Born near Waco: 16 famous people within 35 miles
Closest of all is Ray Beck, from Bowdon, 12 mi away. Sterling Holloway is the most widely known, written about in 28 languages. Over the border in Bremen, 2 names are on record, led by Tom Murphy. Not one famous person on record comes from Waco yet.
What stands out about Waco’s famous people
Famous people born near Waco
They were born in 10 towns within 35 miles, nearest first.

Asa Griggs Candler
1851–1929American mayor and businessman

Thomas A. Dorsey
1899–1993American musician, composer, and Christian evangelist influential in the development of early blues and 20th-century gospel music


Roy Lee Johnson
1938–2024American R&B and soul songwriter, singer and guitarist

Who’s the most famous person from Waco?
Pick one and say why. Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Be the first to say who Waco’s most famous person is.
Famous people from the towns next door
The longest list nearby is Bremen’s, with 2.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Waco and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. Nearby people are those born in a town within 35 miles; distances are town center to town center. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (6)
- Sterling Holloway: NBC. Bureau of Industrial Service was a division of advertising agency Yong & Rubicam. Many television and radio publicity photos were distributed by this agency on behalf of networks and sponsors. Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Asa Griggs Candler: Asa_Candler_2.jpg: Harris & Ewing, photographer derivative work: Kelly, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jae Crowder: scott mecum, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sam Hunt: Jessxtn, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Priscilla Kelly: Tabercil, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tom Murphy: User:Sethlynwood1993, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
