What Has Wichita,Kansas Given Society Nationwide?

Besides the names that have graced our history books of people from Kansas such as Amelia Earhart, Laura Ingals Wilder, Dwight D. Eisenhower, William Allen White and "Wild" Bill Hickok there have been numerous, actors, actresses,musicians,inventors,business owners and comedians just to name a few of what Kansas has produced.

I'm going to start off with one of the most well known nationally and internationally business owners from Wichita,Kansas.Dan and Frank Carney.Names don't ring a bell?Both of these brothers graduated from the University of Wichita, Kansas, now known as WSU.In 1958 they borrowed $600 from their mother and started the very first Pizza Hut in Wichita,Kansas.In 1963 they franchised their business and in 1968 became international in Canada.

By 1971 Pizza Hut became the world leader in Pizza Sales and in 1977 they merged with Pepsi Co. and opened 4,000 units that year alone.In 1994 Frank Carney opened up another pizza chain starting in Wichita, Kansas as well and is personally the owner of 133 locations in Kansas,Missouri,Texas and Hawaii with the slogan "Better ingredients,better pizza,Papa Johns".

Losing over 75 pounds this actress is the most well known spokesperson for Jenny Craig.Born in 1951 in Wichita,Kansas Kirstie Alley.She attended the University of Kansas dropping out to pursue her acting career.Her first movie was in Star Trek 2:The Wrath of Khan leading to roles such as her most noted TV series character replacing Shelley Long in Cheers as the bar owner Rebecca Howe.She also starred in Veronica's Closet for three seasons and a Showtime series Fat Actress, as well as movies Deconstructing Harry,Look Who's Talking,For Richer For Poorer,Village of the Damned and Peter and the Wolf along with credited other films.

Football great Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions.Born in Wichita,Kansas in 1968 he attended Oklahoma State University.In 1988 he won the Heisman trophy for rushing yards,total yards and touchdowns.In 1989 he was drafted to play for the Detroit Lions.In 1997 he won Associated Press's NFL's most valuable player of the year award along with quarterback Brett Favre.He retired in 1999.

Tv host,producer,director and screenwriter Jeff Probst.More well known for being the tv host for Survivor from 2000 to present.He was born in Wichita,Kansas in 1961.He moved to Seattle ,Washington to attend Seattle Pacific University.As well as hosting Survivor in 1998 he hosted Rock and Roll Jeopardy on VH1, Backchat on the FX network from 1994-1998 and Access Hollywood from 1996 to present.He has also filled in on several occasions for Regis Philbin on "Live with Regis and Kelly" leaving rumors that he could possibly be Regis' replacement when he retires.

Solo musician and well known bass guitarist for the Eagles,Joe Walsh born in 1947 in Wichita,Kansas.He studied the oboe and clarinet before finding his true calling learning to play the bass guitar.Before hooking up with Eagles in 1976 he played for another fairly well known band The James Gang.He attended Kent State University in Cleveland,Ohio.He has made several cameo appearances on the Drew Carey show portraying himself and still tours presently with the Eagles.

Starring in the hit 80's tv show Miami Vice from 1984 to 1989,Don Johnson born in 1949 in Flatt Creek,Missouri moved with his family to Wichita,Kansas at the young age of 6.He attended the University of Kansas.Credited movies include Guilty as Sin,Tin Cup and The Hot Spot.

And lastly but certainly not least,tv new reporter Jim Lehrer.He was born in 1934 in Wichita,Kansas moving to Texas in his middle school years.He is a graduate of Victoria College and the University of Missouri.He served 3 years in the United States Marine Corps.He began his career in Texas covering the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963.In 1965 he started the MacNeil/Lehrer Report later renaming it The Newshour with Jim Lehrer.He was awarded the Presidential National Humanities medal in 1999 and he moderated the first televised presidential debate between George W. Bush and John Kerry in 2004.He has written 20 books and 3 plays.

With such an impressive list of names and occupations I'm looking forward to the next famous names to come from Wichita,Kansas.