Auto industry · 1863–1947Henry Fordautomaker, industrialist, founder of Ford Motor CompanyThe farm boy from Dearborn who built his first car in a Detroit shed, founded Ford Motor Company and turned the region into the world's motor capital.DETROIT / A living lexicon / ¼
Famous Detroiters
People who were born here, moved here or built their careers in Detroit: musicians, carmakers, athletes, writers, inventors, civil-rights leaders and a few notorious names. With their dates, their Detroit story and the places where they lived, worked and played, closed ones included.
- 664 famous people
- 66 Detroit places
- 22 fields
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A–Z (family name)
43 people
Clear filtersAuto industry · 1863–1947Henry Fordautomaker, industrialist, founder of Ford Motor CompanyThe farm boy from Dearborn who built his first car in a Detroit shed, founded Ford Motor Company and turned the region into the world's motor capital.
Auto industry · 1924–2019Lee Iacoccaautomotive executive, president of Ford, chairman of ChryslerSalesman-engineer who launched the Ford Mustang, was fired by Henry Ford II, then saved Chrysler with federal loan guarantees, K-cars and the minivan.
Auto industry · born 1961Mary Barraautomotive executive, engineerMetro Detroit native who rose from a GM co-op student to chair and CEO of General Motors in 2014, the first woman to lead a Big Three automaker.
Auto industry · 1875–1940Walter P. Chryslerfounder of Chrysler CorporationKansas railroad mechanic who ran Buick, founded Chrysler Corporation in Detroit in 1925 and made it one of the Big Three by buying Dodge in 1928.
Auto industry · 1878–1941Louis Chevroletracing driver, engineer, co-founder of ChevroletSwiss-born racer who designed the first Chevrolet in a Detroit workshop in 1911 and later returned to the city's factories as a mechanic.
Auto industry · 1917–1987Henry Ford IIautomotive executive, president and chairman of Ford Motor CompanyHenry Ford's grandson rebuilt a failing Ford Motor Company after 1945 and, after the 1967 unrest, pushed the Renaissance Center into Detroit's skyline.
Auto industry · 1875–1966Alfred P. Sloanpresident, CEO and chairman of General MotorsThe management architect of General Motors, who led it from its Detroit headquarters past Ford to become the world's largest automaker.
Auto industry · 1925–2005John DeLoreanautomotive engineer and executive, founder of DeLorean Motor CompanyDetroit-born GM maverick who created the Pontiac GTO, ran Chevrolet, then built the stainless-steel DeLorean made famous by Back to the Future.
Auto industry · 1893–1943Edsel Fordpresident of Ford Motor Company, art patronHenry Ford's only son led Ford from 1919 to 1943, brought style to its cars and paid for Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry murals.
Auto industry · 1861–1947William C. Durantfounder of General Motors, co-founder of ChevroletFlint carriage king who founded General Motors, co-founded Chevrolet in Detroit and ordered the giant GM headquarters on West Grand Boulevard.
Politics · 1907–1995George W. Romneyautomobile executive, governor of MichiganDetroit auto-industry spokesman and American Motors chief who became Michigan's governor (1963–1969) and later U.S. housing secretary.
Auto industry · 1864–1950Ransom E. Oldsautomotive pioneer, founder of Oldsmobile and REOLansing carmaker who opened Detroit's first dedicated auto factory in 1899; after it burned in 1901 his Curved Dash Olds became America's first mass-produced car.
Business & brands · born 1937Roger Penskeracing team owner, businessman, chairman of Penske CorporationFormer racing driver who built a transport and dealership empire based in Bloomfield Hills and became one of Detroit's key civic leaders, reviving the Detroit Grand Prix.
Architecture & design · 1869–1942Albert KahnarchitectGerman-born "architect of Detroit" who designed the Ford Highland Park and River Rouge plants, the Fisher Building and hundreds of other city landmarks.
Sports · born 1964Otmar Szafnauerengineer, Formula One team principalRomanian-born, Detroit-raised engineer who went from Ford program manager to running Force India, Racing Point, Aston Martin and Alpine in Formula One.
Auto industry · 1903–1956Preston Tuckerautomobile entrepreneur and designerLincoln Park–raised car dreamer behind the futuristic Tucker 48, whose story became the 1988 film Tucker: The Man and His Dream.
Auto industry · 1868–1920Horace Dodgemachinist, automobile manufacturer, co-founder of Dodge BrothersThe engineering half of the Dodge Brothers, who supplied Ford's first engines, built Dodge Main in Hamtramck and helped create Orchestra Hall.
Architecture & design · 1893–1969Harley Earlautomotive designer, GM's first head of designHollywood coachbuilder whom GM brought to Detroit in 1927 to create the industry's first styling studio; he gave America the tailfin and the Corvette.
Auto industry · born 1932Bob Lutzautomotive executive at Ford, Chrysler and GMSwiss-born 'car guy' who held top jobs at all three Detroit automakers, from the Dodge Viper at Chrysler to GM's product revival.
Auto industry · 1864–1920John Dodgemachinist, automobile manufacturer, co-founder of Dodge BrothersThe business mind of the Dodge Brothers, who turned a Detroit machine shop into one of America's biggest automakers.
Auto industry · born 1945Alan MulallyCEO of Ford Motor Company, former Boeing executiveBoeing engineer hired by Bill Ford in 2006 who steered Ford through the 2008–2009 crisis without a government bailout.
Auto industry · born 1957Bill Ford Jr.executive chair of Ford Motor CompanyHenry Ford's great-grandson, Ford's executive chair since 1999, who bought and restored Michigan Central Station as the heart of a Corktown tech campus.
Business & brands · 1872–1936James CouzensFord Motor Company co-founder and business manager, mayor of Detroit, U.S. senatorCanadian-born railroad clerk who became Ford's hard-driving business manager, then mayor of Detroit and a U.S. senator.
Auto industry · 1880–1936Roy D. Chapinco-founder and president of Hudson Motor Car Company, U.S. Secretary of CommerceOlds test driver who co-founded the Hudson Motor Car Company in Detroit, named it for merchant J. L. Hudson, and later served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
Auto industry · 1881–1955József Galambmechanical engineer, chief designer of the Ford Model THungarian engineer from Makó who became Ford's chief designer and drew up much of the Model T at the Piquette Avenue Plant.
Architecture & design · 1912–1988Bill Mitchellautomotive designer, GM vice president of designHarley Earl's successor as GM's design chief, the man behind the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray and Buick Riviera.
Sports · 1925–2014William Clay Ford Sr.owner of the Detroit Lions, Ford Motor Company executiveHenry Ford's youngest grandson owned the Detroit Lions for fifty years and brought them back downtown to Ford Field in 2002.
Auto industry · 1879–1948William S. Knudsenpresident of General Motors, wartime production chiefDanish immigrant who ran production at Ford's Highland Park, turned Chevrolet into GM's powerhouse and organized America's World War II arms output.
Auto industry · 1868–1957Charles Brady Kingengineer, automotive pioneerEngineer who drove the first gasoline car on Detroit's streets on March 6, 1896, with Henry Ford following on a bicycle.
Auto industry · 1864–1936Henry B. Joypresident of the Packard Motor Car Company, Lincoln Highway promoterDetroit railroad heir who brought Packard to the city, commissioned Albert Kahn's giant plant on East Grand Boulevard and championed the Lincoln Highway.
Auto industry · 1888–1961Lawrence P. Fisherpresident of Cadillac, Fisher Body co-ownerThe Fisher brother who ran Cadillac and discovered designer Harley Earl, bringing him to Detroit to style the 1927 LaSalle.The lexicon keeps growing. Every entry lists its sources at the bottom. Dates were checked against Wikidata and Wikipedia. The texts are our own.