List of people from Eureka, California

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Eureka, California.

Academics and writing

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Gaddis, VincentVincent Gaddis		December 28, 1913	February 26, 1997	Author and creator of the term "Bermuda Triangle"	Born in Eureka	[1]
Gregory, Joseph T.Joseph T. Gregory		July 28, 1914	November 18, 2007	Paleontologist and professor	Lived and died in Eureka	[2]

Business & philanthropy

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Bendixsen, Hans DitlevHans Ditlev Bendixsen		Oct 14, 1842	Feb 12, 1902	Shipbuilder; instrumental in the development of the merchant marine industry on the West Coast of the United States	Lived in Eureka	[3]
Chinn, Betty KwanBetty Kwan Chinn (Also known as: 關惠群)				Philanthropist	Lives in Eureka	[4]
Noski, CharlesCharles Noski		Aug 23, 1952		Bank of America Corp Vice Chairman	Born in Eureka	[5]
Spaulding, MyronMyron Spaulding		Oct 28, 1905	Sep 11, 2000	Sailor, ship builder, and concert violinist	Born in Eureka	[6]

Media and art

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Baker, Ray JeromeRay Jerome Baker		Dec 1, 1880	Oct 1972	Photographer	Lived in Eureka	[7]
Burbank, LukeLuke Burbank		May 8, 1976		Radio host	Born in Eureka	[8]
Jordan, JeffJeff Jordan				Artist	Born in Eureka
Kinman, SethSeth Kinman		Sep 29, 1815	Feb 24, 1888	Performer; hunter for Fort Humboldt	Lived in Eureka	[9]
Monahan, MatthewMatthew Monahan		1972		Artist	Born in Eureka	[10]
Swinnerton, JimmyJimmy Swinnerton		Nov 13, 1875	Sep 8, 1974	Cartoonist and landscape painter	Born in Eureka	[11]
Whiting, RobertRobert Whiting		Oct 24, 1942		Author and journalist	Grew up in Eureka	[12]

Acting

Name	Image	Birth	Death	Known for	Association	Reference
Bridges , LloydLloyd Bridges		Jan 15, 1913	Mar 10, 1998	Actor	Eureka High graduate, owner of historic buildings	[13]
Brown , Sarah Joy Sarah Joy Brown		Feb 18, 1975		Actress	Born in Eureka	[14]
Cochran, Steve Steve Cochran		May 25, 1917	Jun 15, 1965	Actor	Born in Eureka	[15]
Fraser , Brendan Brendan Fraser		Dec 3, 1968		Actor	Lived in Eureka as a child	[16]
Gilbert , Irene Irene Gilbert		Aug 25, 1934	May 21, 2011	Actress	Died in Eureka	[17]
Urecal , Minerva Minerva Urecal		Sep 22, 1894	Feb 26, 1966	Actress	Born in Eureka	[18]

Music

• Sara Bareilles, musical artist
• Blackhouse (Brian Ladd), musical artist
• Trevor Dunn, musical artist
• Ernie Earnshaw, musician
• Mindy Gledhill, musical artist
• El Hefe (Aaron Abeyta), musical artist
• Mel Lyman, musician and film maker,
• Alexander McCurdy, organist and educator
• Michael Moore, musician
• Parasite (Armin Elsaesser), musician
• Mike Patton, musical artist
• Trey Spruance, musical artist

Military

• Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States; served for five months in 1854 at Fort Humboldt, two years before Eureka was incorporated as a town around the fort.^[19][20][21]
• Robert M. Viale, U.S. Medal of Honor recipient
• Stephen Girard Whipple, 49er, newspaper editor, Union Army officer, and politician^[22]

Politics and law

• Bob L. Beers, politician
• James G. Crichton, politician
• David Cobb, presidential candidate and orator
• Thomas Cottrell, politician
• James Gillett, Governor of California
• Peter D. Hannaford, political adviser and author associated with Ronald W. Reagan
• Frank C. Newman, Supreme Court of California associate justice

Crime

• Wayne Adam Ford, serial killer.^[23]

Sports

Baseball

• Lafayette Henion, Major League baseball pitcher
• Dane Iorg, Major League baseball player
• Garth Iorg, Major League baseball player
• Eddie Kearse, Major League baseball catcher
• Bill Kenworthy, Major League baseball player
• Roy Partee, Major League baseball catcher
• Greg Shanahan, Major League baseball pitcher
• Ned Yost, Major League baseball manager
• John Jaso, Major League baseball catcher and designated hitter

Basketball

• Al Brightman, basketball player and coach
• Mo Charlo, professional basketball player

Bowling

• Walter Ray Williams, Jr., professional bowler

Cricket

• Dennis Silk, cricketer

Football

• Dave Harper, football player
• Rey Maualuga, professional football player
• Mike Nott, professional football player
• Maurice Purify, professional football player
• Elbie Schultz (1917-2002), collegiate All-American and NFL football player^[24]
• John Woodcock, football player

Martial arts

• Nate Quarry, professional fighter

Rowing

• Kevin Still, Olympic bronze medalist in rowing^[25]

Volleyball

• Heather Erickson, Paralympic volleyballist^[26]

References

1. Bradley, Nancy. "My Life with Paranormal Icon Vincent Gaddis". Haunted America Tours. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
2. Staff. "Joseph T. Gregory, 1914–2007". University of California Museum of Paleontology.
3. Irvine, Leigh H. (1915). History of Humboldt County California. Los Angeles, California: Historic Record Company.
4. Thadeus Greenson (2010-08-05). "Eureka's Betty Chinn receives Presidential Citizens Medal". Eureka Times-Standard.
5. Heffes, Ellen M. (July 1, 2006). "Charles Noski". The Free Library.
6. Van Collie, Shimon. "Myron Spaulding - End of an Era", Latitude 38, October, 2000, p. 135
7. "The Ray Jerome Baker Collection Finding Aid" (PDF). MS 34. Kawai Historical Society Archives. March 1999.
8. Sanders, Eli (December 9, 2008). "Beautiful Thing: The Best New Radio Show in Seattle Is on... KIRO?". The Stranger. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
9. Shinn, Chas. Howard (October 1891). "With the Humboldt Trappers". Outing XIX (2): 94–95. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
10. Modern Art Exhibitions 2012 Matthew Monahan, Modern Art, 13 April - 12 May
11. George Stern Fine Art. James Guilford Swinnerton (1875–1974)
12. People: Robert Whiting, Japan Times, Vivienne Kenrick, November 12, 2000
13. [Famous Humboldt: From the redwoods to the limelight, Myles Cochrane/Tri-City Weekly, Eureka Times-Standard, June 28, 2011
14. Sarah Brown - Filmbug
15. Geoff Mayer (2012). Historical Dictionary of Crime Films. Scarecrow Press. pp. 89–. ISBN 978-0-8108-6769-7.
16. Diamond, Jamie (June 21, 1992). "Up and Coming: Brendan Fraser; A Man Schooled for Success". The New York Times. Retrieved January 8, 2008.
17. "Actress Irene Gilbert ran LA acting academy". Associated Press (San Francisco Chronicle). 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
18. Minerva Urecal (1894-1966) , What a Character, July 29, 2013
19. History of Humboldt County California - Historic Record Co., Los Angeles, 1915, Transcribed by Kathy Sedler, CHAPTER VII. Grant's Career in Humboldt County, California Genealogy & History Archives transcription, Internet Archive, page 52
20. Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
21. California Military Museum
22. California. Adjutant General's Office, Records of California men in the war of the rebellion 1861 to 1867, SACRAMENTO: State Office, J. D. Young, Supt. State Printing, 1890, pp. 11, 826-831
23. Bell, Rachael. "Wayne Adam Ford: The Remorseful Serial Killer". TruTV Crime Library. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
24. "Key Club Hears Talk by Former Rams Player," Humboldt Standard, Jan. 19, 1961, pg. 3.
25. Kevin Still, SR Olympic Sports, Sports Reference LLC.
26. "Heather Erickson". Team USA. United States Olympic Committee. Retrieved July 7, 2013.