Kennewick, Washington has produced a notable range of individuals who went on to national recognition across professional sports, motorsports, entertainment, and media. While many left the Tri-Cities early in life, their birth in Kennewick places the city firmly in the background of careers that later unfolded on much larger stages. This countdown highlights those individuals, ordered from lower public visibility to the most widely recognized Kennewick native.
7. Adelle August (1934–2005)
Adelle August was born in Kennewick and became known as an actress and beauty pageant winner during the early 1950s. She was crowned Miss Washington USA in 1952 and later appeared in film and television roles during Hollywood’s studio era. While her acting career was relatively brief, her pageant title and screen appearances place her within mid-century American entertainment history.
6. Janet Krupin (1987)
Janet Krupin was born in Kennewick and later built a career in acting and musical performance. She is known for work in theater, including Broadway-related productions, as well as television and web-based projects. Krupin’s career reflects the modern entertainment path of stage training combined with on-screen roles, with Kennewick recorded as her birthplace before her professional development elsewhere.
5. Rick Emerson (1973)
Rick Emerson was born in Kennewick and became a well-known radio personality, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. He hosted long-running talk and entertainment radio programs and later expanded into writing and podcasting. Emerson’s career is marked by sustained regional media influence rather than national celebrity, but his voice became a fixture for listeners over many years.
4. Damon Lusk (September 18, 1977)
Damon Lusk was born in Kennewick and went on to compete as a professional stock car racing driver. He raced in NASCAR-related series and the ARCA circuit, earning wins and establishing himself within American motorsports during the late 1990s and early 2000s. His career places Kennewick on the map within national racing history.
3. Brittney Zamora (April 27, 1999)
Brittney Zamora was born in Kennewick and became a professional stock car racing driver, competing in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA West. She gained national attention for becoming the first female driver to win both a race and a championship in the Northwest Super Late Model Series. Zamora’s career represents a modern motorsports pipeline from regional racing to national competition.
2. Michael Reilly (1985)
Michael Reilly was born in Kennewick and later became one of the most successful quarterbacks in Canadian Football League history. After college football in the United States, he built a standout CFL career that included league MVP honors and a Grey Cup championship. Reilly’s achievements made him a major figure in Canadian professional sports, with Kennewick noted as his birthplace.
1. Jeremy Bonderman (1982)
Jeremy Bonderman is the most widely recognized person on this list. Born in Kennewick, he reached Major League Baseball as a teenager and became a longtime starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. Bonderman earned an All-Star selection and spent over a decade in the majors, competing at the highest level of professional baseball. His early MLB debut and sustained career place him at the top of Kennewick’s notable natives.
Last Updated on January 26, 2026 by F.E.M