-winning actress
• James E. Rieger, US Army colonel & winner of the Distinguished Service Cross.
• Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O., founder of Osteopathic Medicine
• Robert Taylor is another of several actors who lived in Kirksville. As a child he was here for a short period while his father Dr. Spangler Andrew Brugh attended Osteopath School.
• William Traylor, character actor and founder of the Loft Studio in Hollywood.
• Rhonda Vincent, Award-winning bluegrass singer.
• Arthur L. Willard, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral & winner of the Navy Cross.
• John Wimber, Charismatic Movement leader and keyboardist for the Righteous Brothers