Most important person in your state's history (home, university)

[jtur88]

Who was the most important single historical individual whose efforts contributed to the development of your state? For example, a few obvious ones would be Roger Williams in Rhode Island and Lord Baltimore in Maryland, or maybe somebody later on like Sam Walton in Arkansas or Henry Ford for Michigan.

[Mutiny77]

For Georgia, historically James Oglethorpe (founder of the state). In more modern times, Atlanta mayor William Hartsfield (for the airport).

[kidphilly]

For PA

Either William Penn (the founder and also somewhat responsible for religious and personal right tolerance of the American principle) or Ben Franklin

[jtur88]

For my present home state of Texas, it would be a tossup between Stephen F. Austin or Sam Houston, but to people who take their history less seriously, the larger-than-life hero Davy Crockett might get the award.

I grew up in Wisconsin, where Bob LaFollette might get the nod. As the state's only presidential candidate, he put Wisconsin on the map for progressive thought, a tradition that is still maintained by Madison as a bastion of liberal zeal. Frederick Miller, the brewing magnate, would also get consideration, in a race that has no obvious front-runner..

[canefandynasty]

Florida - Ponce de Leon?

[Carlite]

For California, maybe Leland Stanford Jr., one of the "Big Four" who got the transcontinental railroad built, and founder of Stanford University.

[Newsboy]

In Georgia, most definitely Gen. James Oglethorpe. If not for his vision and leadership, the colony would never have been founded much less survived, and the remarkable city of Savannah that we still enjoy today would not exist.

[glamatomic]

For Missouri- either Mark Twain or Walt Disney (although both had national and global impacts more so than State ones).

[Drover]

Rod Blagojevich.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by glamatomic

For Missouri- either Mark Twain or Walt Disney (although both had national and global impacts more so than State ones).

What -- pray tell -- did Walt Disney do for Missouri?!