Gene Hackman (1930–2025), Oscar-winning star of The French Connection

Gene Hackman was an Oscar-winning actor and novelist who starred in films including “The French Connection,” “Mississippi Burning,” and “Unforgiven.”

N. Scott Momaday (1934–2024), Pulitzer-winning Native American author

N. Scott Momaday was a Kiowa author, essayist, and poet whose novel, “House Made of Dawn,” won the 1969 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and helped spark the Native American Renaissance movement in literature.

John Morris (1939–2023), organizer of the original Woodstock festival 

John Morris was an event organizer among those who put together the original Woodstock music festival in 1969 and later worked with such artists as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, , and . 

Cormac McCarthy (1933–2023), Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Road

Cormac McCarthy was a Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for novels including “The Road,” “Blood Meridian,” and “All the Pretty Horses.”

Forrest Fenn (1930–2020), antiquities dealer who created a treasure hunt

Forrest Fenn was an antiquities dealer and author who hid a treasure chest and inspired a 10-year public hunt for its secret location.