Famous People from Marshall & Harrison County

The list of world renowned people from Marshall and Harrison County reads like a Who's Who. From actresses to world class boxers, Marshall's citizens have played roles in the White House, world journalism, the center of civil rights, the National Football League and more.

These individuals are a product of one of the best resources Marshall has to offer: an environment rich in family and community support. Simply put: Marshall is a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. Here are just a few who are proud to call Marshall their hometown:

JAMES FARMER

World famous author and civil rights leader, he was born in Marshall and graduated from local Wiley College. He helped form CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) in 1942 and pioneered the development of nonviolent action techniques against discrimination.

As President of CORE in 1964, he organized the successful Freedom Ride through the South to compel the government to enforce laws that prohibited segregated interstate buses and facilities.

GEORGE FOREMAN

George Foreman was born in Marshall and later entered school in Houston, Texas. He went on to become the two-time Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the world, an Olympic Boxing Champion in 1968, a television personality, and a preacher to inner-city youth. He now has one of his homes and his training center located just outside Marshall.

SUSAN HOWARD

Born and raised in Marshall, Jeri Lynn Mooney went on to become known as "Susan Howard", and received both Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for her role in the television series "Petrocelli." She also spent 9 years as "Donna Culver Krebs" on the world famous series "Dallas."

LADY BIRD JOHNSON

Born and raised in Harrison County just north of Marshall, this distiguished lady became the wife of our 36th President, Lyndon Baines Johnson. She received her famous nickname from the family maid, Cindy Gibson, who thought she was as pretty as a "Lady Bird." Mrs. Johnson also became very famous for her beautification program for Texas highways.

BILL MOYERS

Born and raised in Marshall, he went on to become a world famous broadcast journalist who has won every major broadcast award. He spent 20 years in television broadcasting where he won 20 Emmys, including one for the series "Walk Through the 20th Century."

He also served as Deputy Director of the Peace Corps under President Kennedy and Special Assistant to President Johnson.

Y. A. TITTLE

Y. A. Tittle had a very distinguished career on the field at Marshall High School and then at Louisiana State. He went on to become one of the most famous quarterbacks in NFL history, playing a total of 17 years for the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants. He was NFL Player of the year 3 times and was inducted into the NFL, Texas, and Louisiana Halls of Fame.