# List of people from Elgin, Illinois

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Elgin, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Elgin, Illinois.

## Authors and academics

* E.C. "Mike" Alft, historian, author, and former mayor of Elgin
* Nina Burleigh, journalist and author
* Paul Flory, chemist; Nobel Prize winner (1974)
* Lloyd Hall, chemist
* Donella Meadows, environmentalist
* Jessica Mink, astronomer; co-discover of the rings around the planet Uranus
* John Platt, computer scientist
* Tom Shales, journalist; Pulitzer Prize winner (1988)
* Carleton Washburne, educator; author
* Dwight Smith Young, physicist with the Manhattan Project

## Business and invention

* Max Adler, vice-president of Sears & Roebuck; benefactor of Adler Planetarium
* Lawrence B. Hamlin, Hamlin's Wizard Oil purveyor
* Lysander Hamlin, co-originator with John Austen Hamlin of Hamlin's Wizard Oil
* Earl "Madman" Muntz, marketer, car stereo and 4-track cartridge pioneer
* James Roche, chairman of General Motors
* James P. Liautaud, industrialist, inventor and business theorist

## Media and arts

* Dan Andriano, musician
* BarlowGirl, Christian rock band
* Joe Becker, musician
* Bruce Boxleitner, actor
* Josh Caterer, songwriter, musician, singer
* Daniel de Marbelle, songwriter who wrote When They Ring Those Golden Bells
* Citizen Way, Christian rock band
* Jim Gaffigan, comedian, actor, and author
* Mitzi Gaynor, actress and entertainer, lived in Elgin
* George Hamlin, opera singer and son of John Austin Hamlin
* John Austin Hamlin, magician
* Matt Hoffman, contestant on Big Brother 12
* Charles Ingalls, father of Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie); spent part of his childhood in the nearby Campton Township
* Laurence Kaptain, recording artist; Dean at the College of Music and Dramatic Arts, Louisiana State University
* William LeBaron, playwright and movie producer
* Kevin Martin, musician
* Norman Mayell, musician (Sopwith Camel, Blue Cheer, Norman Greenbaum)
* Paleo, born David Strackany, folk singer-songwriter
* Jane Peterson, painter and artist
* John Qualen, actor
* Courtney Reed, stage actress, original Princess Jasmine in Aladdin on Broadway
* Marie Sidenius Zendt, singer

## Military

* Harry Chamberlin, U.S. Army brigadier general and Olympic medalist in equestrian events

## Politics and law

* Ray Barnhart, Texas State Representative
* Robert L. Bergman (1948-2013), Illinois State Representative
* DeGoy B. Ellis (1876-1949), Illinois state representative and lawyer
* Thomas W. Ferry (1843-1845) Acting Vice President, US Senator
* Peter Fitzgerald, US senator (R-IL)
* Barbara Giolitto, Illinois State Representative
* Adam Neylon, Wisconsin legislator
* Jeanette Ward, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives. She lived in Elgin until moving to Casper, Wyoming in 2021.

## Sports

* Charlene Barnett (1928-1979), baseball player
* Ko Chandetka (born 1971), bodybuilder
* Earl Britton (1903-1973), football player
* Bethany Goldsmith (1927-2004), baseball player
* Harry Hanson (1896-1966), baseball player
* Hunkey Hines (1867-1928), baseball player
* Tony Kaufmann (1900-1982), baseball player
* Scott Kellar (born 1963), football player
* Ed McDonough (1886-1926), baseball player
* Lou North (1891-1974), baseball player
* Brian Oldfield (born 1945), Olympic shot putter
* David Otunga (born 1980) wrestler
* Erwin Renfer (1891-1957), baseball player
* Flynn Robinson (born 1941), basketball player
* Rick Short (born 1972), baseball player
* Roger Smithberg (born 1966), baseball player
* Ray Whipple (1893-1973), football player