Learn About The 50 States
Jack Horner (1956)close
Born in Shelby, Montana, Jack Horner found his first dinosaur fossil at the age of 8. Although he wasn't an outstanding student in school, he excelled at science projects. After spending time in the US Marine Corps, he went to college and discovered his love for fossils and paleontology. Although he studied for seven years, he was unable to get a college degree, and discovered that his academic difficulties were caused by a learning disability--dyslexia. By this time, however, he was a working paleontologist at Princeton University. Today he is the curator of paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies in Montana, and served as the model of the scientist Alan Grant in the movie Jurassic Park.
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Looking for a famous American?
This page presents short biographies of more than 200 famous Americans drawn from our unit, "The 50 States." These personalities are arranged by theme.
Just click a theme at the top of the page to view a selection list for that theme.
African Americans:
Artists:
Business Leaders:
National "Characters":
| Phineas Taylor "P.T." Barnum | Clyde Barrow | John Wilkes Booth |
| Butch Cassidy | William "Buffalo Bill" Cody | Davy Crockett |
| Jesse James | Evel Knievel | Harland David "Colonel" Sanders |
| Jefferson R. "Soapy" Smith |
Cultural Figures:
Inventors:
Pioneers and "Firsts":
Politicians & Activists:
Scientists:
Sports Figures:
Accomplished Women:
Writers & Poets: