This is a list of people from Monroe, Louisiana and includes notable persons who were born in and/or have lived in Monroe, Louisiana, United States. For a list of people who have studied at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, see List of University of Louisiana at Monroe alumni.
Actors and entertainers Kevin Griffin, singer, songwriter and guitarist of Better Than Ezra Clay Jordan, contestant on Survivor: Thailand Valerie Mason, September 2008 Playboy Playmate Mighty Sam McClain, soul blues singer and songwriter Mantan Moreland, actor and comic of the 1930s and 1940s Jesse Pearson, actor and screenwriter; died in Monroe in 1979 Parker Posey, film actress Monti Sharp, film and soap opera actor Susan Ward, film and soap opera actress
Businesspeople Samuel B. Fuller (1905–1988), entrepreneur and journalist, founder of Fuller Products Company Collett E. Woolman (1889–1966), an original director and founder of Delta Air Service
Journalists Frank McGee, television journalist
Musicians Fred Anderson, jazz saxophonist and club owner Stewart Cararas, musician, songwriter and record producer Hamid Drake, jazz drummer and percussionist Doug Duffey, singer, songwriter, pianist, bandleader, music arranger, record producer, music publisher, poet, diarist, photographer and visual artist Carl Fontana, jazz trombonist Julie Giroux, composer and pianist Kevin Griffin, lead singer of Better Than Ezra Andy Griggs, country music singer Ivory Joe Hunter, rhythm and blues musician Rickey Minor, music director, composer, music producer, and music director and bandleader for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Webb Pierce, country musician Frank Ticheli, composer, conductor, professor emeritus of Music at University of Southern California
Politicians Edwards Barham, former member of the Louisiana State Senate from Morehouse Parish William Derwood Cann Jr. (1919–2010), World War II lieutenant colonel; interim mayor of Monroe 1978–1979 Donnie Copeland (born 1961), Pentecostal pastor in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, 2015 to 2017, born in Monroe James L. Dennis (born 1936), Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Jimmy Dimos, former Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives and retired judge William C. Feazel (1895–1965), interim U.S. Senator in 1948; member of the Louisiana House of Representatives 1932–1936; father-in-law of Shady R. Wall W. L. "Jack" Howard (1921–2004), former mayor of Monroe and owner with his brother, Alton Hardy Howard of the former Howard Brothers Discount Stores Marcus Hunter (born 1979), member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 17 in Ouachita Parish Julia Letlow (born 1981), U.S. representative for Louisiana Vance McAllister, businessman and U.S. representative elected in Louisiana's 5th congressional district special election, 2013 Newt V. Mills, U.S. representative from Louisiana's 5th congressional district 1937–1943; resided in Monroe Jay Morris, state representative from Ouachita and Morehouse parishes, 2012– Huey P. Newton (1942–1989) co-founder of the Black Panther Party, born in Monroe James A. Noe, short-term governor of Louisiana in 1936; founder of WNOE and KNOE radio and TV stations Abe E. Pierce III (1934–2021), mayor of Monroe 1996–2000, first African American in the position; Ouachita Parish educator Robert E. Powell (1923–1997), mayor of Monroe 1979–1996 Melvin Rambin (1941–2001), mayor of Monroe 2000–2001, only Republican in the position since Reconstruction; banker in Baton Rouge and Monroe; interred in Baton Rouge Frank Spooner, oil and natural gas producer and Republican politician, moved to Monroe in 1967"Otto Passman, Jerry Huckaby, and Frank Spooner: The Louisiana Fifth Congressional District Election of 1976", Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association, LIV No. 3 (Summer 2013), p. 346 Jeff R. Thompson, former insurance agent in Monroe; state representative from Bossier Parish; incoming 26th Judicial District Court judge J. Robert Wooley (born 1953), Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance, 2000–2006; spent his high school and college years in Monroe
Athletes Brian Bateman, PGA golfer, 2007 Buick Open winner Benoit Benjamin, NBA center for the Cleveland Cavaliers Bubby Brister, Denver Broncos quarterback Ronnie Coleman, retired professional bodybuilder; former middle linebacker Grambling State University John David Crow, late coach of the ULM Warhawks; professional football player LaceDarius Dunn, basketball guard with Bnei HaSharon in Israel Billy Joe DuPree, tight end for the Dallas Cowboys Chuck Finley, MLB All-Star pitcher, California Angels, Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals; ex-spouse of Tawny Kitaen Ralph Garr, All-Star MLB outfielder Larry Gordon, football player James Harris, NFL quarterback Gerrod Henderson, basketball player for the Anwil Włocławek 2007–09 Tyree Hollins, football player Cardia Jackson, Louisiana–Monroe Warhawk and Green Bay Packers linebacker Bradie James, LSU and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Shawn King, ULM/LSU and Carolina Panthers defensive end Lynn McGlothen, MLB pitcher Paul Millsap, power forward for Louisiana Tech University and the Atlanta Hawks Rudy Niswanger, LSU and Kansas City Chiefs center Cassidy O'Reilly, professional wrestler, WWE TNA Joe Profit, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints running back Phil Robertson, quarterback for Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Johnny Robinson, LSU and Kansas City Chiefs safety Barry Rubin (born 1957), Head Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League Bill Russell, NBA center for the Boston Celtics), Basketball Hall of Famer Ben Sheets, MLB All-Star Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics and Atlanta Braves pitcher; played at NLU, now ULM Cam Sims, Alabama and wide receiver for Las Vegas Raiders Storm Warren (born 1988), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League Sammy White, football player, GSU and Offensive Rookie of Year receiver for Minnesota Vikings Andrew Whitworth, LSU and Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonathan Wilhite, Auburn and New England Patriots cornerback Aeneas Williams, St. Louis Rams free safety Pat Williams, NFL defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings Ralph Williams, gridiron football player Don Wilson, MLB pitcher for the Houston Astros Will Campbell, NFL offensive lineman for the New England Patriots Larry Wright, GSU and NBA guard for the Washington Bullets
Writers Harry W. Addison, writer and humorist Dixon Hearne, writer and poet Speed Lamkin, novelist and playwright
Others Guy Banister, career employee of the FBI and private investigator; alleged co-conspirator in assassination of John F. Kennedy James E. Cofer, president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe 2002–2010 Bruce M. Davis, Manson family member serving life sentence for murder Robert Pershing Foster, a subject of Isabel Wilkerson's book The Warmth of Other Suns W. C. Friley, Baptist clergyman; second president of Louisiana College; pastor in Monroe in the early 1880s Hugh H. Goodwin, vice admiral in the United States Navy Marguerite Littman, American-British socialite and HIV/AIDS activist Rowena Spencer; first female pediatric surgeon Marc Swayze, comic book writer and illustrator Emily H. Vokes, malacologist and Tulane University professor A. Wilberforce Williams (1865–1940), African American physician, teacher, and journalist; born in Monroe and raised on a plantation
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References