Odessa, Texas, has produced a diverse range of notable individuals in sports, entertainment, politics, and literature. From NFL wide receivers and Olympic athletes to bestselling authors and television stars, the city’s connections stretch across the country and beyond. Here are the 10 most famous people from Odessa, presented in countdown fashion.
10. Brooks Landgraf (b. 1981)
Brooks Landgraf was born and raised in Odessa and graduated from Texas A&M University before earning his law degree at St. Mary’s. Since 2015, he has served in the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 81, which covers Odessa and surrounding areas. Landgraf has worked on issues involving energy, transportation, and education, often focusing on policies that affect the Permian Basin. In addition to politics, he is also active in local ranching and continues to live in Odessa.
9. Bonner Bolton (b. 1987)
Bonner Bolton grew up outside Odessa in a family of cowboys and became a professional bull rider, winning the 2007 Championship Bull Riding world title. He suffered a career-ending injury in 2016 when thrown from a bull at the PBR season opener. After recovering, he signed with IMG Models in New York, appearing in campaigns for fashion brands. He later competed on season 24 of Dancing with the Stars, bringing his story of recovery to a national audience.
8. Toby Stevenson (b. 1976)
Toby Stevenson, born in Odessa, became one of America’s top pole vaulters. He attended Permian High School before competing at Stanford University, where he won NCAA championships. Stevenson earned a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and also medaled at the Pan American Games. He is notable for being one of the few elite vaulters to wear a helmet during competition. After retiring, he went into coaching, working with athletes at both collegiate and international levels.
7. Bryan Mealer (b. 1974)
Author and journalist Bryan Mealer grew up in Odessa before launching a career in international reporting. He co-wrote The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind with William Kamkwamba, which became a New York Times bestseller and was later adapted into a Netflix film. Mealer also wrote a family history set in West Texas. His books have been widely translated and published internationally.
6. Britt Hager (b. 1966)
Britt Hager was born in Odessa and starred as a linebacker at Permian High School before playing at the University of Texas. He set school records for tackles at Texas and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1989. Hager played nine seasons in the NFL with the Eagles, Denver Broncos, and St. Louis Rams. His son, Bryce Hager, later followed in his footsteps as a linebacker in college and the NFL, continuing the family’s football legacy.
5. Daryl Hunt (1956–1998)
Daryl Hunt played linebacker at Permian High School before becoming a star at the University of Oklahoma, where he set career tackle records. He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1979 and played seven seasons in the NFL. Hunt was known as a consistent defensive leader for the Oilers throughout the early 1980s. He passed away suddenly in 1998 at the age of 41. Hunt remains one of Odessa’s most respected football players at both the college and professional levels.
4. Karan Ashley (b. 1975)
Karan Ashley was born in Odessa and began her career in entertainment as part of the girl group K.R.U.S.H. She gained international fame when she joined Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in 1994 as Aisha Campbell, the Yellow Ranger. Ashley also appeared in Power Rangers: The Movie (1995). In addition to acting, she has worked as a producer and screenwriter and continues to be active in fan conventions and media appearances tied to the Power Rangers franchise.
3. Chuck Dicus (b. 1948)
Chuck Dicus was born in Odessa and went on to play wide receiver for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, where he helped lead the team to a national championship in 1969. He was named a consensus All-American and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Dicus played professionally in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and briefly with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After football, he worked in athletic fundraising and remained connected to the Razorbacks program.
2. Roy Williams (b. 1981)
Roy Williams was born in Odessa and attended Permian High School before playing wide receiver at the University of Texas, where he set multiple records. He was drafted seventh overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Williams later played for the Dallas Cowboys, making a Pro Bowl appearance in 2006. Over his NFL career, he recorded more than 7,000 receiving yards. He remains one of the most successful football players to come out of Odessa.
1. Chris Kyle (1974–2013)
Chris Kyle was born in Odessa and became a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper, serving four tours in Iraq. He was officially credited with over 160 confirmed kills, making him the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. Kyle wrote the bestselling memoir American Sniper, which was later adapted into a 2014 film directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper. Kyle was tragically killed in 2013 at a shooting range in Texas. He remains Odessa’s most recognized figure worldwide.