Profile Text
Birth Name: Alexander J. Honnold
Place of Birth: Sacramento, California, United States
Date of Birth: August 17, 1985
Ethnicity: * father – German, English, Scottish * mother – Polish
Alex Honnold is an American rock climber. He is known for his free solo ascents of big walls. He is the first person to free solo El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, as depicted in the film Free Solo . His exploits are also documented in the film The Alpinist , on the show Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold , and in the Netflix special Skyscraper Live . He wrote the memoir Alone on the Wall .
Alex is the son of Dierdre Wolownick, a community college professor, and Charles Honnold. His mother started climbing at age sixty, and is the oldest woman to climb El Capitan. Alex is married to Sanni McCandless, with whom he has two children.
Alex’s paternal grandfather was Forrest Lamont Honnold (the son of Harold Leland Honnold and Winnie Mae Hausmann). Forrest was born in California. Harold was born in Tennessee, the son of James Leonidas Honnold and Mary “Molly” Buker. Winnie was born in Colorado, the daughter of Louis Christian Hausmann and Eugenie Patterson.
Alex’s paternal grandmother was Alice Keehner (the daughter of Charles Godfrey Keehner and Myrtle Sawtell). Alice was born in California. Charles was born in California, to ethnic German parents, Charles Gottfried Keehner, from Auerbach, Mosbach, Baden, and Louise Zeh, who was born at sea, on a ship on route to America from Germany, to parents from Baden-Württemberg. Alex’s great-grandmother Myrtle was born in Wisconsin, the daughter of Edwin Sawtelle, whose parents were from New Hampshire; and of Mary Jane Neville.
Alex’s maternal grandfather was Joseph Stanley Wolownick (the son of Francis/Frank Wolownick and Emily Pajczarska/Pajcozarska Widynski). Joseph’s parents were Polish.
Alex’s maternal grandmother was Stasia Theresa Zola (the daughter of John Zola and Agnes Zyck/Zych). Stasia was born in Pennsylvania, to Polish parents. John was born in Wola Mielecka, the son of Andrew Zola and Magdalen. Agnes was the daughter of Jan/John Zych and Marjanna/Mariana Chaya/Czaja.
Sources: http://mountainportal.com
Genealogy of Alex’s father – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Alex’s paternal grandfather, Forrest Lamont Honnold – https://www.legacy.com
Genealogies of Alex’s paternal great-grandparents, Charles Godfrey Keehner and Myrtle (Sawtell) Keehner – https://www.findagrave.com
Marriage record of Alex’s maternal grandparents, Joseph Stanley Wolownick and Stasia Zola – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogy of Alex’s maternal grandmother, Stasia Theresa (Zola) Wolownick – https://www.findagrave.com