The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Decatur, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Decatur, Illinois.
Authors and academics
Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Mathematician Born in Decatur Biochemist known for work on the structure of coenzyme Q10 Born in Decatur Financial lecturer and author Born in DecaturSociologistBorn in Decatur Biologist, professor, and author Born in Decatur Author, historian, and sociology professor Born in Decatur Electrical engineer Born in Decatur Children's author; 2001 Newbery Medal winner Born in Decatur Author, biblical scholar, and professor Grew up in Decatur Librarian, president of American Library Association 1920–1921 Born in DecaturBuried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)
Commerce
Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Former CEO and chairman of Archer Daniels Midland ADM Lived in DecaturDied in Decatur Founder of Millikin National Bank and Millikin University Lived in DecaturBuried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)
Crime
Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference (a.k.a. Black Bart) Western outlaw Lived in Decatur
Media and arts
Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Broadcasting journalist and management Born in Decatur Country singer-songwriter inducted in Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Born in Decatur Jazz singer Grew up in Decatur Author, cryptozoologist, radio and television personality Grew up in Decatur Host of Minnesota Public Radio's Radio Heartland Health Science Librarians of Illinois News Letter, Vol. 22, Issue ¾, page 6 Jazz musician Born in Decatur Soprano at the Metropolitan Opera and star of Broadway musicalsBorn in Decatur Founder of L.A. punk band X Born in Decatur Concert pianist Raised in Decatur Singer of alternative metal band Mudvayne Born in LathamJonathan HammondFilmmakerGrew up in Decatur Big band leader Briefly lived in Decatur Guitarist with Mitch Ryder, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, and Peter Gabriel Born in Decatur Country/bluegrass singer and songwriter; most-awarded singer in history of Grammy Awards Born in Decatur Actor (The Good Guys, Let's Stay Together) Born in Decatur Country and gospel singer; wife of Red Foley Born in Decatur Actress (Mr. Sunshine, The Thorn Birds, Santa Barbara, The Drew Carey Show) Born in Decatur Guitar player for Jars of Clay Grew up in Decatur Jazz saxophonist; composer of Yakety Sax Played with Dink Welch's Kopy Kats in Decatur (1948 to 1954)Nala RayDec 3, 1997Social media influencerBorn in Decatur Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and recording engineer Born in Decatur Artist and Disney Imagineer Grew up in Decatur Author, journalist, college professor; Fulbright Scholar Grew up in Decatur Academy Award-winning motion picture set designer and decorator Born in Decatur
Bands
Name ImageFoundedDisbandedMusicAssociationReference Icon For Hire Rock band Formed in Decatur V Shape Mind Alternative rock band Formed in Decatur
Military
Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference United States Army first lieutenant, awarded Medal of Honor 1964 Graduate of MacArthur High School Union Army sergeant, awarded Medal of Honor Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery) Union Army officer Lived in Decatur Union Army general Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery) United States Navy lieutenant commander Lived in Decatur Union Army private, awarded Medal of Honor Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery)
Philanthropists
Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReferenceConnie Boochever 1999 Patron and advocate for the arts; member of Alaska Women's Hall of Fame Born in Decatur Faculty member at Columbia University; trustee of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation Lived in DecaturElizabeth Parke Firestone Patron and collector of rare art pieces, widow of Harvey S. Firestone Jr. Born in Decatur
Politics
Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReferenceRobert P. KingsburyMay 5, 1926Sep 7, 2013New Hampshire House of RepresentativesBorn in Decatur U.S. representative from Illinois Lived in Decatur U.S. representative from Illinois Buried in Decatur (Greenwood Cemetery) U.S. senator and the 14th governor of Illinois Grew up in Decatur Chief judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Attended school in Decatur, Buried in Greenwood Cemetery Mayor of El Paso, Texas Born in Decatur
Sports
Baseball
Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Pitcher for six Major League Baseball teams Born in Decatur Manager and coach for six Major League Baseball teams, 2-time World Series champion Born in Decatur Infielder for Baltimore Orioles Born in Decatur Pitcher for New York Mets Born in Decatur Outfielder for Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers Born in Decatur Catcher and coach for seven Major League Baseball teams Born in Decatur Baseball player in Negro leagues; college football coach Born in Decatur Third baseman for Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers, 4-time NL batting champion Grew up in Decatur MLB pitcher 1899–1908, won 246 games, inducted 1946 in Baseball Hall of Fame Grew up in Decatur Jan 7, 2017 Outfielder for Washington Senators Born in Decatur Outfielder for Chicago Cubs and New York Mets Born in Decatur Infielder for St Louis Browns Born in Decatur Shortstop for Philadelphia Phillies Born in Decatur Umpire (1890–1914), worked at four World Series including Cubs' victory of 1908 Born in Decatur Pinch-hitter for Chicago Cubs, rare MLB player with batting average of 1.000 Born in Decatur Manager of Atlanta Braves (2016–Present) Born in Decatur Center fielder for Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies Born in Decatur
Basketball
Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Guard for the Indiana Fever (WNBA) Born in Decatur Shooting guard for five National Basketball Association teams Born in Decatur Forward for the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers Born in Decatur
Football
Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs Attended MacArthur High School in Decatur Head football coach at Colorado State University Born in Decatur Founder of the Decatur Staleys, which became the Chicago Bears Lived in Decatur College football coach and Wiley College biology professor Born in Decatur Fullback for the St. Louis Rams Born in Decatur Wide receiver for the New York Jets, St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints Grew up in Decatur, MacArthur High School graduate
Other sports
Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Weightlifter, Olympic medal winner Went to High School in Decatur IFBB bodybuilder Grew up in Decatur Golfer on the LPGA Tour Born in Decatur
References