What Has Wichita,Kansas Given Society Nationwide?

Besides the names that have graced our history books of people from Kansas such as Amelia Earhart, Laura Ingals Wilder, Dwight D. Eisenhower, William Allen White and "Wild" Bill Hickok there have been numerous, actors, actresses,musicians,inventors,business owners and comedians just to name a few of what Kansas has produced.

I'm going to start off with one of the most well known nationally and internationally business owners from Wichita,Kansas.Dan and Frank Carney.Names don't ring a bell?Both of these brothers graduated from the University of Wichita, Kansas, now known as WSU.In 1958 they borrowed $600 from their mother and started the very first Pizza Hut in Wichita,Kansas.In 1963 they franchised their business and in 1968 became international in Canada.

By 1971 Pizza Hut became the world leader in Pizza Sales and in 1977 they merged with Pepsi Co. and opened 4,000 units that year alone.In 1994 Frank Carney opened up another pizza chain starting in Wichita, Kansas as well and is personally the owner of 133 locations in Kansas,Missouri,Texas and Hawaii with the slogan "Better ingredients,better pizza,Papa Johns".

Losing over 75 pounds this actress is the most well known spokesperson for Jenny Craig.Born in 1951 in Wichita,Kansas Kirstie Alley.She attended the University of Kansas dropping out to pursue her acting career.Her first movie was in Star Trek 2:The Wrath of Khan leading to roles such as her most noted TV series character replacing Shelley Long in Cheers as the bar owner Rebecca Howe.She also starred in Veronica's Closet for three seasons and a Showtime series Fat Actress, as well as movies Deconstructing Harry,Look Who's Talking,For Richer For Poorer,Village of the Damned and Peter and the Wolf along with credited other films.