Famous Tennesseans Second Grade Social Studies

Wilma Rudolph Wilma Rudolph is from Clarksville, Tennessee. When Wilma Rudolph was four years old, she had a disease called polio, which causes people to be crippled and unable to walk. To make matters worse, her family was poor and could not afford good medical care. She was from a large family. She was the 20th child of 22 children. Her mother decided she would do everything she could to help Wilma to walk again. The doctors had said she would not be able to walk. She took her every week on a long bus trip to a hospital to receive therapy *. It didn't help, but the doctors said she needed to give Wilma a massage * every day by rubbing her legs. She taught the brothers and sisters how to do it, and they also rubbed her legs four times a day. On September 7th, 1960, in Rome, Wilma became the first American woman to win 3 gold medals in the Olympics. She won the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and ran the anchor on the 400-meter relay team.

Elvis Presley Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935, and grew up surrounded by gospel music of the Pentecostal church. In 1948 the family moved to Memphis, where he Elvis Presley is the undisputed King of Rock and Roll. He rose from humble circumstances to launch the rock and roll revolution with his commanding voice and charismatic stage presence. was exposed to blues and jazz on Beale Street.

Davy Crockett 1786 – 1836 Davy Crockett, the celebrated hero, warrior and backwoods statesman, was born August 17, 1786 in a small cabin on the banks of the romantic Nolichucky River, near the mouth of Limestone Creek, which today lies about three and a half miles off 11-E Highway near Limestone, Tennessee. In March, 1836, Davy Crockett, with 139 others, was massacred at the Alamo.

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson from Tennessee served as President of the United States form He was the 7 th President and the first from Tennessee. His nickname was “Old Hickory” and his home in Nashville is called The Hermitage.

James K. Polk James Knox Polk was the 11th president of the United States (1845–1849). Polk was the first president who didn't seek a second term in office. In 1845, Polk convinced Congress to declare war on Mexico to continue the expansion of the US westward (the Mexican War lasted from ). During his term, much of the Southwest and California became part of the United States. Polk died on June 15, 1849, in Nashville only three months after leaving office.

Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson from Tennessee was the 17 th President ( ) of the United States. He was also governor of Tennessee before becoming President.

Tina Turner Tina Turner is an American rhythm and blues and rock singer known for her raspy voice and her dynamic stage performances. The biggest success of her career came in 1984, when her Private Dancer album and its single "What's Love Got to Do with It" became best-selling records. Turner was born in Brownsville, Tennessee. Her real name was Anna Mae Bullock. Tina Turner had a small role in the motion picture Tommy (1975) and a major role in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985). Her autobiography, I, Tina (1986), was made into the motion picture What's Love Got to Do with It (1993).

Dolly Parton Dolly Parton is a country singer and actress. She was born in Sevierville and own the theme park Dollywood.

Al Gore Al Gore was a democratic senator from Carthage, Tennessee who was elected two terms Vice- President from under President Bill Clinton. He ran for President in 2000, but was unsuccessful to George W. Bush.

Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin is a gospel singer known as the "Queen of Soul." She was born in Memphis. Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul," remains one of the preeminent vocalists of the age, a singer of great passion and control whose finest recordings define the term soul music in all its deep, expressive glory.

Buford Pusser Buford Pusser was a well-known wrestler who later became sheriff of McNairy County in Adamsville, Tennessee. He was known for carrying a “big stick.” Several movies were made that covered his career as a lawman called Walking Tall.