Who's Who of Iowa

Notable Families & Companies of the Des Moines Metro

The families, companies, and figures behind greater Des Moines — from Casey's and Pioneer Hi-Bred to Hy-Vee, Principal, and the Cowles newspaper family.

The Krause FamilyFour generations of a Hampton, Iowa family that built Kum & Go into a c-store empire — and sold it in 2023.Read profile →The Meredith FamilyThe Des Moines family that turned a farm magazine into Better Homes & Gardens.Read profile →The Hubbell FamilyGenerations of Des Moines real estate — and the family that saved Terrace Hill.Read profile →The Ruan FamilyFrom one truck to a downtown landmark — and the family that saved the World Food Prize.Read profile →The Wallace FamilyThree generations of Iowa agriculture — the family that founded hybrid seed corn, ran Wallaces' Farmer, and gave the nation a Vice President.Read profile →The Cowles FamilyThe family that made The Des Moines Register “the newspaper Iowa depends upon” — and launched Look magazine.Read profile →Principal Financial GroupThe Des Moines insurer that began in 1879 and grew into a Fortune 500 global financial giant.Read profile →Hy-Vee“A helpful smile in every aisle” — the employee-owned grocery chain born in a tiny southern-Iowa town in 1930.Read profile →The Weitz FamilyThe German-immigrant carpenter whose family firm has been building Des Moines since 1855.Read profile →Nile KinnickThe Adel-born Hawkeye whose 1939 Heisman season is legend — and whose name graces the University of Iowa's stadium.Read profile →The Younker BrothersThe immigrant brothers whose Younkers department stores anchored downtown Des Moines for generations.Read profile →Cloris LeachmanThe Des Moines–born actress who won an Oscar and a record eight Emmys across half a century on screen.Read profile →Edna GriffinThe Des Moines civil-rights leader whose 1948 drugstore protest desegregated Iowa lunch counters — years before the national movement.Read profile →Albert B. CumminsThe Des Moines reformer who led Iowa's Progressive era as governor and then shaped the U.S. Senate.Read profile →Caitlin ClarkThe West Des Moines guard who became college basketball's all-time leading scorer and a national phenomenon.Read profile →Shawn JohnsonThe West Des Moines gymnast who won Olympic gold in Beijing and became one of America's favorite athletes.Read profile →Brandon RouthThe central-Iowa actor who wore the cape in “Superman Returns.”Read profile →Bill BrysonThe Des Moines–born writer whose witty travel and science books became international best-sellers.Read profile →
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