Wheeling, West Virginia, may be small today, with an estimated 25,680 residents in 2025. Its list of famous natives is anything but small. The city produced major actors, Hall of Fame athletes, musicians, scientists and influential historical figures. Wheeling also played an outsized role in American history, serving as West Virginia’s first state capital. Here are 15 famous people who were born in Wheeling, ranked in countdown order.
15. Jack Glasscock (1857–1947)
Baseball looked very different when Jack Glasscock became one of the game’s best shortstops. The Wheeling native played 17 major-league seasons. He collected more than 2,000 hits and became known for exceptional defense. Glasscock also won the National League batting title in 1890.
14. Everett Lee (1916–2022)
Everett Lee broke important racial barriers in American classical music. Born in Wheeling, he became a violinist and pioneering conductor. Lee conducted Broadway productions before building a lengthy career in the United States and Europe. His work opened doors for Black conductors in major orchestral and operatic settings.
13. Jesse L. Reno (1823–1862)
Long before West Virginia became a state, Jesse L. Reno was born in Wheeling. He became a career Army officer and Union major general. Reno was killed during the Maryland Campaign of the Civil War in 1862. Reno, Nevada, was later named in his honor.
12. George Herbig (1920–2013)
Astronomy remembers George Herbig through discoveries that still carry his name. The Wheeling-born scientist specialized in young stars and stellar formation. Herbig–Haro objects became an important part of research into newborn stars. Astronomers also recognize the class known as Herbig Ae/Be stars.
11. Tim O’Brien (1954–)
Wheeling also produced one of modern bluegrass and Americana music’s respected figures. Tim O’Brien became a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He first gained wide attention with the band Hot Rize. His later solo work earned critical acclaim and multiple Grammy Awards.
10. Eleanor Steber (1914–1990)
Opera audiences once knew Eleanor Steber as one of America’s leading sopranos. She joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1940. Steber became especially admired for roles in works by Mozart, Strauss and Wagner. Her career eventually included hundreds of Metropolitan Opera performances.
9. Chu Berry (1908–1941)
Leon “Chu” Berry became one of the Swing Era’s most respected tenor saxophonists. His powerful style influenced later generations of jazz musicians. Berry performed with Fletcher Henderson and Cab Calloway during his short career. He died in 1941 after an automobile accident.
8. Elizabeth “Jake” Feinler (1931–)
The early Internet also has an important Wheeling connection. Elizabeth “Jake” Feinler helped operate the Network Information Center for ARPANET. Her team maintained directories and naming information used by early computer networks. That work helped shape systems eventually associated with familiar domains such as .com and .org.
7. Billy Cox (1941–)
Rock history gave Wheeling another remarkable native in bassist Billy Cox. He met Jimi Hendrix while both served in the Army. Cox later performed with Hendrix at Woodstock in 1969. He also became a member of Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys.
6. Jesse Burkett (1868–1953)
Few Wheeling-born athletes compiled statistics like Jesse Burkett. The outfielder became one of baseball’s greatest hitters during the 1890s. Burkett won three National League batting titles during his career. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.
5. Chuck Howley (1936–)
Chuck Howley became a centerpiece of the Dallas Cowboys defense. The Wheeling native earned six Pro Bowl selections during his NFL career. He was named MVP of Super Bowl V despite Dallas losing the game. Howley later entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
4. Walter Reuther (1907–1970)
American labor history would look different without Walter Reuther. Born in Wheeling, he rose to lead the United Auto Workers. Reuther became UAW president in 1946 and remained in the position until his death. He also became an influential voice in civil rights and Democratic politics.
3. Joyce DeWitt (1949–)
Millions of television viewers knew Joyce DeWitt as Janet Wood on Three’s Company. She appeared throughout the popular sitcom’s eight-season run. The series made DeWitt a familiar television personality during the late 1970s and early 1980s. She later returned frequently to stage acting.
2. Bill Mazeroski (1936–2026)
Bill Mazeroski produced one of the most famous moments in baseball history. His home run ended Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. The dramatic hit gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a championship over the New York Yankees. Mazeroski later entered the Baseball Hall of Fame.
1. John Corbett (1961–)
John Corbett became Wheeling’s most recognizable modern entertainment export. Television audiences first embraced him on Northern Exposure. He later gained another major role as Aidan Shaw on Sex and the City. Movie audiences also know him from the hugely successful My Big Fat Greek Wedding films.
Last Updated on September 20, 2026 by F.E.M