List of people from Grand Forks, North Dakota
Encyclopedia
The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Grand Forks, North Dakota
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Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
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Arts and entertainment
- Lynn AndersonLynn AndersonLynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...
, country musician. - Maxwell AndersonMaxwell AndersonJames Maxwell Anderson was an American playwright, author, poet, journalist and lyricist.-Early years:Anderson was born in Atlantic, Pennsylvania, the second of eight children to William Lincoln "Link" Anderson, a Baptist minister, and Charlotte Perrimela Stephenson, both of Scots and Irish descent...
, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, author, poet, reporter, lyricist. - Nicole LinkletterNicole LinkletterNicole Linkletter is an American fashion model, winner of Cycle 5 of America's Next Top Model.-America's Next Top Model:Linkletter appeared in Cycle 5 of the show after auditioning for the show at the Mall of America...
, winner of the 5th CycleAmerica's Next Top Model, Cycle 5America's Next Top Model, Cycle 5 was the fifth cycle of America's Next Top Model. The judging panel ensemble was altered - Janice Dickinson was replaced by one of the most recognizable models of the 1960s, Twiggy, and Nolé Marin was replaced by runway coach J. Alexander...
of America's Next Top ModelAmerica's Next Top ModelAmerica's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
. - Tom BrosseauTom BrosseauTom Brosseau is an American musical storyteller and guitarist, born and raised in Grand Forks, North Dakota.-Biography:Fat Cat Records artist Tom Brosseau tours and performs in the US, UK, Europe, Japan and Taiwan. In the Los Angeles area his home club is Largo. His song "How to Grow a Woman from...
, singer/songwriter, folk guitarist. - Tony FontaneTony FontaneTony Fontane was a popular recording artist in the 1940s and 1950s who, following a near-fatal car accident in 1957, gave up his popular career to pursue one as a gospel singer...
, gospel singer. - Kam HeskinKam HeskinKam Heskin is an American actress best known for her roles as the second Caitlin Richards Deschanel on NBC's soap opera Sunset Beach and as her role as Paige Morgan in the The Prince and Me sequels.-Private life:Heskin was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota...
, actress. - Ezra KireChoking VictimChoking Victim was a United States punk rock band formed in New York City, which were together from 1992 to 1999. Playing a mix of hardcore punk and ska with anarchist lyrics...
, guitarist for Choking VictimChoking VictimChoking Victim was a United States punk rock band formed in New York City, which were together from 1992 to 1999. Playing a mix of hardcore punk and ska with anarchist lyrics...
and Leftöver CrackLeftöver CrackLeftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim. Primarily playing an amalgam of ska and hardcore punk, they classify themselves as "crack-rocksteady". The band is currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords for CD releases, and...
. - Stuart McDonaldStuart McDonaldStuart McDonald was the editorial cartoonist for the Sunday edition of the Grand Forks Herald from 1961-1967. His cartoons also appeared in the North Dakotan, a publication of the Greater North Dakota Association, from 1965-1968....
, former editorial cartoonist, Grand Forks HeraldGrand Forks HeraldThe Grand Forks Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper, begun in 1879, published in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It is the primary daily paper for northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Its average daily circulation is 34,763 on Sundays and 31,524 on weekdays...
. - Dickie Peterson, founding member of heavy metal rock band Blue CheerBlue CheerBlue Cheer was an American psychedelic blues-rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009...
("Summertime BluesSummertime Blues"Summertime Blues" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American rockabilly artist Eddie Cochran. It was written in the late 1950s by Cochran and his manager Jerry Capehart. Originally a single B-side, it was released in August 1958 and peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 on...
") - The Original Clark SistersThe SentimentalistsThe Sentimentalists, also known as the "Clark Sisters" , were an American close harmony singing group, consisting of sisters Mary Clark, Peggy Clark Schwartz, Ann Clark, and Jean Clark...
, close harmony singing group (1940's & 50's). - June PanicJune PanicJune Panic is an American singer-songwriter from Grand Forks, North Dakota.-Biography:June Panic first began performing and recording in 1990, and released his early material on cassette tape for the label 3 Out of 4 Records. His first CD was the initial release for the label Secretly Canadian; he...
, singer/songwriter, guitarist. - Alan RitchsonAlan RitchsonAlan Ritchson is an American actor, singer, and fashion model. He is best known for his modeling career as well as his portrayals of the superhero Aquaman on The CW's Smallville and Thad Castle on Spike TV's Blue Mountain State....
, actor, singer, model. - James RosenquistJames RosenquistJames Rosenquist is an American artist and one of the protagonists in the pop-art movement.-Background and education:...
, artist. - Richard St. ClairRichard St. ClairRichard St. Clair is an American composer, pedagogue, and pianist.-Life History and Musical Career:Richard St. Clair, a noted American musician, is descended from both Franco-Scottish roots on his father's side, and Norwegian-Swedish roots on his mother's side...
, classical composer. - Natalie WestNatalie WestNatalie Marla West is an American actress.West is best known for her role as Crystal Anderson Conner, Roseanne's friend and Dan's stepmother, on the 1988-1997 ABC sitcom Roseanne...
, actress, RoseanneRoseanne (TV series)Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
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Athletics
- Brooks BollingerBrooks BollingerBrooks Bollinger is a retired American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
, former NFL quarterback with the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. - Andrew HampstenAndrew HampstenAndrew Hampsten is an American former professional road bicycle racer who won the 1988 Giro d'Italia and the Alpe d'Huez stage of the 1992 Tour de France.-Career highlights:...
, champion cyclist. - Virgil Hill, boxer, Olympic silver medalist (1984).
- Tim JohnsonTim Johnson (baseball)Timothy Evald Johnson is a former professional baseball player and manager. A shortstop and utility infielder in Major League Baseball from 1973-79, he became better known as a manager when he was caught lying about his service in the Vietnam War.- Playing career :After signing with the Los...
, former Major League Baseball player and manager. - Jocelyne LamoureuxJocelyne LamoureuxJocelyne Lamoureux is an American ice hockey forward. She was named to the United States women's national ice hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics along with her twin sister Monique, winning a silver medal. Both sisters have dual American and Canadian citizenship...
, women's ice hockey Olympic silver medalist. - Monique LamoureuxMonique LamoureuxMonique Lamoureux is an American ice hockey forward. She was named to the United States women's national ice hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics as was her twin sister Jocelyne, where they captured a silver medal with team USA...
, women's ice hockey Olympic silver medalist. - Roger MarisRoger MarisRoger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
, former right fielder with the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. - Tim OlsonTim OlsonTimothy Lane Olson is a former American professional baseball player who was an infielder for two Major League Baseball teams in the 2000s...
, MLB player with the Colorado RockiesColorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. - Ryan PotulnyRyan PotulnyRyan Potulny is an American professional ice hockey player. Potulny is a member of the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League...
, center for the Edmonton OilersEdmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. - Cliff Purpur, first North Dakota native to become a NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player. - Andy SchneiderAndy SchneiderAndy Schneider is an American ice hockey defenceman for Adler Mannheim.- Career :He joined on 28 January 2009 from Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League to Adler Mannheim....
, hockey defenseman with the Adler MannheimAdler MannheimAdler Mannheim are an ice hockey team of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, the highest ice hockey league in Germany. The team is from Mannheim, a city in the north of Baden-Wurttemberg...
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Business
- Ralph EngelstadRalph EngelstadRalph Engelstad was the multi-millionaire owner of the Imperial Palace casino-hotels in Las Vegas and in Biloxi, Mississippi and the Klondike Hotel & Casino...
, former Las Vegas casino owner, philanthropist. - Andrew FreemanAndrew FreemanAndrew Freeman , was the inventor of the electric block heater for automobiles.Freeman first developed a block heater around 1940, and received U.S. Patent #2487326 on 8 November 1949....
, invented the Block heaterBlock heaterA block heater warms an engine to ease and speed starting and vehicle warmup in cold weather. The most common type is an electric heating element connected through a power cord often routed through the vehicle's grille. The block heater may replace one of the engine's core plugs, or may be...
, former manager of Minnkota Power CooperativeMinnkota Power CooperativeMinnkota Power Cooperative is an electrical generation and transmission cooperative based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It wholesales electric power to rural electric cooperatives in North Dakota and Minnesota.-Member cooperatives:...
. - Sally J. SmithSally J. SmithSally J. Smith is President and Chief Executive Officer of Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.-Biography:Sally Smith was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She is a graduate of the University of North Dakota earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting.Smith has experience with...
, current President and CEO of Buffalo Wild WingsBuffalo Wild WingsBuffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar is a casual dining restaurant and sports bar franchise in the United States that is known for its Buffalo wings.-History:...
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Law, politics, and government
- Rick ClayburghRick ClayburghRichard S. "Rick" Clayburgh is a North Dakota Republican politician and current director of the North Dakota Bankers Association. Clayburgh was elected as the state's Tax Commissioner in 1996, and re-elected in 2000 and 2004. He resigned effective from May 2005 and Cory Fong was appointed to serve...
, former North Dakota Tax Commissioner. - Ronald DaviesRonald Davies (judge)Ronald Norwood Davies was a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota...
, former federal judge, ordered the integration of Little Rock Central High SchoolLittle Rock NineThe Little Rock Nine was a group of African-American students who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The ensuing Little Rock Crisis, in which the students were initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, and then...
. - James D. Gronna, former North Dakota Secretary of StateNorth Dakota Secretary of StateThe North Dakota Secretary of State is an elected office in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The current Secretary of State is Alvin Jaeger. The general duties of the Secretary of State include being the custodian of the state's Great Seal and other official state documents, recording the official...
. - Gary JohnsonGary Johnson (Wisconsin politician)Gary K. Johnson was a Wisconsin politician, and legislator.Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Johnson graduated from Beloit Memorial High School and from Beloit College. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1971 until 1985.-Notes:...
, state congressman for Wisconsin. - Walter MaddockWalter MaddockWalter Jeremiah Maddock was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1914 to 1924, and became the Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota in 1924. Maddock became the 15th Governor of North Dakota in 1928 when Arthur G. Sorlie died in office, and...
, 15th governor of North Dakota. - Pat OwensPat OwensPatrica A. Owens was the mayor of Grand Forks, North Dakota during the flood that devastated the city in April 1997...
, Grand Forks mayor during the 1997 Red River Flood. - Leonard PeltierLeonard PeltierLeonard Peltier is a Native American activist and member of the American Indian Movement . In 1977 he was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment for first degree murder in the shooting of two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents during a 1975 conflict on the Pine...
, American Indian activist, convicted of murder in the deaths of 2 FBI agents, but many question the legality of his conviction. - Dale V. SandstromDale V. SandstromDale V. Sandstrom is a North Dakota Republican Party politician who served as a North Dakota Public Service Commissioner from 1983 to 1992, and as a Justice on the North Dakota Supreme Court since 1992.-Biography:...
, justice on the North Dakota Supreme CourtNorth Dakota Supreme CourtThe North Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court of law in the state of North Dakota. The Court rules on questions of law in appeals from the state's district courts....
. - Arthur G. SorlieArthur G. SorlieArthur Gustave Sorlie served as the 14th Governor of North Dakota from 1925 until his unexpected death in 1928 at the age of 54.-Background:...
, 14th governor of North Dakota.
Literature and journalism
- James M. EdieJames M. EdieJames M. Edie was a twentieth century American philosopher.-Life and career:Edie was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He studied at Saint John’s University in Minnesota and at the Pontifical Athenaeum of St...
, philosopher. - Al McIntoshAl McIntoshAlan Cunningham McIntosh was editor of the of Luverne, Minnesota. He was president of the in 1949. The association now recognizes individuals who have provided exceptional service to the field of journalism with its Al McIntosh Distinguished Service to Journalism Award.Ken Burns included several...
, newspaper editor, columns were featured in The WarThe War (documentary)The War is a 2007 American seven-part documentary television mini-series about World War II from the perspective of the United States that premiered on September 23, 2007...
. - Jennie ShortridgeJennie ShortridgeJennie Shortridge is a best-selling novelist and off-and-on musician. Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota Shortridge grew up in Maryland and Colorado before relocating to the Pacific Northwest...
, novelist. - Era Bell ThompsonEra Bell ThompsonEra Bell Thompson was a graduate of the University of North Dakota and an editor of Ebony magazine. She was also a recipient of the governor of North Dakota's Roughrider Award...
, former editor of EbonyEbony (magazine)Ebony, a monthly magazine for the African-American market, was founded by John H. Johnson and has published continuously since the autumn of 1945...
. - George H. WalshGeorge H. WalshGeorge H. Walsh was an American newspaper editor and publisher from Grand Forks, North Dakota. He served on the council of the Dakota Territory and was instrumental in the founding of the University of North Dakota....
, newspaper editor, publisher, founding role with the University of North DakotaUniversity of North DakotaThe University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
. - Walter Wangerin, Jr.Walter Wangerin, Jr.Walter Wangerin, Jr. is an award-winning American author and educator best known for his religious novels and children's books.-Biography:...
, author of religious novels and children's books.
Military
- Charles W. LindbergCharles W. LindbergCharles W. "Chuck" Lindberg was a United States Marine who was part of the first raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II...
, marine, part of the first raising the flag on Iwo JimaRaising the Flag on Iwo JimaRaising the Flag on Iwo Jima is a historic photograph taken on February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal. It depicts five United States Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.The photograph was extremely...