Notable Natives or Residents
Claude Baker, composer 
Etta Baker, musician 
William Horton Bower, US Congressman 
Jim Broyhill, US Congressman and US Senator 
Claudia Church, country music artist 
Eric Church, country music artist 
Clinton A. Cilley, mayor of Lenoir and Medal of Honor recipient 
Dr. Linda Combs, U.S. government official 
Rick Hendrix, Grammy Award winning producer, writer 
William Lenoir, soldier and statesman 
Kary Mullis, scientist and Nobel laureate 
William C. Newland, NC Lt. Governor 
George W. Petrie Jr., Major, United States Army (Retired), a Green Beret, first 
man on the ground on the Son Tay Raid to rescue prisoners of war held in North 
Vietnam in 1970; Caldwell County's most decorated soldier of the Vietnam war; 
planned and coordinated the Evacuation of Saigon, last U.S. Army Special Forces 
Officer to leave South Vietnam during the Fall of Saigon, April 30th, 1975; two time 
recipient of the Silver Star.
James Pritchett, actor 
Larry Smith, NASCAR driver 
Dr. Vaughn Starnes, Considered the foremost pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon in 
the world, he made history performing the first successful 'living related' lung 
transplant.
Four Major League Baseball players: 
Johnny Allen 
Lindsay Deal 
Charlie Cozart 
Rube Walker 
Madison Bumgarner, drafted 10th by the San Francisco Giants in the 2007 Major 
League Baseball Draft, graduate of South Caldwell High School and a member of 
the Caldwell County Post 29 American Legion baseball team. 










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© 2009-2010  
Diane Siniard