The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Adrian, Michigan.
Academics and engineering
- William James Beal, botanist; co-founder of Collegeville (later known as East Lansing); born in Adrian
- Norman Bel Geddes, theatrical and industrial designer (1939 New York World's Fair pavilion "Futurama"); born in Adrian
- Myrtle Craig Mowbray, educator and first African American woman to graduate from the Michigan Agricultural College in 1907; born in Adrian
- Garry Wills, prolific Pulitzer Prize-winning author, journalist, and historian, grew up in Adrian
Business
- Orville D. Merillat, founder of Merillat Kitchens, later Merillat Industries; moved to Adrian as a young man
Media and music
- Kirk Baily (1963–2022), actor
- Priscilla Bonner (1899–1996), silent screen movie star; grew up in Adrian
- Byron Darnton, war correspondent for the New York Times during World War II; born in Adrian
- Allen Lee Haff, television personality (Auction Hunters); born in Adrian
- Margaret Wynne Lawless (1847–1926) poet, author, educator, philanthropist
- Matt Noveskey, bass player for Blue October; born in Adrian
- James Royce Shannon (1881–1946), composer and lyricist; born in Adrian
Politics and law
- Fernando C. Beaman, former U.S. Congressman; lived in Adrian and was mayor in 1856
- Jerome B. Chaffee, U.S. Senator from Colorado; lived in Adrian where he was a teacher and local businessman
- Thomas M. Cooley, 25th Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court; lived in Adrian
- Charles Croswell, 17th Governor of Michigan; lived in Adrian
- William L. Greenly, fifth Governor of Michigan; lived in Adrian
- Chris Gregoire, 22nd Governor of Washington; born in Adrian
- Haviland H. Lund, inspector of home settlement projects for the United States Department of the Interior; born in Adrian
Crime
- Sile Doty, infamous criminal gang leader; lived in Adrian
Sports
Baseball
- Rube Kisinger (1876–1941), pitcher for the Detroit Tigers; born in Adrian
- Mike Marshall (1943-2021), pitcher with 9 different Major League Baseball teams; 2× All-Star (1974, 1975); recipient of the Cy Young Award (1974); born in Adrian
- Frank Navin (1871–1935), principal owner of the Detroit Tigers (1909–1935); vice president and acting president of the American League; born in Adrian
Coaching
- William Reid, basketball player, led Adrian High School to 1912 state title, coach at Colgate University, NCAA administrator and member of Basketball Hall of Fame
- Dale R. Sprankle, championship coach at Adrian College
Football
- Marcus Benard, linebacker for Arizona Cardinals; born in Adrian
- Kellen Davis, tight end for New York Jets, formerly for Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns; born in Adrian
- Dorne Dibble, wide receiver for the Detroit Lions; 2x NFL Champion (1953, 1957); born in Adrian
- John Maulbetsch, All-American football halfback; played for Adrian College in 1911
- Bob Westfall (1919–1980), All-American football fullback; played for Michigan 1939–1941; played for Detroit Lions 1945 All-pro; inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987; lived in Adrian
Military
- John Hack, awarded the Medal of Honor; grew up in Adrian and joined the Union Army there
References
- Beal, William James Bea (1915). History of the Michigan Agricultural College: And Biographical Sketches of Trustees and Professors. Agricultural college. p. 414.
William James Beal adrian mi.
- Magill, Frank N. Magill (2013). The 20th Century A-GI: Dictionary of World Biography, Volume 7. Routledge. p. 1319. ISBN 978-1136593345.
- Widder, Keith R. (2005). Michigan Agricultural College: The Evolution of a Land-Grant Philosophy, 1855-1925. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press. pp. 94, 346–348. ISBN 0870137344.
- Garry Wills, Why I Am A Catholic (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002), 14-16.
- "World War correspondent killed at New Guinea". The Michigan Alumnus. UM Libraries. 1942. p. 139.
- "Allen Lee Haff Biography". TV.com. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- Curtis, Georgina Pell; Elder, Benedict (1911). The American Catholic Who's who. Vol. 1 (Public domain ed.). NC News Service. pp. 359–.
- "Blue October Matt Noveskey". Spirit of Metal Webzine. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- History of Ireland, p. PA21, at Google Books
- "BEAMAN, Fernando Cortez (1814 - 1882)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- "CHAFFEE, Jerome Bunty (1825 - 1886)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- "Thomas M Cooley". The University of Michigan Law School. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- "Charles M. Croswell". Governors of Michigan. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. 1873. p. 703.
- "Chris Gregoire (D)". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- "Man Governed World Criticized By Women". Reading Eagle. November 11, 1921. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
... at the sessions of the National Council of Women by Mrs. Haviland Haines Lund, inspector of home settlement projects in the Department of the Interior. ...
- "Silas Doty made early entry in state history". Ludington Daily News. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- "Rube Kisinger". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- "Mike Marshall". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- "Frank Navin". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- "Football Game-by-Game Results". Adrian College Bulldogs. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- "Marcus Benard #59 LB". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- "Kellen Davis #89 TE". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- "Dorne Dibble". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- "Johnny Maulbetsch". National Football Foundation. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
- "Bob Westfall". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 24, 2014.