The following is a list of notable people associated with Traverse City, Michigan. These people were born or lived in Traverse City.
Academia
Thomas R. Plough (born 1941), sociologist and president of North Dakota State University and Assumption College Scott Schwenter (born 1968), professor of Hispanic Linguistics at Ohio State University
Activism
Chasten Buttigieg (born 1989), writer, teacher, and LGBT+ activist Helen Milliken (1922–2012), activist, environmentalist, and first lady of Michigan Pun Plamondon (1945–2023), left-wing activist
Crime
Charles L. Meach (1947–2004), serial killer
Industry
John T. Parsons (1913–2007), engineer Eugene Power (1905–1993), entrepreneur Frank L. Stulen (1921–2010), engineer and mayor of Traverse City in 1961
Law
Pearl M. Hart (1890–1975), attorney Thomas G. Power (born 1950), judge and member of the Michigan House of Representatives
Media
Art
Eric Daigh (born 1977) Anna Fidler (born 1973) Michael Huey (born 1964) Barbara McGuire, painter, jewelry designer, and clay artist Ezra Winter (1886–1949), muralist George Wurtzel (born 1954), craftsman and woodworker
Film, television, and theater
Kate Botello, television and radio personality Jeremy Davies (born 1969), actor Carol Duvall (1926–2023), television personality Wren Zhawenim Gotts (born 2013), actress Michael Moore (born 1954), director, screenwriter, producer, and author Bill Morey (1919–2003), actor Carter Oosterhouse (born 1976), television personality Pat Paulsen (1927–1997), comedian, satirist, and actor Julius H. Steinberg (1847–1943), theater entrepreneur Martha Teichner (born 1948), CBS News correspondent Barry Watson (born 1974), actor David Wayne (1914–1995), actor
Music
Bob James (born 1939), pianist, arranger, and record producer Angela Josephine (born 1967), singer-songwriter and musician Matt Noveskey (born 1976), singer-songwriter and bassist in bands Blue October and Harvard of the South Wilson Sawyer (1917–1979), composer, arranger, and musician Mel Schacher (born 1951), bassist in band Grand Funk Railroad Claudia Schmidt (born 1953), singer-songwriter and musician Billy Strings (born 1992), bluegrass musician
Bands
The Accidentals (formed 2012) Salem (formed 2006)
Print media
M. E. C. Bates (1839–1905), writer, journalist, and newspaper editor Clara Nettie Bates (1876–1966), editor, writer, and clubwoman Mary K. Buck (1841–1901), author Alma Routsong (1924–1996), novelist Harold Sherman (1898–1987), novelist and lecturer Doug Stanton, author, journalist, lecturer, and screenwriter Craig Thompson (born 1975), graphic novelist
Military
Demas T. Craw (1900–1942), United States Air Force officer and posthumous Medal of Honor recipient Michael Carey (born 1960), United States Air Force officer Guy Fort (1879–1942), brigadier general in the Philippine Army under control of the United States Army Forces in the Far East Alden G. Glauch (1919–2015), major general in the United States Air Force
Politics
National
Pete Buttigieg (born 1982), former United States Secretary of Transportation, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and candidate for President of the United States in 2020. Robert P. Griffin (1923–2015), U.S. representative, senator, and Michigan Supreme Court justice
State
Jason Allen (born 1963), member of Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate Morgan Bates (1806–1874), 19th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan Betsy Coffia (born 1977), member of the Michigan House of Representatives James E. Defebaugh (1926–2014), member of the Michigan House of Representatives Michael Dively (born 1938), member of the Michigan House of Representatives Kevin Elsenheimer (born 1965), member of the Michigan House of Representatives and judge Arnell Engstrom (1897–1970), member of the Michigan House of Representatives George A. McManus Jr. (1930–2024), member of the Michigan Senate James T. Milliken (1882–1952), mayor of Traverse City and member of the Michigan Senate James W. Milliken (1848–1908), member of the Michigan Senate William Milliken (1922–2019), 44th and longest-serving Governor of Michigan Howard Walker (born 1954), member of the Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate
Local
Derek Bailey (1972–2021), chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Perry Hannah (1824–1904), founding father and first mayor of Traverse City, and member of the Michigan House of Representatives
Religion
Carol Gilbert (born 1947), Dominican religious sister and anti-nuclear activist
Science
Andrea Kritcher, nuclear engineer and physicist Ross Overbeek (born 1949), engineer and mathematician Bernice Steadman (1925–2015), aviator Jane Willets Ettawageshik (1915–1996), anthropologist
Sports
American football
Mark Brammer (born 1958), tight end Max Bullough (born 1992), linebacker and coach Riley Bullough (born 1993), linebacker Joshua Burnham (born 2004), defensive end Tom Edwards (1899–1980), tackle Jake Fisher (born 1993), offensive tackle Eric Gordon (born 1987), linebacker Ryan Hayes (born 2000), offensive tackle Gary Hogeboom (born 1958), quarterback Joe Kerridge (born 1992), fullback Darren Keyton (born 1990), guard Chris Kolarevic (born 1999), linebacker Bunny Oakes (1898–1970), coach Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi (born 1995), wide receiver and kick returner
Baseball
Donna Chartier, utility infielder Doug Mirabelli (born 1970), catcher Andy Pascoe (born 1988), catcher and infielder
Basketball
Holden Greiner (born 1991), forward Tom Kozelko (born 1951), power forward Dan Majerle (born 1965), shooting guard/small forward and coach Suzy Merchant (born 1969), coach Aaliyah Nye (born 2002), shooting guard/small forward Autumn Rademacher (born 1975), coach
Golf
Walter Hagen (1892–1969)
Ice hockey
Dallas Drake (born 1969), winger Brandon Halverson (born 1996), goaltender
Mike Matteucci (born 1971), defenseman Zach Redmond (born 1988), defenseman Brian Rolston (born 1973), center John Scott (born 1982), defenseman and winger, 2016 National Hockey League All-Star Game MVP
Motorsports
Dick Burleson (born 1948), enduro racer
Rugby
Angus MacLellan (born 1992), prop"MacLellan amped for pro rugby premiere, future of new league" , Leelanau Enterprise, Jay Bushen, April 7, 2016. Phil Thiel (born 1984), prop and hooker
Soccer
Casey Townsend (born 1989), forward and midfielder
Wrestling
Robert Hewitt (1906–1978)
References