Ottumwa has a long history, and over the years, a number of people with ties to the city have gone on to make their mark on the national stage.
One of the most recognizable names is comedian and actor Tom Arnold. Arnold was born and raised in Ottumwa and graduated from Ottumwa High School. He later became nationally known for his work in television and movies, including the hit sitcom Roseanne.
Another Ottumwa native played a role in one of the most important moments in American history.
Steve Bales was born in Ottumwa and went on to work for NASA. During the Apollo 11 mission, Bales served as a guidance officer in Mission Control as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made their historic descent to the Moon.
Ottumwa also produced a beauty queen who reached the very top of the international stage. Carol Morris won Miss USA and Miss Universe in 1956 before pursuing a career in acting.
The city has literary connections as well. Edna Ferber, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, spent part of her childhood in Ottumwa. Ferber went on to write numerous novels and plays that became well-known works of American literature.
Herschel Loveless also has a strong connection to the city. He served as Ottumwa’s mayor before becoming governor of Iowa in the late 1950s.
Ottumwa’s list of notable people doesn’t stop there. The city has connections to Hollywood actress Karen Morley, The Munsters actress Beverley Owen, inventor Mary Florence Potts, and early UFO researcher and aviator Donald Keyhoe.
And then there’s Walter Day, whose name is closely tied to the early history of competitive video gaming. His work helped put Ottumwa on the map in the world of arcade gaming decades before esports became a major industry.
There is also a presidential connection. Richard Nixon was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Ottumwa during World War II, years before he would become the 37th President of the United States.
For a city the size of Ottumwa, its list of famous connections is pretty remarkable. From Hollywood and literature to NASA, politics and even the early days of competitive gaming, people with ties to Ottumwa have reached far beyond southeast Iowa.
