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Famous people · Gainesville

The 19 famous people born in Gainesville, led by Jake Roberts

Most widely known is Jake Roberts, the American professional wrestler, with articles in 31 languages. Charley Paddock and Gene Austin follow. In the age of mills and railroads, 10 were born, the most of any period. The first birth on record is Claude Weaver’s, in 1867, and the last Kevin Mathis’, in 1974.

#1 best knownJake RobertsSports · born 1955
+15more
Born here
19
notable people
Best known
Jake Roberts
in 31 Wikipedia languages
First
1867
Claude Weaver
Youngest
1974
Kevin Mathis
Most common field
Sports
8 people
The best known

Born in Gainesville

Two of the three are athletes.

Jake Roberts#1
Sports

Jake Roberts

born 1955

American professional wrestler

31 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Charley Paddock#2
Sports

Charley Paddock

1900–1943

American athlete and Olympic gold medalist

29 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Gene Austin#3
Music

Gene Austin

1900–1972

American singer

15 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years

When Gainesville’s famous people were born

More were born in the 1950s than in any other decade: 4.

Mills & railroadsThe American century185019001950Jake RobertsCharley PaddockFrank Buck
SportsFilm, TV & StagePolitics & LawMusicMilitaryWriting & ArtsBusiness

Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.

Known for

What Gainesville is known for

The field furthest above the usual share is performers, at 1.7 times.

The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.

Everyone

Everyone else born in Gainesville

16 more names, born between 1867 and 1974.

Edwin Carewe

Edwin Carewe

1883–1940

American actor and film producer

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Frank Buck

Frank Buck

1884–1950

American hunter, animal collector, actor and author

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Claude Weaver

Claude Weaver

1867–1954

American politician and judge

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Joseph Weldon Bailey, Jr.

Joseph Weldon Bailey, Jr.

1892–1943

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
MM

Monette Moore

1902–1962

American jazz and blues singer

RS

Red Steagall

born 1938

American actor, musician, poet, and stage performer

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
James D. Thurman

James D. Thurman

born 1953

United States general

RF

Rose Franken

1896–1988

American writer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
CC

Chuck Curtis

1935–2016

American football player and coach

KM

Kevin Mathis

born 1974

American football player

LW

Len Walterscheid

born 1954

American football player

OS

Ozzie Simmons

1914–2001

American football player

JJ

James Lindsay Embrey, Jr.

1925–2005

American business executive, philanthropist

TH

Terry Hyman

1951–2008

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
WC

Wallace Crutchfield

1879–1952

American-football player

The town’s pick

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From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Gainesville and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.

Photo credits (8)