Numerous historical personalities originate from or have lived in the territory of the present-day Vozdovac Municipality. Among them are: Milan Dj. Milicevic, Vasa Carapic, Stepa Stepanovic, and Milunka Savic.
One of the most celebrated heroes of the First Serbian Uprising, the Dragon of Avala, Vasa Carapic was born in Beli Potok. As a volunteer, he participated in Koca’s Frontier Rebellion and, when the notorious murdering of the Serbian leaders started, he rebelled, among the first ones joined the uprising, and gained special trust of Karadjordje. He distinguished himself by outstanding courage and became one of the main commanders in the uprising and the war-lord of Grocanska Nahye. He was killed in the
night between 29 and 30 November 1806, attacking the Belgrade Istanbul Gate. He was buried by the Rakovica Monastery. In the native Beli Potok, a monument was erected to him and the elementary school bears his name. In the center of Belgrade, by the place where he was killed, a monument to him was also put up, and the street leading from the former Istanbul Gate – bears his name.
The author, historian, folklorist, pedagogue, translator, Milan Dj. Milicevic (1831-1908) was born in Brdjani, a hamlet of Ripanj. From 1896 to 1899, he was the President of the Academy of Science. He was the author of a large number of books among them being „The Princedom of Serbia“ (1876), „The Kingdom of Serbia“ (1884), and „Tribute to
Prominent People of the Serbian People of Recent Times“. In Ripanj, the event „Days of Milan Dj. Milicevic“ is traditionally organized, and the biggest elementary school in Vo`dovac Municipality bears his name. Yet another President of the Serbian Academy of Science and Arts was born in Ripanj. That was Velibor Gligoric (1899-1977) who was the head of the Academy from 1965 to 1971 and, for some time, he was also the President of the Council of all the Yugoslav Academies of Science and Arts. This author, Professor of the Belgrade University, the Director of the Yugoslav Drama Theater in Belgrade, was awarded the highest state recognitions of Yugoslavia and Serbia.
The Field Marshal of the Serbian and the Yugoslav Army Stepa Stepanovic (1856-1929) was born in Kumodraz. He participated in all the six wars waged by Serbia from 1876 to 1918. At the time of the Battle of Edirne, he commanded the Second Serbian Army. In the Great War, he organized the mobilization and concentration of the Serbian army. Thereafter, with his Second Army, he defeated the Austrians in the famous Battle of Cer and that was actually the first Allied victory over the Central Powers in the First World War. Stepa’s Army also stood out in the break though the Salonika Front and further battles for liberation of Serbia in 1918. This prominent Vozdovac inhabitant was the holder of 35 domestic and foreign decorations. The main street in Vozdovac, the elementary school in his native village, and a cultural-and-artistic society bear his name and, in the center of Kumodraz, a live-size monument was erected to Stepa.
Milunka Savic (1890 or 1892-1973) – the „Serbian Joan of Arc“, as the French called her, lived and died in the Vo`dovac settlement of Braca Jerkovic. She is the most decorated-female combatant in the history of warfare. In addition to the highest domestic medals, she was awarded the French Legion of Honor twice and she is the only woman in the world decorated with the French Croix de Guerre. She was a volunteer and, in 1912, joined the war where, under the male name of Milun Savic, she fought in the most elite – „Iron Regiment“ of the Serbian Army. After she had been wounded in the Battle of Bregalnica, it was discovered that she was a woman. In the Battle of Kolubara, she excelled as a bomber and, across Albania, she retreated as heavily wounded. She fought courageously at the Salonika Front, particularly at Kaymakchalan. In peace time, she devoted herself to the role of a foster parent having supported over thirty poor children through their schooling. She was arrested by the Nedic’s police during the Second World War, and spent six months in the concentration camp in Banjica. Today, one street and a local community in Vozdovac bear her name.
The best Yugoslav and one of the top international chess players Svetozar Gligoric lived in Vozdovac, which is the „home“ of Novak Djokovic, the best tennis player in the world, as well as of the international karate champion Tanja Petrovic. Many other prominent authors, artists, and sportspeople have also spent their fertile creative years or still partly spend their time as Vozdovac inhabitants. Among them are the author Danilo Kic, poets Branko Miljkovic, Matija Beckovic, and Rajko Petrov Nogo, the directress Mira Trailovic, the painter Nedeljko Gvozdenovic, the actor Milan Gutovic, the basketball player Drazen Dalipagic, the waterpolo player Igor Milanovic, the boxer Svetomir Belic, and the composer Goran Bregovic.
The following prominent Vo`dovac inhabitants were declared the honorary citizens of Vozdovac: the poet Dobrica Eric, the actor and the director Ljubisa Samardzic, and the soccer national team goal keeper Milutin Soskic.