Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is the capital of Wisconsin, a state in the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 208,054, making it the second largest city in Wisconsin. It is the county seat of Dane County. Madison is also home to the University of Wisconsin.

Famous Madisonians

Notable people associated with Madison include conservation pioneer John Muir, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, ecologist Aldo Leopold, playwrights Thornton Wilder and Tina Howe, Olympic skaters Eric and Beth Heiden, novelist Jacquelyn Mitchard, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist David Maraniss, US Senator Russ Feingold, TV news producer Lowell Bergman, and actors Joan Cusack, Tyne Daly, Bradley Whitford, Chris Noth, and Chris Farley http://www.filmwisconsin.org/wisconsinstars/stars2.htm#abrahams:cite_sources. The latter four were all born and/or raised in Madison. Movie producers Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker, and David Zucker are Wisconsin natives who began their careers in Madison. Businesswoman Pleasant Rowland began the Pleasant Company (now a part of Mattel and renamed American Girl) in Madison, and remains a local resident. Charles A. Lindbergh entered a mechanical engineering program at the University of Wisconsin in 1920, did poorly, and dropped out to become a barnstormer. Radio humorist Michael Feldman and his weekly program are based in Madison. The alternative band Garbage was founded in the city by resident Butch Vig. Rock musicians Steve Miller and Boz Scaggs both attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Other notable musicians with Madison ties include bassist Richard Davis, saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, drummer Clyde Stubblefield, and composer/performers Leo and Ben Sidran.

Related Topics:
John Muir - Frank Lloyd Wright - Aldo Leopold - Thornton Wilder - Tina Howe - Eric - Beth Heiden - Jacquelyn Mitchard - David Maraniss - Russ Feingold - Lowell Bergman - Joan Cusack - Tyne Daly - Bradley Whitford - Chris Noth - Chris Farley - Jim Abrahams - Jerry Zucker - David Zucker - Pleasant Rowland - Pleasant Company - Mattel - American Girl - Charles A. Lindbergh - 1920 - Michael Feldman - Alternative - Garbage - Butch Vig - Steve Miller - Boz Scaggs - Richard Davis - Roscoe Mitchell - Clyde Stubblefield - Leo - Ben Sidran

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Madison is also known (unfortunately) as the location of the untimely deaths of Teresa McGovern (a Madison resident and daughter of presidential candidate George McGovern) and Otis Redding. Teresa McGovern was found dead of exposure when she passed out during a Madison winter night. Otis Redding died in a helicopter crash into Lake Monona.

Related Topics:
Teresa McGovern - George McGovern - Otis Redding

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The University of Wisconsin has produced many notable acheivers in diverse areas including the arts, politics, scientific research and athletics. Some are included above. One of the last US Health and Human Services Secretaries was a past chancellor of the university, Donna Shalala. A number of Nobel Prize winners have been graduates or on the faculty in Madison. For a more extensive account of well-known alumni and staff of UW-Madison see:

Related Topics:
US Health and Human Services Secretaries - Donna Shalala - Nobel Prize

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• List of University of Wisconsin people

For many years Jerry Dean was the voice of WISC-TV ("Wisconsin's Leadership Station") and Clyde Coffee was the morning personality of former radio station WISM-AM.

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