West Virginia Famous People Flashcards

Booker T. Washington, who was born into slavery in Franklin County, Virginia (now West Virginia), became famous as a leader in which field?

Answer: African American education and civil rights

Booker T. Washington was born near Malden, WV, and rose to found the Tuskegee Institute and become the most prominent African American leader of his era.

Chuck Yeager, a West Virginia native from Myra, became the first person to do what in 1947?

Answer: Break the sound barrier in level flight

Chuck Yeager, born in Myra, WV, piloted the Bell X-1 to break the sound barrier on October 14, 1947, becoming an aviation legend.

Pearl S. Buck, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938, was born in which West Virginia town?

Answer: Hillsboro

Pearl S. Buck was born in Hillsboro, Pocahontas County, WV, and won the Nobel Prize for Literature, famous for her novel 'The Good Earth.'

Mary Lou Retton, from Fairmont, WV, won the first American gold medal in which Olympic event in 1984?

Answer: Gymnastics all-around

Mary Lou Retton won the individual all-around gold medal in gymnastics at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the first American woman to do so.

Senator Robert C. Byrd, a West Virginia political icon, held what distinction in the US Senate?

Answer: Longest-serving US Senator in history

Robert C. Byrd served in the US Senate for 51 years, making him the longest-serving senator in American history at his death in 2010.

Kathy Mattea, a Grammy Award-winning country music star, was born in which West Virginia community?

Answer: Cross Lanes

Kathy Mattea was born in Cross Lanes, WV, and became one of country music's most acclaimed vocalists, winning multiple Grammy Awards.