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Famous Tar Heels Trivia Quiz

This is a quiz about famous people who are connected with North Carolina. Nearly all of them were born here, but a few moved here at an early age or lived a significant portion of their lives here.

A multiple-choice quiz by Dandy28804. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Dandy28804

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
321,703

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
11 / 15

Plays
520

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. This Morganton native became known nationwide as "Senator Sam". He served in the U.S. Senate for 20 years, and was the chairman of the committee investigating the Watergate burglary. He was known for his folksy charm and his strong moral character. What was his name? Hint

Sam Rayburn

John Mitchell

Sam Ervin

G. Gordon Liddy

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Question 2 of 15

2. Of the following U.S. Presidents, which one was NOT a North Carolina native or had his roots there? Hint

Andrew Jackson

James K. Polk

John Tyler

Andrew Johnson

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Question 3 of 15

3. Probably the most famous of the Harlem Globe Trotters touring basketball team, this man was known for his amazing ball-handling skills and comedy routines on court. Labeled the "Clown Prince of Basketball", He was born in Wilmington, North Carloina. Who was he? Hint

Meadowlark Lemon

Curly O'Neal

Bob Cousy

Pete Maravich

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Question 4 of 15

4. She is probably the most famous female soccer player in the United States, if not the world. She went to school at UNC-Chapel Hill and still resides there. She held the record for most goals scored for both men and women in international competition when she retired. She won two world championships for the United States and two Olympic Gold Medals. Who is she? Hint

Kristine Lilly

Mia Hamm

Julie Foudy

Faye White

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Question 5 of 15

5. A popular singer for several decades from Black Mountain, North Carolina, she is a Grammy-winning artist. She is known for titles such as "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and "First Time Ever I Saw His Face". Who is this singer? Hint

Roberta Flack

Nina Simone

Kellie Pickler

Dionne Warwick

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Question 6 of 15

6. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, this man was a noted novelist and the author of books such as "Look Homeward, Angel" and "You Can't Go Home Again". What was his name?
Hint

Carl Sandburg

Thomas Wolfe

William Sydney Porter

Scott Fitzgerald

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Question 7 of 15

7. The most famous evangelical preacher in the world, this Charlotte native who resides in western North Carolina near Asheville has been voted 39 times to a list of the most admired men in the world. He has advised several presidents and has become famous for his "crusades" all over the world. Who is this man? Hint

Oral Roberts

Jerry Falwell

Jimmy Swaggart

Billy Graham

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Question 8 of 15

8. Which group contains names of famous people who were NOT native North Carolinians? Hint

Country Music: Donna Fargo, Ronnie Milsap, Randy Travis

NASCAR: Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett

Pop Music: James Taylor, Tori Amos, Ray Charles

Writers and Poets: O. Henry, Clyde Edgerton, Kaye Gibbons

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Question 9 of 15

9. One of America's most famous First Ladies, this Piedmont, North Carolina, native was known for originating the annual Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn and also for saving George Washington's picture and many important state documents from the White House when it was set on fire in 1814. What is her name?
Hint

Dolly Madison

Rachael Jackson

Elizabeth Dole

Martha Jefferson

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Question 10 of 15

10. Which of the following famous athletes or sports figures is NOT from North Carolina? Hint

Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard

Tennis great Arthur Ashe

Baseballl Pitcher Jim 'Catfish' Hunter

Washington Redskins and NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which of the following journalists are not from North Carolina? Hint

Charles Kuralt

Edward R. Murrow

Larry King

David Brinkley

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Question 12 of 15

12. Although not born in North Carolina, this man, who kept his hide-out in the harbor of Okracoke Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks region, was better known as Blackbeard. What was his real name? Hint

Edward Teach

Johnny Depp

Jean LaFitte

Captain William Kidd

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Question 13 of 15

13. This actor, born in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, was known for his fictitious town of Mayberry along with a hit movie "No Time for Sergeants" and as "Matlock" a southern lawyer. Who was he? Hint

Andy Griffith

Don Knotts

Raymond Burr

James Arness

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Question 14 of 15

14. This actress. born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was moderately successful in several films about women in prison, but became a star for good with her film roles as "Coffy", 'Foxy Brown" and "Sheba". Who is she? Hint

Halle Berry

Whoopie Goldberg

Angela Bassett

Pam Grier

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Question 15 of 15

15. All of the following are singers and musicians born or raised in North Carolina, except which one? Hint

Randy Travis

James Taylor

Clay Aiken

Luther Vandross

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Dec 06 2024 : Guest 166: 11/15
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Sam Ervin

"Senator Sam" Ervin was also on the committee that brought down John McCarthy from the Army-McCarthy Hearings of 1954. To this date, no one has held his former office for more than one term.

2. Of the following U.S. Presidents, which one was NOT a North Carolina native or had his roots there?

Answer: John Tyler

James Polk was born in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina, and later moved to Tennessee and represented that state. Andrew Jackson was born on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina near the Wazhaws area. His birthplace has been the subject of debate between the two states. Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, and later lived in Greenville, Tennessee. John Tyler was born in Charles City County, Virginia.

Answer: Meadowlark Lemon

In 1978, a nationwide poll named Meadowlark Lemon the fourth most popular personality in America. (John Wayne, Alan Alda, and Bob Hope beat him.) That year he left the Globetrotters to pursue a career in Hollywood. For a while he had his own basketball/entertainment team. Now he is a minister travelling the country to preach. Cousy is a NBA Hall of Fame star of the Boston Celtics, Neal was the dribbling specialist of the Globetrotters and Maravich died young after having been a star in the NBA and holding many scoring records.

Answer: Mia Hamm

All are female soccer greats with Lilly being Hamm's teammate at UNC and the Olympic teams. Hamm is the only one who resides in N.C.

Answer: Roberta Flack

Kellie Pickler is also from N.C. Nina Simone is from Tryon, N.C. and a world class jazz singer. Warwick is not from N.C.

6. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, this man was a noted novelist and the author of books such as "Look Homeward, Angel" and "You Can't Go Home Again". What was his name?

Answer: Thomas Wolfe

Thomas Wolfe's novels were mostly autobiographical in nature as the hero of several books was Eugene Gant, who was a young Tom Wolfe. Tom Wolfe's writings deliver a very probing blend of practical, and painstaking journeys dotted with romantic personal anguish and he was attacked by the citizens of his own hometown of Asheville because of his unfavorable descriptions of the town in his works.

Answer: Billy Graham

While the other choices were/are all evangelists, Graham is only one from the state of North Carolina. Mr. Graham still lives near Asheville, N.C.

8. Which group contains names of famous people who were NOT native North Carolinians?

Answer: Pop Music: James Taylor, Tori Amos, Ray Charles

All of the choices in each category were born or grew up in N.C. except Ray Charles, who was from Georgia.

Answer: Dolly Madison

The wife of the 4th President, James Madison, Dolley Madison was born Dolley Payne near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on May 20, 1768. Her family moved to Virginia when she was an infant. Mrs. Madison first served as "unofficial first lady" during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, a widower, while her husband served as secretary of state. Elizabeth Dole, wife of former United States Senator from Kansas, Bob Dole, was a state Senator for North Carolina. Rachel Jackson and Martha Jefferson were not from North Carolina.

10. Which of the following famous athletes or sports figures is NOT from North Carolina?

Answer: Tennis great Arthur Ashe

Ray Leonard is from Wilmington, North Carolina, Jim 'Catfish' Hunter was from Hertford, North Carolina, and Redskins owner/NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs is from Enka, North Carolina.

11. Which of the following journalists are not from North Carolina?

Answer: Larry King

A five-time Emmy winning journalist from Polecat Creek, North Carolina, Murrow is a member of the Television Hall of Fame and was pioneer of television broadcasting. David Brinkley, a Wilmington native, was best known for hosting the "Huntley-Brinkley Report" and "This Week with David Brinkley". Kuralt, also from Wilmington, spent nearly all of his career with CBS news, most notably as the host of On The Road and Sunday Morning.

Answer: Edward Teach

Whether known as Edward Teach, Edward Thatch, Blackbeard or Drummond, this pirate was probably the King of them All. With his fierce demeanor with a full beard over his face and long dreadlocks of hair, he would often weave wicks of gunpowder in his hair and set them afire before battle. LaFitte was a former pirate turned privateer.

In return for a pardon for attacking several ships, Lafitte helped General Andrew Jackson defend New Orleans against the British in 1815. Captain Kidd has been the subject of controversy as he was either unjustly accused of many acts of piracy or was simply a privateer in the wrong place. Depp is the actor in "Pirates of the Caribbean".

13. This actor, born in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, was known for his fictitious town of Mayberry along with a hit movie "No Time for Sergeants" and as "Matlock" a southern lawyer. Who was he?

Answer: Andy Griffith

Raymond Burr was Perry Mason and Ironsides on TV, born in Canada. Don Knotts, who played Barney on "The Andy Griffith Show", was from Morgantown, West Virginia and James Arness, who was Matt Dillion of "Gunsmoke" was from Minnesota.

Answer: Pam Grier

Pam Grier is one of a few black American actresses to have received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. She is also the cousin of former football great, Rosey Grier.

15. All of the following are singers and musicians born or raised in North Carolina, except which one?

Answer: Luther Vandross

Randy Travis is from Marshville, North Carolina, Clay Aiken is from Raleigh and James Taylor from Carrboro, North Carolina.

Source: Author Dandy28804

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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