Notable people from 15068
Research compiled Sept. 23, 2026
21 people born, raised or remembered in the three cities, from the inventor of Kevlar to NFL players. Each entry links to where it was reported.
Stephanie Kwolek
DuPont chemist who invented Kevlar.
Born in New Kensington, July 31, 1923.
Source: Wikipedia
Eddie Adams
Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist (1969, Vietnam 'Saigon Execution' photo); founded the Eddie Adams Workshop.
Born in New Kensington, June 12, 1933.
Source: Wikipedia
Willie Thrower
First Black quarterback in the NFL's modern era (Chicago Bears, 1953); first Black QB in the Big Ten at Michigan State.
Born in New Kensington in 1930; played for New Kensington High School; died there in 2002; statue at Valley High's Memorial Stadium.
Source: Wikipedia
William K. Hartmann
Planetary scientist, space artist and author; co-originator of the giant-impact theory of the Moon's formation; first Carl Sagan Medal recipient (1997).
Born in New Kensington, June 6, 1939.
Source: Wikipedia
Skyy Moore
NFL wide receiver (drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs).
New Kensington native; attended Valley Middle School; runs a yearly Summer Jam for local kids.
Source: TribLive
Greg Meisner
NFL defensive tackle (Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants).
Graduated from Valley High School, New Kensington, 1977.
Source: Wikipedia
John E. Pallone
Pennsylvania state representative, 54th District, 2000-2010; superintendent of New Kensington-Arnold School District, 2012-2020.
Born in New Kensington, July 30, 1960.
Source: Wikipedia
Corey Graves
WWE commentator and former professional wrestler.
Born in Pittsburgh; worked at True Image, a shop in New Kensington, and is listed among the city's notable people.
Source: Wikipedia
Charles Martin Hall
Inventor of the electrolytic aluminum process; founder of the Pittsburgh Reduction Company (Alcoa).
His company moved aluminum production to New Kensington in 1891; he co-founded the Aluminum Cooking Utensil Company (Wear-Ever) there in 1901.
Source: Library of Congress
Samuel E. Moore
Organizer of the Burrell Improvement Company.
Led the group of Pittsburgh businessmen who laid out New Kensington and held the 1891 lot sale.
Source: newkensingtoncatholic.org
Col. William Crawford
Revolutionary War and French and Indian War officer and surveyor.
Namesake of Fort Crawford (1777), built at the mouth of Pucketa Creek in what became Parnassus/New Kensington.
Source: Parnassus Pen
Major Andrew Arnold
Frontier Indian fighter.
Early settler of the Arnold area and the city's namesake.
Source: City of Arnold
Judge Jeremiah Murry Burrell
Westmoreland County judge.
Burrell Township (later Lower and Upper Burrell) was named for him in 1852.
Source: City of Lower Burrell
Henry Hornbostel
Pittsburgh architect.
Designed the Alcoa Research Laboratory on Freeport Road (1928-1930).
Source: Library of Congress
Isaac Claster
New Kensington's first Jewish settler.
Bought a lot at the 1891 sale and built a clothing store on Tenth Street in 1892.
Source: rauhjewisharchives.org
John Filo
Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of the 1970 Kent State shootings.
Worked for the Valley News Dispatch (New Kensington-Tarentum), which won its only Pulitzer for his photo.
Source: Library of Congress
George D. Stuart
Pennsylvania state representative in the World War I and World War II eras.
The Tarentum Bridge into New Kensington was renamed for him in 1974.
Source: Wikipedia
Tom Guzzo
Mayor of New Kensington since 2010.
Former city councilman; mayor as of 2026.
Source: Tribune-Review archive
Kevin and Mary Bode
Founders of Knead Community Cafe, Western Pennsylvania's first pay-what-you-can cafe.
Opened the cafe at 1011 Barnes St. in 2017.
Source: Tribune-Review archive
Mike Malcanas
Operator of Voodoo Brewing New Kensington; head of developer Olde Towne Overhaul.
Began buying downtown buildings in late 2017; his properties hold dozens of new businesses on the Corridor of Innovation.
Source: TribLive community news
Steve Kubrick
Developer of AK Research Park.
Bought the former Alcoa research campus in 2011 and hosts festivals there.
Source: Valley News Dispatch (TribLive)