Khalid performing at Blue Square in Seoul, October 2018. Author; DIM K.

10 Famous People From El Paso


 

El Paso is a Spanish name given to the city and the seat of El Paso County located in the western corner of Texas. The name of this city means the pass. El Paso is the 22nd largest city in the US, the 6th largest in Texas, and the 2nd largest in South Western United States after Phoenix, Arizona.

This city is the 2nd largest majority-Hispanic city in the United States of America. 81% of the people living in El Paso are Hispanic with San Antonio being the first. The city is situated on the Mexico-United States border on the Rio Grande.

The history of El Paso is so impressive to learn about since it was founded in the current world. Several famous people call El Paso home making it a city to know more about people across the country and the world. Here are the 10 Famous People From El Paso:

1. Beto O’Rourke

Former U.S. Congressman Beto O’Rourke speaking with attendees at the 2019 National Forum on Wages and Working People. Author; Gage Skidmore. Wikimedia

Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke is a renowned American politician who was born on 26th September 1972 at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in El Paso. He was born to Pat Francis O’Rourke and Melisa Martha O’Rourke. His father severed in public office as County Commissioner and County Judge.

Beto began his education at Escuela Montessori Del Valle for preschool and went to Rivera and Mesita Elementary Schools. He studied in an all-male boarding school before joining Columbia University and graduated with a degree in English Literature. From 2013 to 2019, Beto served as the US representative for the 16th Congress District of Texas.

In 2018, Beto was nominated for the U.S. Senate through the Democratic Party. He was also a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2022. In 2022, Beto O’Rourke was also nominated for the Texas gubernatorial election.

2. Sally Snodgrass

Sally Evans Snodgrass was a renowned politician who was born on 22nd July 1936 in El Paso. She had a proper upbringing and studied at the University of Kansas, Boise State University, and the College of Idaho. Sally was also involved in family counseling.

She moved to Boise, Idaho along with her family and husband in 1971. Sally Snodgrass served as Senate of Idaho from 1991 to 1994 through the Democratic Party. She passed away at the age of 85 at her home in Boise, Idaho.

Read 15 Famous People from Louisville, Kentucky.

3. Eddie Guerrero

Professional Wrestler Eddie Guerrero arrives at Sydney International Airport. Author; Ranzag.

Eduardo Gory Guerrero Llanes was a professional wrestler born on 9th October 1967 in El Paso. He was raised and schooled in El Paso where he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High school and joined the University of New Mexico.

Eddie then got an athletic scholarship and joined New Mexico Highland University. He later joined collegiate wrestling and later moved to Mexico where he trained to become a professional wrestler.

Eddie was a prominent member of the Guerrero wrestling family and was considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers. He had several ring names and won major accolades during his successful career. However, Eddie passed away on 13th November 2005 after suffering acute heart failure.

4. Hector Guerrero

Hector Manuel Guerrero Llanes, is a former commentator and professional born on 1st October 1954 in Mexico but his family relocated and lived in El Paso. He attended the University of Texas at El Paso where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.

As a member of the Guerrero wrestling family, he began training under his father Gory. He debuted in 1973 and that is how he began his successful wrestling career. Hector worked for major North American wrestling promotions and was a commentator from 2007 to 2015.

5. Khalid

Khalid performing at Blue Square in Seoul, October 2018. Author; DIM K.

Born on 11th February 1998, Khalid Donnel Robinson is a professional singer and songwriter. Khalid spent most of his early life in several places in the US because of his mother, Linde Wolf, and his father’s military careers.

In El Paso, Khalid studied at Americas High School for his senior year. Khalid rose to fame in 2017 when he released his debut studio album American Teen.

This debut album was certified 4× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Khalid has risen to stardom over the years as he makes hit after hit.

6. Debbie Reynolds

Mary Frances “Debbie” Reynolds was an actress, singer, and businesswoman who was born on 1st April 1932 in El Paso. Her mother was Maxene N. Harman and her father Raymond Francis Reynolds worked as a carpenter for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Debbie had an amazing career that spanned more than seventy years. She was nominated for several awards including the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer and many more roles in films and her music career. On 24th December 2016, Debbie passed away at the age of 84 due to intracerebral hemorrhage with hypertension.

Read Top 10 Famous People and Celebrities from Nashville.

7. Don Bluth

A photo of animator Don Bluth. Author; Gil Megidish.

Donald Virgil Bluth is a professional film director, animator, production designer, and animation instructor. He is best known for his animated films The Secret of NIMH released in 1982, An American Tail of 1986, The Land Before Time in 1988, and many others.

Don Bluth is also known for competing with Walt Disney Productions who were his previous employers. He was born and grew up in El Paso where he used to ride on horseback to the town movie theater to watch Disney movies which made his interest in animation grow.

8. Vikki Carr

Florencia Vicenta de Casillas-Martinez Cardona who is popularly known by her stage name Vikki Carr is a professional vocalist. She was born in El Paso on 19th July 1940 and graduated from Rosemead High School in California alongside famed fashion designer Bob Mackie.

Her singing career has spanned more than 40 years and has performed in several varieties of musical genres. Some of the genres she performed include jazz, pop, and country music with her success being from singing in Spanish. She won several awards including three Grammys and got the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Latin Grammys in 2008.

9. Mikey Ambrose

Michael Ambrose is a former professional football player who was a defender during his playing time. He was born on 5th October 1993 in El Paso.

Mikey began his soccer career at the FC Dallas Development Academy and later turned professional on 14th January 2015 with an Austin Aztex football career. His football career has not been a huge success as he found himself without a club after his Atlanta United 2 contract expired in 2022.

10. Sam Donaldson

Samuel Andrew Donaldson. Author; John Smith.

Samuel Andrew Donaldson is a former reporter and news anchor. He worked at ABC News from 1967 to 2009 and is best known as ABC’s White House Correspondent.

Sam was born on 11th March 1934 and grew up in El Paso. His mother was Chloe, a school teacher, and his father was Samuel Donaldson a farmer. Sam attended New Mexico Military Institute where he served as station manager of the campus radio station.

 

El Paso is a cool place where tourists can learn more about the history and culture of the place which is inhabited by thousands of people. This is a worthwhile place to put in your bucket list for touring.

Read Top 10 Famous People from Columbus, Ohio.

 

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We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.