Famous People

Booth Tarkington was an American novelist and dramatist whose writings presented the wholesome aspects of life in the Middle West.  Tarkington’s works range from the sentimentally romantic Monsieur Beaucaire to the humor of Penrod and the realism of Alice Adams.  A trilogy of novels called Growth presents a cross section of city life such as it was in his hometown , Indianapolis.  The trilogy consists of The Turmoil, The Magnificent Ambersons, and The Midlander.  Tarkington  published plays, stories, and essays.

Bob Knight is one of the most successful coaches in college basketball history.  Knight coached United States basketball teams to gold medals in the 1984 Olympic games.  He is known for his ability to teach and motivate his players as well as for his controversial outbursts of temper.  Knight became head coach at Indiana University in 1971.  His Indiana teams won the NCAA tournaments in 1976,1981, and 1987 as well as  the 1979 National Invitational Tournament.  Bob Knight was born in Orrville, Ohio.