True Stories of Amazing People and Places in Texas

Amazing People from Taylor County, Texas.

Taylor County's most famous people have achieved worldwide recognition. They were born here, raised here, or lived here and have caught the attention of the national media, historians and collectors.

Sammy Baugh was born March 17, 1914. A famous football player, rancher and actor, he played football for Sweetwater High School, TCU, the Washington Redskins and coached for Hardin-Simmons in Abilene . . . more about Baugh

Dan Blocker

Born in De Kalb, Bowie County, Texas December 10, 1928. Soon after his birth, the family moved to O'Donnell, Texas in Lynn County, where they operated a store. He played football at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas in 1946 . . . more about Blocker

Doyle F. Brunson born August 10, 1933 in Longworth Texas in Fisher County where he was an All Star Athlete in high school basketball and track. Brunson attended Hardin–Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. It was his skills at the poker table that made him famous . . . read more

Sonny Cumbie

Born August 8, 1981 in Abilene Texas, Cumbie was the starting quarterback for Texas Tech in Lubbock Texas during the 2004 season, where he led the nation in passing . . . continued

Larry Gatlin

Larry Gatlin was born in Seminole Texas and grew up in Abilene and Odessa.  The oldest of the three Gatlin brothers, he was by age seven, already accompanying younger brothers . . . continued

Ryan Guzman was born September 21, 1987 in Abilene Texas. He is an actor, model, and mixed martial arts fighter . . . more about Ryan Guzman

Jim Hall was born July 23, 1935 in Abilene, Texas. He started a small racing team in Midland, Texas. in 1962. Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s and the 1980s Hall and his team at Chaparral Cars designed, built and raced legendary race cars that were considered the most innovative cars of their time . . . more about Hall and Chaparral cars.

Charlene Holt was born Verna Charlene Stavely in Snyder, Texas April 28, 1928 and she attended McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. She became a famous beauty pageant winner, actress and model . . . more Charlene Holt

Jeff Kimble was born April 23, 1949 in Floydada Texas. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Abilene Christian University in 1971 with a Degree in Physics. While he was at ACU he was captain of the basketball team . He is a noted for groundbreaking experiments in physics including the first demonstration of teleportation of a quantum state. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1998 . . . more about Jeff Kimble

Lucado attended Abilene Christian University where he received an undergraduate degree in Mass Communication and master's degree in Bible Studies. While a student at Abilene Christian, Lucado sold books door-to-door with the Southwestern Advantage entrepreneurial program . . more about Lucado

Fess Parker

Born August 16, 1924, Fess Parker grew up on a farm outside San Angelo Texas. He went to Hardin–Simmons University in Abilene, Texas where he was involved in an argument over a car accident and was stabbed in the neck. see more

Rushing got her start as a writer writing for the Abilene Reporter-News in Abilene, Texas. She grew up in Pyron a West Texas community that is now a ghost town in southeastern Scurry County, Texas . . . continued

Jessica Simpson was born July 10, 1980 in Abilene Texas. She is an international star and media darling who has taken the music, fashion and entertainment industries by storm. She has released 8 hit-producing albums and starred on the big and small screens with notable roles in TV shows . . . continued

Louie Welch

Louie Welch graduated from Abilene Christian College in 1940 where he was a varsity cheerleader and Phi Delta Psi member. He was Mayor of Houston, Texas from 1964 to 1973 . . .  More about Louie Welch

Born in Abilene Texas June 23, 1959, Whitaker is a graduate of Monterey High School in Lubbock. He has spent the last 30 years as one of Hollywood's most entertaining . . . more

Born November 5, 1924 in Anson, Texas, legendary head coach and athletic director L.G. Wilson graduated from Abilene Christian College in 1950, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. . . . more on Coach Wilson