City of DeLand, Florida seal
    Historic DeLand
    Portrait grid of famous people from DeLand Florida including Jacob deGrom and Chipper Jones

    Famous People from DeLand, Florida

    Quick answer: DeLand, Florida has produced or trained a Hall of Fame baseball player (Chipper Jones), two Cy Young Award winners (Jacob deGrom and Corey Kluber — both Stetson alums), a U.S. Attorney General (Pam Bondi, Stetson Law '90), a Marine Corps legend (Gen. Roy Geiger), and the producer who launched New Kids on the Block (Maurice Starr).

    The DeLand roster

    DeLand's population of ~42,000 is small — but the town punches astonishingly above its weight. Three factors explain it: (1) Stetson University has been pulling national-caliber students into DeLand since 1883; (2) NAS DeLand trained a Pacific-war generation of aviators during WWII who went on to distinguished post-war careers; and (3) the town's low cost of living, small-town pace, and affiliation with the Athens of Florida identity have attracted working artists, musicians, and inventors.

    Baseball — the Cy Young capital of Florida

    Two Stetson alums have won the Cy Young Award — Kluber (twice) and deGrom (twice). That's four Cy Young trophies from a mid-major baseball program in a town of 42,000. No other Florida city smaller than Miami can match it.

    PersonConnectionClaim to fameDeep page
    Jacob deGromb. 1988Born in DeLand; Stetson alum2× Cy Young (2018, 2019); NL Rookie of the Year 2014; 5× All-Star. [S85, S86, S87]Read more
    Chipper Jonesb. 1972Born in DeLandHall of Fame 2018; #1 overall 1990 MLB Draft; 1999 NL MVP; 8× All-Star. [S88, S89, S90]Read more
    Corey Kluberb. 1986Stetson alum (2005–07)2× Cy Young (2014, 2017); Stetson Athletics Hall of Fame. [S91, S92, S93]Read more
    Chris Johnsonb. 1984Stetson alum (2005–06)Major-league third/first baseman 2009–2016. [S94]Read more

    Football — DeLand High Bulldogs on Sundays

    Gillislee played his high school ball at DeLand High before starring at the University of Florida and signing with the Saints as an undrafted free agent. He's the most prominent DeLand High football alumnus currently in the record books.

    PersonConnectionClaim to fame
    Mike Gillisleeb. 1990Born in DeLand; DeLand High SchoolNFL running back — Dolphins, Bills, Patriots, Saints, Buccaneers. [S95, S96]

    Law & government

    PersonConnectionClaim to fameDeep page
    Pam Bondib. 1965Stetson Law JD, 199087th U.S. Attorney General (2025–); Florida's first female AG (2011–19). [S99, S100]Read more
    Gen. Roy Geiger1885–1947Stetson Law LLB, 1907Pioneering Marine Corps aviator; only Marine officer to command an army-sized formation (Okinawa, 1945); Stetson Law Hall of Fame 2011. [S97]Read more
    Susan C. Bucklewb. 1942Stetson Law JD, 1977Senior U.S. District Judge, Middle District of Florida. [S103]—
    Joseph E. Hendricks1903–1988Stetson Law alumSix-term U.S. Congressman from Florida (1937–49). [S104]—
    Craig Crawfordb. 1956Stetson BA + JDPolitical journalist; NBC/CBS contributor; author. [S102]—
    Stetson Law notable alumni (full page)

    Military & aviation

    PersonConnectionClaim to fame
    Gen. Roy Geiger1885–1947Stetson Law 1907Marine Corps aviation pioneer; commanded the Tenth Army in the final phase of the Battle of Okinawa. [S97]
    Samuel Hynes1924–2019Trained at NAS DeLand (WWII)Marine dive-bomber pilot; Woodrow Wilson Professor of Literature Emeritus, Princeton; author of Flights of Passage, The Soldiers' Tale. [S98]

    Deep treatment: NAS DeLand & Skydiving Capital.

    Invention & business

    PersonConnectionClaim to fameDeep page
    Arthur Jones1926–2007Nautilus, Inc. factory and training center in DeLandInvented the Nautilus fitness machine; pioneered high-intensity training; revolutionized strength training worldwide. [S101]Read more

    Music, arts & entertainment

    PersonConnectionClaim to fameDeep page
    Maurice Starrb. 1953Born and raised in DeLandMusic producer who created New Edition (1981) and New Kids on the Block (1984). [S105]Read more
    Donovan Singletaryb. 1982Stetson School of Music (Voice, 2006)Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist; international opera baritone. [S106]—
    Jason RobinsStetson School of MusicPrincipal trombonist, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. [S106]—

    The Disney question

    A common folk claim online is that Walt Disney lived in or visited DeLand. He didn't. Walt's documented Florida family roots are in Paisley, Florida, about 15 miles north of DeLand, where his grandparents Charles and Henrietta Call settled in 1884 and where his Aunt Jessie Call Perkins was postmaster. Walt visited her there in the 1950s. DeLand's only verifiable Disney connection is that the 2015 film Walt Before Mickey was shot on the Stetson campus [S116, S117, S118, S119].

    The Walt Disney / Paisley myth-busting page

    On screen — DeLand in the movies

    ProductionYear / locationNoteDeep page
    The Waterboy1998Stetson campus (Elizabeth Hall = "SCLSU"); Spec Martin Memorial Stadium; downtownAdam Sandler comedy — DeLand's most recognizable film location. [S107, S108]Read more
    Walt Before Mickey2015Cummings Gym, Stetson UniversityDisney biopic shot inside the Stetson gymnasium. [S111, S112]Read more
    Days of Thunder1990Volusia County speedways; Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman trained at Skydive DeLandNASCAR drama; celebrity skydiving training in DeLand. [S109, S121, S122]Read more
    Ghost Story1981Stetson University (limited)Final film for Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. [S113]—
    The First of May1999DeLand and Lake HelenFamily drama shot locally. [S114]—
    DeLand on Screen (full hub)

    Frequently asked questions

    Who is the most famous person from DeLand, Florida?
    Hall of Fame baseball player Chipper Jones (born DeLand, 1972) and two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom (born DeLand, 1988) are the two most nationally recognized people born in the city. [S85, S88]
    Is Jacob deGrom from DeLand?
    Yes. Jacob deGrom was born in DeLand on June 19, 1988, attended Calvary Christian Academy (Ormond Beach), and played college baseball at Stetson University. [S85, S87]
    Did Chipper Jones go to Stetson?
    No — Chipper Jones was born in DeLand but was drafted #1 overall by the Atlanta Braves directly out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville; he did not attend college. [S88, S89]
    Did Walt Disney live in DeLand?
    No. Walt Disney's Florida family heritage is in Paisley (15 miles north of DeLand), where his grandparents settled in 1884. He visited Paisley in the 1950s, but has no documented DeLand residence or visit. [S116, S117]
    What movies were filmed in DeLand?
    Most prominently: The Waterboy (1998, Adam Sandler; primary location was Stetson University and Spec Martin Stadium), Walt Before Mickey (2015), and portions of Ghost Story (1981). Tom Cruise also trained at Skydive DeLand during production of Days of Thunder (1990). [S107, S111, S113, S122]
    Who is Maurice Starr?
    Music producer Maurice Starr was born and raised in DeLand. He created the vocal groups New Edition (1981) and New Kids on the Block (1984), and produced multiple platinum albums. [S105]
    Who invented Nautilus fitness machines?
    Arthur Jones (1926–2007) invented the Nautilus machine. He operated the Nautilus factory and training center in DeLand, Florida, where he pioneered the high-intensity training method used by champion bodybuilders. [S101]

    Sources

    1. [S85] Jacob deGrom — Wikipedia
    2. [S86] Jacob deGrom career stats — Baseball Reference
    3. [S87] Jacob deGrom — Stetson Athletics
    4. [S88] Chipper Jones — Wikipedia
    5. [S89] Chipper Jones — Baseball Hall of Fame
    6. [S90] Chipper Jones career stats — Baseball Reference
    7. [S91] Corey Kluber — Wikipedia
    8. [S92] Corey Kluber — Stetson Athletics
    9. [S93] Corey Kluber career stats — Baseball Reference
    10. [S94] Chris Johnson — Wikipedia
    11. [S95] Mike Gillislee — Wikipedia
    12. [S96] Mike Gillislee — Pro Football Reference
    13. [S97] Roy Geiger — Wikipedia
    14. [S98] Samuel Hynes — Wikipedia
    15. [S99] Pam Bondi — Wikipedia
    16. [S100] Pam Bondi — Stetson Law
    17. [S101] Arthur Jones (inventor) — Wikipedia
    18. [S102] Craig Crawford — Wikipedia
    19. [S103] Susan C. Bucklew — Wikipedia
    20. [S104] Joseph E. Hendricks — Wikipedia
    21. [S105] Maurice Starr — Wikipedia
    22. [S106] Stetson School of Music notable alumni
    23. [S107] The Waterboy — Wikipedia
    24. [S108] The Waterboy filming at Stetson — local press
    25. [S109] Days of Thunder — Wikipedia
    26. [S111] Walt Before Mickey — Wikipedia
    27. [S112] Walt Before Mickey filming locations — IMDb
    28. [S113] Ghost Story (1981) — Wikipedia
    29. [S114] The First of May — Wikipedia
    30. [S116] Elias Disney — Wikipedia
    31. [S117] Paisley, Florida — Wikipedia
    32. [S121] Skydive DeLand — Wikipedia
    33. [S122] Tom Cruise skydiving training — Skydive DeLand press