Learn About The 50 States
Ellison Onizuka (1946)close
Ellison Onizuka was born in Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii. He was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in 1978, and flew as a mission specialist on the first Space Shuttle Department of Defense mission in 1985, becoming the first Asian-American and first person of Japanese heritage in space. He died in 1986, while serving on the crew of the ill-fated Space Shuttle Orbiter Challenger.
Click on any of the names below to find out more...
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: