Joe Nuxhall
Perhaps one of the most famous names in Cincinnati baseball is Joe Nuxhall. He began playing for the Reds at the ripe old age of 15, but a few years later he retired from baseball to finish school. After that, he had a long career with the Reds and upon his final retirement, he became a broadcaster. The Nuxhall family is still located in Hamilton, and a mural can be found downtown to pay tribute to the local favorite.
Jane Nelson
Currently holding a Republican seat in the Texas State Senate, Jane Nelson was born right here in Hamilton, OH. In Texas, she was the tenth woman ever to be elected to the State Senate. She is the first female Republican to chair a standing committee and she is currently the highest-ranking Republican in the Texas Senate.
Eric Lange
Hamilton has sent all kinds of talented people into the world, and Eric Lange is among them. As a successful actor, Lange played important roles in many well-known productions, to include Lost, Narcos, and Victorious. Although he is doing big things in California, he’ll always be a Hamiltonian.
Ray Combs
Ray Combs is a big name in comedy, but he was also a native Hamiltonian. Combs is most known for his time spent as the host of Family Feud from 1988 to 1993. Prior to that, he would use his stand-up comedy skills to ‘warm up’ live audiences for sitcom favorites like The Golden Girls.
Fannie Hurst
During an influential era, Fannie Hurst’s novels were a hot commodity. In her writing, she tackled social issues, such as women’s rights, while still incorporating romance. She was an advocator for feminism and African American equality, and many of her books were bestsellers upon their publication in the ‘30s. While she spent much of her time in New York City, she will always be considered a pride of her birth town, Hamilton.
Frederick Rentschler
Hamilton native Frederick Rentschler was a revolutionary aircraft engine designer whose work was even used to power the iconic B-52 bomber used by the military. The Rentschler family has been helping to build this community since 1901 when George Adam Rentschler moved onto Dayton Street. The family has continued to build upon the successes of the past in many ways such as the deeding of 90 acres of land to Butler County MetroParks. The Rentschler’s continue to serve Hamilton to this day.
Jimmy Wynn
If there’s one thing that the Cincinnati area takes seriously, it’s our baseball. Jimmy Wynn, who was born right here in Hamilton, lead a successful career as an outfielder primarily with the Houston Astros. Jimmy was known for his home runs, including his most famous one at Crosley Field that blasted past the scoreboard and onto I-75. Wynn played for 15 years before retiring.
Andrew Wheeler
Born in Hamilton, Andrew Wheeler has made it all the way to Washington D.C., where he is currently the 15th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. With family still living in the area, he likes to visit home and indulge in some of the foods unique to this area, like the chili.
Greg Hamilton
To the world of wrestling, he’s known as Greg Hamilton, but to Hamilton he’s known as Greg Hutson. Greg began his career after he graduated from Hamilton High in 1997. He started out as a host for the Carnival cruise line. Over the next 14 years, he earned himself many opportunities to strengthen his skills and in 2015 he became a ring announcer for WWE. He took the name Greg Hamilton in honor of his hometown.
Robert McCloskey
Hamiltonian talent spreads over a vast number of topics, even children’s books thanks to Robert McCloskey. Originally from Hamilton, he left to attend college in Boston and New York City, before settling down to write his books. Using his wife and daughter as models in 1948, he wrote the award-winning story, Blueberries for Sal. It won the Caldecott Honor the following year.