A Series of Guest Blogs by an out-of-state Fish Report reader originally from this area about fond memories of growing up in Midwestern Ohio during the 50’s & 60’s.
Famous Shelby County Native
Ever wonder who are the most famous people from each of Ohio’s 88 counties? Me neither, but someone did and took the time to create
this interesting website listing photos and bio’s of each. Of course, most are Presidents, movie stars or athletes. Many were in their prime as I was growing up. For example, Shelby County’s most famous native, Paul Lauterbur, whom you’ve likely never heard of, invented the MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, a device he is standing next to in the photo above. His invention saves the lives of countless people each day. He was awarded the Nobel prize for his invention in 2003.
Mr. Lauterbur was a 1947 graduate from Sidney High, and was recognized for his accomplishments by having the science wing of the school named in his honor. He attended Case Institute of Technology where he graduated with a chemistry degree and eventually earned a PhD at the University of Pittsburgh. He came up with the idea for the MRI in the late sixties while eating at a Big Boy restaurant in Pittsburgh and scribbled the concept on a paper napkin.
Mr. Lautebur never became rich from the invention because the State University of New York, where he was working at the time, never chose to have it patented. He died in 2007 at the age of 77 after finishing his career teaching and doing research at the University of Illinois.
Many of the more populous counties in Ohio listed runner-up nominees, like Lucas County, with Coach Jim Harbaugh runner up to Gloria Steinem; although Jim’s dad Jack Harbaugh was most famous from Crawford County. And no surprise, Urban Meyer made the list from Ashtabula County. Interestingly, Pickaway County had slim pickings as its most famous was porn star John Holmes aka Johnny Wad! Jack Nicklaus beat out Archie Griffin in Franklin County while Paul Newman bested Bob Hope and President Garfield in Cuyahoga County. My favorite famous person of all the 88 counties is Civil War General and President Ulysses S. Grant. After reading a ton of Civil War books and presidential biographies, Grant was a standout, even more so than Lincoln in my view, if for no other reason than being an Ohio native like me!
Some of the other famous people from nearby counties are:
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| Allen - Comedienne Phillis Diller |
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| Darke - Sharpshooter Annie Oakley |
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| Montgomery - Airplane inventor Orville Wright (Wilbur was born in Indiana) |
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| Auglaize - Astronaut Neil Armstrong |
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| Mercer - Songwriter Wendall Mobley |
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| Miami - NFL player and TV announcer Chris Carter |
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| Champaign - Golf course designer Pete Dye |
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| Logan - Writer Norman Vincent Peale |
Mr. Lauterbur was a 1947 graduate from Sidney High, and was recognized for his accomplishments by having the science wing of the school named in his honor. He attended Case Institute of Technology where he graduated with a chemistry degree and eventually earned a PhD at the University of Pittsburgh. He came up with the idea for the MRI in the late sixties while eating at a Big Boy restaurant in Pittsburgh and scribbled the concept on a paper napkin.
Many of the more populous counties in Ohio listed runner-up nominees, like Lucas County, with Coach Jim Harbaugh runner up to Gloria Steinem; although Jim’s dad Jack Harbaugh was most famous from Crawford County. And no surprise, Urban Meyer made the list from Ashtabula County. Interestingly, Pickaway County had slim pickings as its most famous was porn star John Holmes aka Johnny Wad! Jack Nicklaus beat out Archie Griffin in Franklin County while Paul Newman bested Bob Hope and President Garfield in Cuyahoga County. My favorite famous person of all the 88 counties is Civil War General and President Ulysses S. Grant. After reading a ton of Civil War books and presidential biographies, Grant was a standout, even more so than Lincoln in my view, if for no other reason than being an Ohio native like me!
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