Can you name some famous North Carolinian entertainers, celebrities, writers, or athletes?

Maybe you instantly thought of Michael Jordan, Sugar Ray Leonard, or Dale Earnhardt Sr. (or maybe Jr., too). Maybe you recalled numerous other NASCAR legends or media personalities such as Edward R. Murrow or Charles Kuralt or Howard Cosell. Jazz enthusiasts may list Thelonius Monk or John Coltrane. Or if your musical tastes are a little different you may list Firehouse or Ben Folds Five or Randy Travis. Maybe the poets and writers think of Maya Angelou or Thomas Wolfe.

North Carolina is the birthplace of or home to many famous people. Their personal histories are being recorded on the website northcarolinahistory.org. There you will learn how famous Tar Heels contributed to Southern and American culture. Here is a brief description of some new entries.

Charlie Poole. A Randolph County native, a semi-pro baseball player, and later a Columbia Records recording artist, this banjo player lived a rough-and-tumble life in the Piedmont’s cotton mill village culture. Even so, he was known as “the best banjo-picking player in the Carolinas.” Along with his band, The North Carolina Ramblers, he traveled the Southeast and popularized his unique finger-picking style with hits such as “Sweet Sunny South,” “White House Blues,” “He Rambled,” and “Take a Drink on Me.” He died at 39, but in his short life, Charlie Poole developed a style that banjo players still try to copy.

Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith. He was son of a poor South Carolina mill worker. As a young professional he moved to Charlotte and emerged as one of country music’s brightest stars. His singles, including “Guitar Boogie” and “Feuding Banjos,” sold millions of copies, and millions more tuned in to his radio and television programs. His “Arthur Smith Show” started in 1951 and ran for nearly 30 years. It featured musical guests including Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash.

The 1972 film “Deliverance” featured a renamed version of Smith’s “Feuding Banjos” — “Dueling Banjos” — without his permission. Smith sued, won, and received a constant stream of royalty checks thereafter.

Billy Graham. The most recognized evangelist of the 20th century, Graham’s far-reaching ministry began in 1949. With eloquence and simplicity, the Mecklenburg County native spoke to millions across the United States, Europe, and even communist countries over six decades.

Graham’s weekly radio program “Hour of Decision” was broadcast on more than 800 stations in the United States. He also served as counsel to several presidents, starting with Dwight D. Eisenhower. Graham was not beyond criticism, however. Hardliners objected to Graham’s efforts to alleviate the tension between Protestants and Catholics, primarily in Ireland.

But millions appreciated his ministry. Not only was Graham knighted in Britain in 2001 for his service to religion and civility, but the preacher also received illustrious awards from his home country, including the Ronald Reagan Foundation Freedom Award, the Templeton Foundation Prize, and the Congressional Gold Medal.

One of the more popular American short-story writers was from Greensboro. William Sidney Porter, also known as O. Henry, started his adult professional life as a bank teller. Bored with his job, he started a magazine, The Rolling Stone, and embarked on a writing career. His life was controversial at times: He drank whiskey like water, and his former bank employer accused him of embezzlement.

He was found guilty of embezzlement and incarcerated for five years. In the penitentiary, he started using the O. Henry pseudonym. Once a free man, he moved to New York City to advance his career, yet his early life in North Carolina continued to influence his stories.

Some of his most popular short stories are “The Gift of the Magi” and “The Ransom of Red Chief.” I still remember reading “The Gift of the Magi” in elementary school. I enjoyed reading his stories more than eating the candy bar “Oh Henry!” Now that’s saying something!

Dr. Troy Kickler is director of the North Carolina History Project (northcarolinahistory.org).