Iconic Iowans Trivia Quiz

Answer: Norman Borlaug

Some of my fellow Iowans might agree that Borlaug's only career misstep was to leave his native soil to wrestle collegiately at the University of Minnesota! (just kidding)

His work in Mexico quickly increased food production in India and Pakistan, as well as getting adapted to increase rice yields in the Far East. Other Borlaug achievements include creating the World Food Prize and being honored by the governments of India, Norway, Hungary, the UK, and Bangladesh.

Answer: Simon Estes

After completing his undergrad studies at Iowa, Simon Estes enrolled at Juilliard. While in Iowa City, he originally wanted to major in pre med, then moved to psychology, before switching again to religion. A faculty member then influenced him to major in music while singing with Iowa's "Old Gold Singers," of which he was the first black singer ever.

Among his accolades is the Iowa Award, which is awarded to one Iowan once every five years. He has also received the gold medal of Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu, a Spanish opera house.

Answer: John L. Lewis

John L. Lewis became acting president of the UMWA in 1919, and that same year he called for the first major coal strike, with 400,000 miners taking part.

"Time" magazine was not a fan of Lewis and on its cover in a 1946 issue, his head is pictured as a volcano.

Lewis was also the first president of the CIO, heading the organization from 1936 to 1940.

Answer: William F. Cody

Yep, it's Buffalo Bill. He was a Pony Express rider when he was 14 and a Union soldier during the Civil War. After the war he was a scout in the U.S. Army's campaigns out West, receiving the Medal of Honor in 1872. In 1883 he started the now famous Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, touring the US and then Europe.

Hickok was Wild Bill Hickok and Carson was Kit Carson.

Answer: Bob Feller

Also known as "Rapid Robert," Bob Feller played his entire career for the Cleveland Indians, leading them to the 1948 World Series Championship. Despite losing four years in MLB baseball as a result of serving in the Navy in World War II, Feller was an 8-time All-Star, a 7-time MLB strikeout leader, and a 6-time American League wins leader.

The three incorrect choices were not pitchers. Cap Anson, from Marshalltown, played first base. Dave Bancroft, from Sioux City, was a shortstop. Fred Clarke, born on a farm near Winterset, was a left fielder.

Red Faber and Dazzy Vance were two more native Iowa pitchers in Cooperstown, Faber from near Cascade and Vance from Orient.

Answer: Henry A. Wallace

Wallace was the second of Franklin Roosevelt's three vice presidents, serving during FDR's third term, from 1941 to 1945. He was preceded by John Nance Garner, who was VP in Roosevelt's first two terms. Roosevelt replaced Wallace in 1944 with Harry Truman, apparently because Wallace was too liberal.

Wallace's father was Henry Cantwell Wallace, who had served as Secretary of Agriculture under Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge. Henry himself was Agriculture Secretary from 1933 to 1940 and Secretary of Commerce in 1945-46.

Answer: James Van Allen

Valedictorian of his class at Mount Pleasant High School, Van Allen applied for the U.S. Naval Academy, but failed entry due to flat feet, poor vision, and the inability to swim. Consequently he graduated from his home town's Iowa Wesleyan College, graduating summa cum laude in physics.

Besides the naming of the Van Allen Radiation Belts, his other accolades include being named Man of the Year in 1960 by "Time" magazine, receiving the Elliott Cresson Medal (the highest award given by the Franklin Institute) in 1961, the Gold Medal of the (UK) Royal Astronomical Society in 1978, the (US) National Medal of Science in 1987, and NASA's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994.

Answer: Lee De Forest

Lee De Forest described himself as the "Father of Radio," but ego aside, he did accumulate over 180 patents. All of those patents also involved several lawsuits, and he was even tried once for mail fraud. He won the case. While working on his inventions in New York City, De Forest founded the Radio Telephone Company, with himself as vice president.

It was De Forest who transmitted the first ship-to-shore messages by radiotelephone in 1907. He was also a winner of the Elliott Cresson Medal.

Answer: Halston

From hats Halston went on to designing full clothing lines. In addition to designing clothing for celebrities such as Lauren Bacall and Elizabeth Taylor, Halston also became close friends with clients Bianca Jagger and Liza Minelli. Future clients included Braniff Airways, the U.S. Olympic Committee, the Girl Scouts, the New York Police Department, and J.C. Penney.

Answer: Abigail Van Buren

Ann Landers' full name at birth was Esther Pauline Friedman, but was nicknamed "Eppie." She was born 17 minutes before her sister, whose name was Pauline Esther and earned the nickname "Popo." The two were married during a double ceremony in July of 1939, "Eppie" to Jules Lederer, and "Popo" to Morton Phillips.

Sadly, in their later years, the two had a falling apart and were never really able to completely overcome the situation, which may have occurred in part due to their careers.