The following are people who were either born/raised or have lived for a significant period of time in Texas
Founders of The Republic of Texas
- Stephen F. Austin (1793-1836), founder of the Republic of Texas
- David G. Burnet (1788-1870), interim President of the Republic of Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala (1788-1836), first vice-president of the Republic of Texas and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
- Sam Houston (1793-1863), first President of Republic of Texas, later U.S. Senator from Texas and Governor of Texas
- Anson Jones (1798-1858), last President of the Republic of Texas, called the "Architect of Annexation"
- Mirabeau B. Lamar (1798-1859), second President of Republic of Texas
- Jose Antonio Navarro (1795-1871), Texas statesman, revolutionary and politician
- Thomas Jefferson Rusk (1803-1857), Secretary of War between Texas and Mexico, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas and Senator from Texas after admission to the Union.
- Edwin Waller (1800-1881) judge, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
Military/War
The Texas Revolution/ The Alamo
- Jim Bowie (1796-1836), frontiersman, died at the Alamo
- Davy Crockett (1786-1836), frontiersman, died at the Alamo
- James Fannin (1804?-1836), key figure during the Texas Revolution
- Benjamin McCulloch (1811-1862), was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, Texas Ranger, U.S. Marshal, and brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States during the American Civil War
- Henry Eustace McCulloch (1816-1895), was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, Texas Ranger, and brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States during the American Civil War
- Juan Sequin (1806-1890), Tejano hero during the Texas Revolution
- William B. Travis (1809-1836), commander of Texas forces at the Alamo
WW2
Public Office
- Jeb Bush (1953-), Governor of Florida, raised in Midland and Houston
- Edward Burleson (1798-1851), Texas soldier, general, and statesman
- Henry Cisneros (1947-), Former Mayor of San Antonio and United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Tom C. Clark (1899-1977), United States Attorney General and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- John Connally (1917-1993), Secretary of the Navy, Governor of Texas, United States Secretary of the Treasury
- Miriam "Ma" Ferguson (1875-1961), first female governor of Texas
- Jim Hogg (1851-1906), first native Texan to become Governor of Texas
- Kay Bailey Hutchison (1943-), first woman U.S. senator from Texas
- Barbara Jordan (1936-1996), congresswoman, United States House of Representatives
- Sandra Day O'Connor (1930-), First woman Justice of the Supreme Court
- W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel (1890-1969), former governor of Texas and United States Senator
- Sam Rayburn (1882-1961), United States Congressman and Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Ann Richards (1933-), former governor of Texas
- Jim Wright (1922-), United States Congressman and Speaker of the House of Representatives
US President
Famous Texas Women
- Edna Gladney (1886-1961), founder of "The Edna Gladney Home" for orphaned children
- Bette Nesmith Graham (1924-1980), inventer of Liquid Paper
- Ima Hogg (1882-1975), philanthropist
- Lady Bird Johnson (1912-), wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson
- Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long (1798-1880), considered to be "the Mother of Texas"
- Cynthia Ann Parker (1826-1870), kidnapped in 1836 and raised by Comanche Indians. Mother to Quanah Parker, the last Comanche Chief
- Emily West Morgan (1815?-18??), an indentured servant know as "The Yellow Rose of Texas" who, legend has it, helped win the Texas war of independence from Mexico
Entertainment
Film/Theater
- "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (1964-), professional wrestler, actor
- Tex Avery (1908-1980), animator, cartoonist, director
- Joe Don Baker (1936-), actor
- Dan Blocker (1928-1972), actor "Hoss Cartwright" on Bonanza
- Betty Buckley (1947-), actress
- Brooke Burns (1978-), actress, model
- Gary Busey (1944-), actor
- Kate Capshaw (1953-), actress, married to Steven Spielberg
- Cyd Charisse (1921-), actress, dancer
- Ricardo Chavira (1971), actor, "Carlos Solis" on Desperate Housewives
- Dabney Coleman (1932-), actor
- Barry Corbin (1940-), actor
- Joan Crawford (1908-1977), actress
- Michael Dorn (1952-), star of Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Sandy Duncan (1946-), actress, singer
- Shelley Duvall (1949-), actress, played Olive Oyl in the film Popeye
- Ron Ely (1938-), actor Tarzan
- Dale Evans (1912-2001), actress, singer-songwriter, married to Roy Rogers
- Morgan Fairchild (1950-), actress
- Farrah Fawcett (1947-), actress
- Jamie Foxx (1967-) actor
- Jennifer Garner (1972-), actress, star of Alias
- Larry Hagman (1931-), actor, son of actress Mary Martin
- Jerry Hall (1956-), model, actress, former wife of Mick Jagger
- Woody Harrelson (1961-), actor
- Ethan Hawke (1970-), actor
- Jennifer Love Hewitt (1979-), actress
- Carolyn Jones (1929-1983), actress, best known as "Morticia" in The Addams Family
- Tommy Lee Jones (1946-), actor
- Mike Judge (1962-), producer, animator, and actor
- Eva Longoria (1975-), actress
- Mary Martin (1913-1990), actress, mother of actor Larry Hagman
- Matthew McConaughey (1969-), actor
- George McFarland (1928-1993), actor played "Spanky" in the Our Gang comedies, AKA The Little Rascals
- Ann Miller (1923-2004), actress, dancer
- Audie Murphy (1924-1971), actor, World War II hero
- Annette O'Toole (1955-), dancer, actress
- Bill Paxton (1955-), actor Titanic (1997 movie)
- Dennis Quaid (1954-), actor
- Randy Quaid (1950-), actor
- Phylicia Rashad (1948-), actress
- Debbie Reynolds (1932-), actress, mother of Carrie Fisher
- Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991), Star Trek creator, writer, director, producer
- Irene Ryan (1902-1973), actress "Granny" on The Beverly Hillbillies
- Ann Sheridan (1915-1967), actress
- Anna Nicole Smith (1967-), model, actress
- Jaclyn Smith (1947-), actress, starred in Charlie's Angels
- Sissy Spacek (1949-), actress, cousin of Rip Torn
- Brent Spiner (1949-), actor, star of Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Patrick Swayze (1952-), actor
- Sharon Tate (1943-1969), actress
- Henry Thomas (1971-), actor E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, musician
- Rip Torn (1931-), actor, cousin of Sissy Spacek
- Tommy Tune (1939-), Broadway director, choreographer
- King Vidor (1894-1982), film director, producer
- JoBeth Williams (1948-), actress
- Van Williams (1934-), actor
- Chill Wills (1903-1978), actor, singer
- Dooley Wilson (1886-1953), actor, singer, played "Sam" in Casablanca
- Owen Wilson (1968-), actor
- Forest Whitaker (1961-), actor
- Robin Wright Penn (1966-), actress, married to Sean Penn
- Renée Zellweger (1969-), actress
Comedians
Music
- Dimebag Darrell Abbott (1966-2004), musician
- Vinnie Paul Abbott (1964-), musician
- Terry Allen (1943-), musician
- Jerry Allison (1939-), musician
- Gene Autry (1907-1998), country music singer
- Erykah Badu (1971-), R&B and hip hop singer
- Marcia Ball (1949-), blues singer
- Frank Beard (1949-), drummer in ZZ Top
- Edie Brickell (1966-), singer - married to Paul Simon
- Tevin Campbell {1976-}, musician
- Vikki Carr (1941-), jazz, pop, country and Latin music singer
- Kelly Clarkson (1982-), singer, American Idol winner
- Van Cliburn (1934-), famous pianist (born in Louisiana, raised in Texas)
- Ornette Coleman (1930-), jazz musician
- Albert Collins (1932-1993), blues musician
- Christopher Cross (1951-), singer
- Mac Davis (1942-), musician
- Hilary Duff (1987-), singer
- Danny Elfman (1953-), musician, composer
- Freddy Fender (1937-), musician
- Lefty Frizzell (1928-1975), country singer
- Bobby Fuller (1942-1966), rock singer and guitarist
- Larry Gatlin (1948-), singer-songwriter, member of The Gatlin Brothers
- Billy Gibbons (1950-), guitarist in ZZ Top
- Jimmie Dale Gilmore, (1945-), singer-songwriter
- Don Henley (1947-), musician with rock group The Eagles
- Dusty Hill (1945-), bass guitarist in ZZ Top
- Buddy Holly (1936-1959), singer-songwriter
- Waylon Jennings (1937-2002), country singer
- Norah Jones (1979, soul/folk singer-songwriter, born in New York City but raised in Texas
- Tom Jones (1928-), lyricist of musical theater
- Janis Joplin (1943-1970), singer
- Scott Joplin (c.1867-1917), ragtime musician and composer
- Beyoncé Knowles (1981-), R&B singer, actress
- Kris Kristofferson (1936-), singer-songwriter, actor
- Mance Lipscomb (1895-1976), Blues singer, guitarist
- Trini Lopez (1937-), Hispanic musician, singer
- Lyle Lovett (1957-), singer-songwriter
- Lloyd Maines (1951-), musician, producer
- Natalie Maines (1974-), musician
- Barbara Mandrell (1948-), country singer
- Johnny Mathis (1935-), singer
- Meat Loaf (1951-), singer, actor
- Roger Miller (1936-1992), singer-songwriter
- Nelly (1978-), rapper
- Willie Nelson (1933-), country singer-songwriter
- Michael Nesmith (1942-), singer with The Monkees
- Roy Orbison (1936-1988), singer-songwriter
- Buck Owens (1929-), country singer
- Billy Preston (1946-), soul musician
- Ray Price (1926-), country singer
- Selena Quintanilla (1971-1995), singer
- J.P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson (1930-1959), singer
- Tex Ritter (1905-1974), singer/ actor, father of actor John Ritter
- Kenny Rogers (1938-), country singer-songwriter
- Ashlee Simpson (1984-), singer
- Jessica Simpson (1980-), singer
- Stephen Stills (1945-), singer-songwriter Crosby, Stills & Nash
- George Strait (1952-), country singer
- B. J. Thomas (1942-), country singer-songwriter
- Ernest Tubb (1914-1984), country singer-songwriter
- Tanya Tucker (1958-), country singer
- Vanilla Ice (1968-), rapper
- Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954-1990), musician
- Bob Wills (1905-1975), country singer with The Texas Playboys
- Barry White (1944-2003), soul singer and record producer
Televison/Radio
Miss America/ Miss USA Pageant Winners
- Shirley Cothran (1955-), Miss America 1975
- Jo-Carroll Dennison (1923-), Miss America 1942
- Christy Fichtner (1963?-), Miss USA 1986
- Phyllis George (1949-), Miss America 1971
- Courtney Gibbs (1966-), Miss USA 1988
- Kandace Krueger (1977?-), Miss USA 2001
- Laura Martinez-Harring (1964-), Miss USA 1985
- Gretchen Polhemus (1966?-), Miss USA 1989
- Michelle Royer (1966?-), Miss USA 1987
- Chelsi Smith (1974?-), Miss USA 1995 and Miss Universe 1995
- Kimberly Tomes (1956?-), Miss USA 1977
Athletics
- Lance Armstrong (1971-), cyclist, six-time Tour de France winner
- Ernie Banks (1931-), Baseball Hall of Famer
- Earl Campbell (1955-), Pro Football Hall of Famer, Heisman Trophy winner
- Joie Chitwood (1912-1988), professional racecar driver
- Roger Clemens (1962-), baseball pitcher, six-time Cy Young Award winner
- Randall "Tex" Cobb (1950-), champion boxer
- George Foreman (1949-), World Heavyweight champion boxer, TV pitchman, ordained minister
- Bill Foster (1904-1978), Baseball Hall of Famer
- A. J. Foyt (1935-), race car driver
- Ben Hogan (1912-1997), golf great
- Jack Johnson (1878-1946), first black Heavyweight Champion of the World
- Michael Johnson (1967-), Olympic gold medalist, World Record holder
- Tom Kite (1949-), golfer
- Courtney Kupets (1986-), World and U.S. champion gymnast, silver medalist in the 2004 Summer Olympics
- "Dandy" Don Meredith (1938-), Quarterback Dallas Cowboys and TV Football Commentator
- Jim Morris (1964-), Major League Baseball player and oldest rookie
- Bum Phillips (1923-), head coach in the National Football League
- Bill Pickett (1870-1932), cowboy and rodeo performer
- Nolan Ryan (1947-), Baseball Hall of Famer
- Willie Shoemaker (1931-2003), most successful jockey in history
- Sheryl Swoopes (1971-), WNBA, Olympic gold medalist
- Lee Trevino (1939-), golfer
- Dana Vollmer (1987-), swimmer who won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Kathy Whitworth (1939-), golfer
- Smokey Joe Williams (1886-1951), Baseball great
- Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1914-1956), gold medalist 1932 Olympics, golf great
Business
- Red Adair (1915-2004), offshore oil field firefighter
- Mary Kay Ash (1918-2001), businesswoman and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics
- Michael Dell (1965-), founder of Dell Inc.
- Howard Hughes (1905-1976), Aviator, filmaker, eccentric billionaire
- William Johnson McDonald (1844-1926), banker, philanthropist
- Ross Perot (1930-), entrepreneur, founder of EDS & Perot Systems, and 1992 U.S. Presidential candidate
- Tex Thornton (1913-1981), founder of Litton Industries
Art/Literature/Journalism
- J. Frank Dobie (1888-1964), folklorist and writer about open-range days
- Linda Ellerbee (1944-), journalist, correspondent, reporter
- Horton Foote (1916-), author and playwright
- Robert E. Howard (1906-1936), author of the Conan stories, and other pulp adventure tales.
- Molly Ivins (1944-), political commentator, journalist, and author
- Stanley Marsh 3 (1938-), millionaire, artist, philanthropist
- Larry McMurtry (1936-), Pulitzer Prize winning author of Lonesome Dove
- Katherine Anne Porter (1890-1980), journalist, essayist, novelist
- Robert Rauschenberg (1925-), painter, sculptor, graphic artist
- Liz Smith (1923-), syndicated columnist
- Sergio Troncoso (1961-), author of The Last Tortilla and Other Stories, and The Nature of Truth
Science/Medicine
Aviation/Space Exploration
Infamous Texans
- Clyde Barrow (1909-1934), bank robber
- Sam Bass (1851-1878), train robber and western icon
- Mark David Chapman (1955-), murdered Beatle John Lennon
- John Wesley Hardin (1853-1895), outlaw and gun-fighter, reputed to be "the meanest man alive"
- David Koresh (1959-1993), self proclaimed messiah and head of Branch Davidian cult
- Bonnie Parker (1910-1934), bank robber
- Richard Ramirez (1960-), serial killer
- Grandmaster Ratte' (196?-), hacker
- Charles "Tex" Watson (1945-), convicted murderer, former member of the Charles Manson "Family"
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