 Kent has produced and been home to a number of notable individuals in varying fields . Its natives and residents are referred to as " Kentites " . John Davey , a pioneer in tree surgery and founder of the Davey Tree Expert Company moved to Kent in the 1880s . His son , Martin L. Davey , would later serve as Governor of Ohio and a U.S. Representative . Other political figures to come from Kent include Wisconsin governor Lucius Fairchild , former U.S. Representative Robert E. Cook , and noted abolitionist John Brown , who lived in what was then Franklin Mills from 1835 – 1839 . Noted athletes to have come from Kent include former National Football League players Mike Adamle , Tom DeLeone , and Stan White and former Major League Baseball player , manager , and executive Gene Michael . Three members of the band Devo , which debuted in Kent in 1973 and was founded by Kent State University students , are natives of Kent : Gerald Casale , Peter Gregg , and Rod Reisman . Other performing artists to come from Kent include singer Julianne Baird , playwright Vincent J. Cardinal , and voice actor Joshua Seth . Lucien Price , an author and writer for The Boston Evening Transcript and The Atlantic Monthly grew up in Kent and used the pseudonym " Woolwick " for Kent in some of his stories . Kent was also the home of inventor Lucien B. Smith , regarded as the inventor of barbed wire . Additionally , people who have lived in Kent while attending Kent State University include comedians Drew Carey and Arsenio Hall , actor Michael Keaton , musicians Joe Walsh and Chrissie Hynde , and additional members of the band Devo . Athletes include football players Antonio Gates , Joshua Cribbs , and Jack Lambert ; Major League Baseball players Thurman Munson , Rich Rollins , and Andy Sonnanstine ; college football coaches Nick Saban and Lou Holtz ; and golfer Ben Curtis , who resides in Franklin Township just north of the Kent city limits and lists Kent as his residence . 
