What's So Great About Kansas City?

January 21, 2011

New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are all glamorous locales, but I’m from Kansas City. Being a native resident, I don’t know what it means to grow up anywhere but the City of Fountains. While I’m not a movie star, freak athlete, or household name, Kansas City has produced more than a few.

Here are some of Kansas City’s most famous people:

Ed Asner – You probably know him as Lou Grant from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Don’t remember that far back? He was the voice of Carl Fredricksen in the Pixar film Up. Asner grew up in KCK, and graduated from Wyandotte High School.

Danni Boatwright – A Tonganoxie native, Ms. Boatwright didn’t think it was enough to be named Miss Kansas and get 1st runner up in the Miss USA beauty pageant. So, she mailed in an audition tape to the TV show Survivor and ended up winning the 11th season of the show!

David Cook – You probably remember the fervor around town when Blue Springs High School grad David Cook just kept surviving round after round of cuts on American Idol. He won the reality show’s 7th season.

Walter Cronkite – Yes, the "most trusted man in America" was from the heartland. Cronkite was born in Saint Joseph, Missouri and spent his childhood years in Kansas City. One of the most well-known and well-respected newsmen in American history, Cronkite is one of Kansas City’s most famous sons. And, that’s the way it is.

Notice that I only made it to the C’s? And that’s after skipping about a dozen less well-known names! Walt Disney, Joan Crawford, Albert Pujols, Paul Rudd, and Jason Sudekis also call KC the home of their childhood. Dozens of household names had their humble beginnings in the metro area, who are some of KC’s most famous that you love?

Daniel W.
Raytown Branch