The following notable people were born in or are associated with Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Artists and performers
Peter Anderson, cinematographer and visual effects supervisor who received the Gordon E. Sawyer Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 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, Grammy award-winning jazz pianist, the last to play with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers Cayla Kluver, author Mark Kosower, cellist Anna Louisa Miller, painter 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).Kennedy, Ian (December 22, 2024). "Sophie Jaques Moved To LTIR, Frost Sign Charlotte Akervik". The Hockey News. Retrieved February 26, 2025. 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
Pauline Phillips, radio host and advice columnist who wrote under the pseudonym Abigail van Buren; creator of the syndicated column "Dear Abby"
Marcus Thrane, Norwegian labor organizer who died in Eau Claire in 1890
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
See also List of University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire people
References