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List of people from Grand Rapids, Michigan

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{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}

{{more citations needed|date=April 2010}}

The following is a list of notable people associated with Grand Rapids, Michigan. These people were born or lived in Grand Rapids.

Artists and artisans

  • Mathias Alten — impressionist painter
  • Jeffrey Brown — comic book creator
  • Frederick Stuart Church — illustrator{{cite web|url=http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/4aa/4aa184.htm|title=Frederick Stuart Church: Holiday Illustrations from the Horst Collection|publisher=Traditional Fine Arts Organization|access-date=April 3, 2010}}
  • Kreigh Collins — painter; cartoonist{{Cite web |title=Collection: Illustrations and papers of Kreigh T. Collins {{!}} Grand Rapids History Center |url=https://archive.grpl.org/repositories/4/resources/59 |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Grand Rapids Public Library Archives}}
  • Paul Collins — painter{{cite web|url=http://www.grpl.org/wiki/images/6/6f/269.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613101858/http://grpl.org/wiki/images/6/6f/269.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2010|title=Grand Rapids History & Special Collections|publisher=Grand Rapids Public Library|access-date=April 3, 2010}}
  • Dirk Gringhuis — illustrator
  • Daniel Vosovic — clothing designer{{cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2008/11/fashion_whiz_daniel_vosovic_co.html|title=Fashion whiz Daniel Vosovic returns home to promote new book|date=November 28, 2008|work=The Grand Rapids Press|access-date=April 3, 2010}}

Business, industry, academic and labor figures

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Criminals

Entertainment figures

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Government officials, politicians and activists

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  • Russell A. Alger — Governor of Michigan; U.S. Secretary of War
  • Justin Amash — U.S. Congressman
  • John Ball — pioneer; member of the Michigan State Legislature
  • Charles E. Belknap — Union Army Captain; U.S. Congressman
  • Harvey Hollister Bundy — Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of War
  • Edmund Burfoot — Member of Michigan House of Representatives
  • Charles C. Comstock — U.S. Congressman from Michigan; mayor of Grand Rapids{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/MI/ofc/grandrapids.html|title=Mayors of Grand Rapids, Michigan|work=The Political Graveyard|access-date=March 10, 2010}}
  • Robert Danhof — jurist
  • Vern Ehlers — U.S. Congressman from Michigan{{cite web|url=http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mi03_ehlers/retirement.html |title=Congressman Vern Ehlers Announces Retirement |date=February 10, 2010 |access-date=April 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304164009/http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mi03_ehlers/retirement.html |archive-date=March 4, 2010 }}
  • William Montague Ferry Jr. — Michigan and Utah Politician
  • Betty Ford — 37th First Lady of the United States
  • Gerald R. Ford — 38th President of the United States{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1976/08/19/357031602.pdf|title=A Common Man on an Uncommon Climb|date=August 19, 1976|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 4, 2010}}
  • Wilder D. Foster — U.S. Congressman from Michigan; mayor of Grand Rapids
  • George Heartwell — Mayor of Grand Rapids{{cite web|url=http://www.grand-rapids.mi.us/index.pl?page_id=1010 |title=Mayor George Heartwell |publisher=City of Grand Rapids, Michigan |access-date=March 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026012038/http://www.grand-rapids.mi.us/index.pl?page_id=1010 |archive-date=October 26, 2010 }}
  • Paul B. Henry — U.S. Congressman{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000514|title=Henry, Paul B.|publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=April 4, 2010}}
  • Julius Houseman — U.S. Congressman; mayor of Grand Rapids
  • Bartel J. Jonkman — U.S. Congressman from Michigan
  • Frank Knox — U.S. Secretary of the Navy; vice presidential candidate in the 1936 U.S. Presidential election
  • Terri Lynn Land — Michigan Secretary of State{{cite news|url=http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/39858462.html|title=Land to Run for Governor|date=February 19, 2009|agency=Associated Press|publisher=WILX-TV|location= Lansing, MI |access-date=April 4, 2010}}
  • Louise Little — Mother of Malcolm X
  • John H. Logie — Mayor of Grand Rapids{{cite web|url=http://www.wnj.com/john_logie/ |title=John H. Logie |publisher=Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. |access-date=April 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323092243/http://www.wnj.com/john_logie/ |archive-date=March 23, 2010 }}
  • Peter Meijer — U.S. Congressman; son of Hank Meijer
  • Frederick Henry Mueller — U.S. Secretary of Commerce{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/mozer-mullarky.html|title=Index to Politicians|work=The Political Graveyard|access-date=June 8, 2010}}
  • Agnes Nestor — women's suffrage and workers' rights activist{{cite web|url=http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5728/|title=Working Her Fingers to the Bone: Agnes Nestor's Story|publisher=History Matters|access-date=June 8, 2010}}
  • Lyman Parks — Mayor of Grand Rapids
  • Helen Cary Russell — president, Grand Rapids Federation of Women's Clubs; president, Michigan State Federation of Women's Clubs
  • Michael Sak — State Representative
  • Harold S. Sawyer — U.S. Congressman
  • Hillary Scholten — U.S. Congresswoman
  • Peter F. Secchia — U.S. Ambassador to Italy
  • William Alden Smith — U.S. Senator
  • Glenn Steil Sr. — member of the Michigan Senate{{cite news|date=May 11, 2010 |title=Glenn Steil obituary |work=Grand Rapids Press |url=https://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/grandrapids/obituary.aspx?n=glenn-steil&pid=142676682&fhid=10097 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200801140411/https://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/grandrapids/obituary.aspx?n=glenn-steil&pid=142676682&fhid=10097 |archive-date=August 1, 2020}}
  • K. William Stinson — U.S. Congressman from Washington
  • Edwin F. Sweet — U.S. Congressman, mayor of Grand Rapids
  • Jerald terHorst — press secretary under President Gerald Ford
  • Edwin F. Uhl — U.S. Assistant Secretary of State ; mayor of Grand Rapids
  • Arthur H. Vandenberg — 88th President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate{{cite web|url=http://www.michmarkers.com/startup.asp?startpage=L1438.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907040423/http://www.michmarkers.com/startup.asp?startpage=L1438.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 7, 2012|title=Arthur Hendrick Vandenberg / Vandenberg Center|work=The Michigan Historical Marker Web Site|access-date=June 8, 2010}}
  • Guy Vander Jagt — U.S. Congressman from Michigan{{cite web|url=http://www.hope.edu/pr/pressreleases/content/view/full/15026|title=Former U.S. Congressman Guy Vander Jagt Dies|date=June 22, 2007|publisher=Hope College Office of Public Relations|access-date=June 8, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528031549/http://www.hope.edu/pr/pressreleases/content/view/full/15026|archive-date=May 28, 2010|df=mdy-all}}
  • Richard VanderVeen — U.S. Congressman {{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/vanche-vandewater.html#R9M0JG3BJ|title=Index to Politicians|work=The Political Graveyard|access-date=June 8, 2010}}
  • Martha Lee Walters — 43rd Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court{{cite web|url=http://courts.oregon.gov/Supreme/BioWalters.page|title=The Honorable Martha L. Walters|year=2009|publisher=Oregon Judicial Department|access-date=June 8, 2010}}

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  • Gretchen Whitmer — Governor of Michigan {{cite web | url=https://thecentraltrend.com/13375/showcase/senator-gretchen-whitmer-fhc-alumna-running-for-governor/ | title=FHC alumna Senator Gretchen Whitmer is running for Governor }}
  • Roger Wilkins — U.S. Assistant Attorney General. Attended Creston High School

Military figures

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  • Keith Clark — U.S. Army bugler who played "Taps" at the funeral of President John F. Kennedy
  • Arthur B. Engel — U.S. Coast Guard rear admiral
  • Benjamin F. Engel — U.S. Coast Guard vice admiral
  • Eugene F. George — U.S. Navy sailor and Navy Cross recipient
  • Scott S. Haraburda — U.S. Army Colonel and president of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers{{cite book |author= Haraburda, Scott S. |title= Christian Controversies: Seeking the Truth |publisher= Meaningful Publications |date= 2013 |pages= [https://archive.org/details/christiancontrov0000hara/page/50 50–53, 103, 221, 226] |isbn= 978-0-9886072-0-0 |url= https://archive.org/details/christiancontrov0000hara/page/50 }}
  • John C. Sjogren — U.S. Army staff sergeant and Medal of Honor recipient
  • Stephen A. Turcotte — U.S. Navy rear admiral
  • Dirk J. Vlug — U.S. Army private first class and Medal of Honor recipient

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Musicians and bands

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Religious figures

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Science

  • Roger Chaffee — NASA astronaut, U.S. Navy lieutenant commander{{cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/chaffee-rb.html|title=Roger B. Chaffee|year=1997|publisher=Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center|access-date=April 5, 2010}}
  • Jewell James Ebers — transistor-theory electrical engineer
  • Christina Koch — NASA astronaut, engineer
  • Jack R. Lousma — NASA astronaut, U.S. Marine Corps colonel
  • Lynn Rogers — biologist

Sports figures

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  • Vince Agnew — NFL player
  • George Andrie — NFL player
  • Dan Archer — NFL player
  • Paul Assenmacher — MLB player
  • Jim Avery — NFL player
  • John Barnum — PGA Tour golfer
  • Terry Barr — NFL player
  • Albrey Battle — gridiron football player{{cite web | url=http://www.all-xfl.com/sanfranciscodemons/team/roster/albreybattle.htm | title=Albrey Battle | publisher=all-xfl.com | access-date=November 26, 2014}}
  • Johnny Benson — NASCAR driver
  • Ray Bentley — NFL player
  • Harry Berrios — baseball player
  • Marcus Bingham Jr. (born 2000) — basketball player for Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
  • Israel Boatwright — soccer player{{cite web |title=Inter Miami CF II signs academy product Israel Boatwright to professional contract |url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/news/inter-miami-cf-ii-signs-academy-product-israel-boatwright-to-professional-contra |website=MLS Next Pro |access-date=January 29, 2025 |date=May 10, 2023}}
  • Devin Booker — NBA player
  • Drayson Bowman — NHL player
  • Jim Boylen — NBA assistant coach
  • Cameron Bradfield — NFL player
  • David Brandt — NFL player
  • Andrew Bremer – cerebral palsy soccer player{{cite web |title=Drew Bremer |url=https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/drew-bremer |website=Team USA |access-date=February 11, 2025}}
  • Carlton Brewster — NFL player
  • Kobe Bufkin — NBA player
  • Kelly Butler — NFL player
  • Geno Carlisle — basketball player
  • Dženan Ćatić – soccer player{{cite web |last1=Zeitlin |first1=Dave |title=Bosnian-born rookie Dzenan Catic living his American Dream with the Philadelphia Union |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/bosnian-born-rookie-dzenan-catic-living-his-american-dream-philadelphia-union |website=Major League Soccer |date=March 5, 2015}}
  • Bill Cutler — baseball executive
  • Chuck DeShane — NFL player
  • Al DeVormer — MLB player
  • Mark Dewey — MLB player
  • Brian Diemer — track and field athlete
  • Mike Donald — PGA Tour golfer
  • Allie Dragoo — professional cyclistWallner, Peter J. [http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2015/08/grand_rapids_native_allie_drag.html "Grand Rapids native Allie Dragoo wins stage 1 at Tour of Utah"], The Grand Rapids Press, August 4, 2015. Accessed May 19, 2017. "Allie Dragoo, a Grand Rapids native who attended East Grand Rapids High School, won stage 1 of the two-day Tour of Utah Women's Edition: Criterium Classic on Tuesday."
  • Jim Dreyer — ultramarathon athlete
  • Mike Dumas — NFL player
  • Katie Feenstra — Women's National Basketball Association player
  • Julius Franks — All-American college football player
  • Brent Gates — MLB player
  • Julie Glass — roller derby and competitive speed skater
  • Luke Glendening — NHL player
  • Paul G. Goebel — NFL player; naval officer; mayor of Grand Rapids
  • Paul Grasmanis — NFL player
  • Ben Handlogten — NBA player
  • David Harris — NFL player
  • Jamahal Hill — mixed martial artist
  • Gary Hogeboom — NFL player
  • Marilyn Jenkins — All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
  • Josh Kalis — skateboarder
  • Chris Kaman — NBA player
  • Stanley Ketchel — middleweight boxer
  • Mike Knuble — NHL player
  • Lauren Kozal — National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) goalkeeper{{Cite web |last=Greg |first=Chrapek |date=2017-02-10 |title=Basketball a family tradition for Kozal family at Forest Hills Northern |url=https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/article/basketball-a-family-tradition-for-kozal-family-at-forest-hills-northern/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=mlive |language=en}}
  • Rick Kreuger — Major League Baseball player{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kreugri01.shtml|title=Rick Kreuger|publisher=baseball.com|access-date=July 4, 2010}}
  • Marion Ladewig — bowler
  • Doc Lavan — MLB player
  • Pete Lee — Olympic and world champion wrestler
  • Bob Lurtsema — NFL player
  • Mitch Lyons — NFL player{{Cite web |date=2011-05-28 |title=Mitch Lyons Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com |url=http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=LYONSMIT01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528203310/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=LYONSMIT01 |archive-date=2011-05-28 |url-status=usurped |access-date=2020-10-10}}
  • Buster Mathis Jr. — heavyweight boxer
  • Jalen Mayfield — NFL player
  • Floyd Mayweather Jr. — welterweight boxer{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2007-12-05-mayweather-cover_N.htm|title=Mayweather dancing with success in and out of ring|last=Johnson|first=Chuck|date=December 6, 2007|work=USA Today|access-date=April 5, 2010}}
  • Floyd Mayweather Sr. — welterweight boxer
  • Jeff Mayweather — super featherweight boxer
  • Roger Mayweather — welterweight boxer
  • Sparky McEwen — football player{{cite web|url=http://www.sparkystotalathletefactory.com/Facility___Staff.html |title=Sparky's Total Athlete Factory |publisher=sparkystotalathletefactory.com |access-date=30 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231011536/http://www.sparkystotalathletefactory.com/Facility___Staff.html |archive-date=December 31, 2014 }}
  • Greg Meyer — distance runner
  • Rick Miller — MLB player
  • Monté Morris — NBA player
  • Terna Nande — NFL player
  • Drew Neitzel — professional basketball player
  • Aidan O'Connor — Major League Soccer defender{{cite web |last1=Van Gilder |first1=Rachel |last2=Doles |first2=Jack |date=December 28, 2023 |title=Forest Hills Northern grad drafted to Major League Soccer |url=https://www.woodtv.com/sports/forest-hills-northern-grad-drafted-to-major-league-soccer/ |work=WOOD-TV}}
  • Jim Pace — NFL player
  • Wally Pipp — Major League Baseball player
  • Kaleb Ort — MLB pitcher
  • Peter Quillin — middleweight boxer
  • John Rienstra — NFL player
  • Rueben Riley — NFL player
  • Dathan Ritzenhein — distance runner{{cite web|url=http://trackfield.teamusa.org/athletes/dathan-ritzenhein |title=Dathan Ritzenhein |year=2009 |work=U.S. Olympic Athletes |publisher=United States Olympic Committee |access-date=December 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308104615/http://trackfield.teamusa.org/athletes/dathan-ritzenhein |archive-date=March 8, 2010 }}
  • Rocky Rosema — NFL player
  • Dave Rozema — MLB player
  • Doris Satterfield — All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
  • Steve Scheffler — NBA player{{Cite web |last1=Gr |first1=Steve Vedder {{!}} The |last2=Press |first2=Rapids |date=2011-03-24 |title=Ex-local stars Steve Scheffler, David Kool to speak at Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast |url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/2011/03/former_local_stars_steve_schef.html |access-date=2020-10-10 |website=mlive |language=en}}
  • Betsy Snite — Olympic skiing silver medalist
  • Joe Soboleski — NFL player
  • Mickey Stanley — MLB player
  • Matt Steigenga — NBA player
  • Frank Steketee — All-American college football player
  • Lou Stringer — MLB player
  • Xavier Tillman — NBA player
  • James Toney — heavyweight boxer
  • Tony Tucker — heavyweight boxer
  • John Vander Wal — MLB player
  • Loy Vaught — NBA player
  • Jared Veldheer — NFL player{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/profile?id=VEL116302|title=Jared Veldheer|publisher=NFL|access-date=August 17, 2010}}
  • Dave Walsh — professional gamer
  • Casper Wells — MLB player{{cite web|url= http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=wellsca01|title= Casper Wells Stats|work= Baseball Almanac |access-date= November 6, 2012}}*
  • Jack Wisner — MLB player{{cite web|url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wisneja01.shtml|title= Jack Wisner Stats}}

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Writers, novelists, poets and journalists

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References

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{{Grand Rapids, Michigan}}

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