The site of Thomas Park was purchased from Sterling Farms, Inc., in 1966 in a joint venture with the Sterling School District (where Franklin School was built). The park was named after Ralph Thomas, former president and member of the Board of Commissioners from 1944 to 1959. Thomas Park is at 12th Avenue & Lynn Boulevard. During the winter, it serves as an ice hockey rink for hockey enthusiasts. Notable people Frances Cleveland Axtell, legislator; born in Sterling Chris Birch, Alaska Senator Terry Brooks, fantasy author Keith L. Brown, United States diplomat Clarence Clinton Coe, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly Steve Eddy, pitcher with the California Angels Don E. Fehrenbacher, historian of politics, slavery, and Abraham Lincoln, born in Sterling Virgil Ferguson, state senator, spent most of adult life in Sterling Paul J. Flory, Nobel laureate in chemistry; born in Sterling Mike Foltynewicz, pitcher for the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves; born in Sterling Austin Hubbard, mixed martial artist competing in the UFC; born in Sterling Jakob Junis, pitcher for the Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball Dan Kolb, pitcher for the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, and the Pittsburgh Pirates; born in Sterling Tim Lawson, author Joel Ryce-Menuhin, classical pianist and psychologist Harry B. Mulliken, early 20th century New York City architect; born in Sterling Michael Bryan Murphy, musician; former lead singer for REO Speedwagon Jigar Shah, clean energy entrepreneur Jacqueline Grennan Wexler, American Roman Catholic nun and academic administrator Jesse Lynch Williams, awarded the first Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1918 See also Northwestern Steel and Wire Paul W. Dillon Home Edward N. Kirk Newman Central Catholic High School References External links City of Sterling Web Site Sterling Park District Cities in Illinois Micropolitan areas of Illinois Cities in Whiteside County, Illinois Populated places established in 1838 1838 establishments in Illinois