Ohio has produced an extraordinary number of influential figures, often colloquially known as the "Mother of Presidents" and the birthplace of aviation.
* **Neil Armstrong & John Glenn:** Pioneering astronauts; Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon, and Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth. * **The Wright Brothers:** Orville and Wilbur Wright, inventors of the first successful airplane, developed their ideas in their Dayton bicycle shop. * **Ulysses S. Grant, William Howard Taft, William McKinley** (among others): U.S. Presidents born in Ohio (the state claims eight in total). * **Thomas Edison:** One of history's most prolific inventors, born in Milan, Ohio. * **Toni Morrison:** Nobel Prize-winning author and novelist, born in Lorain. * **LeBron James:** NBA superstar, philanthropist, and global sports icon, born in Akron. * **Steven Spielberg:** Academy Award-winning film director, born in Cincinnati. * **Jack Nicklaus:** Legendary professional golfer, born in Columbus.