“Mark Twain. He wrote stories that immortalized the beginnings of our American traditions, and he told it like he saw it. He didn't try to dress it up.”

— Peggy Quirin, English teacher, Garnett

“Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She was one of the three main suffragettes. She was married and went to jail. I can't imagine being that brave.”

— Jennie Washburn, insurance agent, Baldwin

“I'm going to go with Toni Morrison because she speaks from a woman's experience and from an African-American experience in the most articulate way.”

— Corrina Beck, Kansas University graduate student, Lawrence

“Venida Chenault, she works for Haskell. ... She's working for the people. That's her ultimate goal. She works for the community and the well-being of her people.”

— Gerald Zephiar, unemployed, Lawrence