# List of people from Eau Claire, Wisconsin

The following notable people were born in or are associated with Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

## Artists and performers

* George Awsumb, Norwegian-American architect
* Stanley Blystone, actor
* Curt Boettcher, musician, producer, songwriter
* Sean Carey, musician with Bon Iver
* Alden Carter, ALA award-winning author
* Cornelia Ellis Hildebrandt, portrait artist
* Mike Kappus, music manager and record producer, inductee in the Blues Hall of Fame
* Geoffrey Keezer, jazz pianist, the last to play with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers
* Cayla Kluver, author
* Mark Kosower, cellist
* John Myhers, actor
* Ryan Olson, drummer and producer
* Arthur Peabody, state architect of Wisconsin
* Justin Vernon, Grammy award-winning frontman of Bon Iver

## Athletes

* Charlotte Akervik, American professional ice hockey defenceman for the Minnesota Frost in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).
* Lemoine Batson, Olympic ski jumper
* Dick Bennett, former Wisconsin and Washington State basketball coach; coached Eau Claire Memorial High School basketball
* Cub Buck, NFL player and head coach of the Miami Hurricanes football team
* Jake Dowell, NHL player
* Cliff Fagan, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
* Marv Harshman, former college men's basketball coach for Washington, Washington State, and Pacific Lutheran
* Alex Hicks, NHL player and only University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Alumnus to play in NHL regular season and playoff games
* Mike Hintz, NFL player
* Herm Johnson, former CART / Indy 500 race car driver
* Vic Johnson, MLB player
* Steve Lingenfelter, NBA player
* Adam Loomis, Nordic combined skier
* Jake McCabe, NHL player
* Patrick McLain, MLS player
* Paul Menard, NASCAR driver
* Chuck Mencel, NBA player
* Pat O'Donahue, NFL player
* Willis S. Olson, Olympic ski jumper, member of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame
* Sis Paulsen, ice hockey and softball coach
* Mike Peplinski, Olympic curler
* Ralph Pond, baseball player
* Tom Poquette, MLB player for Kansas City Royals (1973, 1976–79, 1982), Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers
* Brad Radke, MLB pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, born in Eau Claire
* Bill Schroeder, NFL wide receiver
* John Stiegelmeier, head coach of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team
* Roderick Strong, pro wrestler, currently for All Elite Wrestling
* Jerry Wunsch, NFL player
* Reed Zuehlke, Olympic ski jumper

## Journalists and activists

* Waldemar Ager, Norwegian-American newspaperman and author
* Ellen Gabler, New York Times investigative journalist
* C. L. James, anarchist writer and local journalist
* Eppie Lederer, advice columnist who wrote under the pseudonym Ann Landers; during her time in Eau Claire she served as chair of the Eau Claire Democratic Party
* Julie Nelson, TV news anchor affiliated with KARE-TV in Minnesota
* Marcus Thrane, Norwegian labor organizer who died in Eau Claire in 1890
* Abigail van Buren, advice columnist known for "Dear Abby"

## Politicians

* Thomas H. Barland, judge and state representative
* Byron Buffington, state representative
* Jonathan G. Callahan, state representative
* Thomas Carmichael, state representative
* Henry Cousins, state representative
* Marshall Cousins, state representative
* Charles H. Daub, state representative
* John R. Davis Jr., diplomat
* Dave Duax, Wisconsin Cabinet Secretary, Vice President of the Eau Claire City Council, Chairman of the Eau Claire County Board
* Julius C. Gilbertson, state representative
* Charles R. Gleason, businessman and state representative
* Karl J. Goethel, lawyer and state representative
* Hiram P. Graham, state representative
* Michael Griffin, U.S. representative
* Steve Gunderson, CEO of the Council on Foundations and U.S representative
* Joseph E. Irish, state senator
* Raymond C. Johnson, State Senate Majority Leader
* Ray Kuhlman, state representative
* Jacquelyn J. Lahn, state representative
* Herman Lange, state senator
* Henry Laycock, state representative
* Joseph Looby, state representative
* Frank McDonough, state representative and senator
* James D. Millar, state representative
* James H. Noble, physician and state representative
* Bradley Phillips, state representative
* William T. Pugh, state representative
* Bernard H. Raether, state representative
* George B. Shaw, U.S. representative
* Peter J. Smith, state senator
* Hobart Stocking, state representative
* Joseph G. Thorp, state senator
* Dana Wachs, lawyer and state representative

## Other

* Mary Brunner, former girlfriend of Charles Manson
* George Buffington, businessman
* Moncena Dunn, inventor
* Nancy B. Jackson, chemist
* Scott D. Legwold, U.S. National Guard general
* Hugh J. McGrath, Medal of Honor recipient
* John Menard Jr., founder of Menards
* William Arnold Newton, gay pornographic actor and victim of a notorious violent crime that occurred in Los Angeles in 1990
* John Joseph Paul, Roman Catholic Bishop, helped establish Regis High School in Eau Claire
* Henry Cleveland Putnam, lumber baron and philanthropist who gave Putnam Park to the city of Eau Claire