"Why not Ben Franklin,..."
We like him too, the kid shares a birthday with him. He was really famous in his life time too, a true pioneer of science. And Philly's all time favorite son. Truly a Great American.
I wish that other George Washington, Professor Carver had made the list. I am a big fan of his. Watched a great bio of him on the Discovery Channel a while ago, he seemed like such a sweet man.