Skip to content

Famous Locals

Articles

4 items

This undated photograph offers a fine view of Leonard “Baby” Bliss, Bloomington’s celebrity “fat man” of a century past.

Celebrity life of ‘Baby’ Bliss mired in tragedy
One of the more beloved local figures from Bloomington’s rich past is Baby Bliss, the city’s re...

Article

Hollywood Legends Brought Local Author’s Novel to Silver Screen
Bloomington writer Harold Sinclair always looked a little out of place, whether it was standing...

Article

Pantagraph reporter turns sci-fi writer
You might’ve missed it, but Thursday, Nov. 10, marked the 50th anniversary of the first airing ...

Article

Pawnee Bill Lillie and his wife Mary Emma celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 31, 1936 in Taos, NM. The celebration included the governors of Oklahoma and New Mexico, and Pueblo, Navajo and Sioux, as well as the requisite contingent of Pawnee. Two weeks later the Lillies suffered a wreck in their gold-colored anniversary automobile. Mary died on September 27 as a result of her injuries.

Wild West legend ‘Pawnee Bill’ got start in Bloomington
The life and times of Bloomington-born Gordon William “Pawnee Bill” Lillie show us that when it...

Article

Blog

6 items

McHistory: Baseball ban a dark day for some in Bloomington
McHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history...

Blog Post

McHistory: Bloomington’s Favorite Son
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big momen...

Blog Post

McHistory: Modern electronics rests with Bloomington-Normal's only Nobel Prize winner

Blog Post

McHistory: Noted Author Harold Sinclair of Bloomington
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big momen...

Blog Post

McHistory: Paul Rhymer, the man who put Bloomington 'on the air'
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big momen...

Blog Post

McHistory: Rags the Dog, The Illinois Traction System Mascot
Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big momen...

Blog Post

Speakers Bureau

1 item

Mourning in McLean: The Story of Death, Grieving, and Funerary Customs in McLean County

Speakers Bureau