- Jan 1 LaMarr Hoyt, American baseball pitcher (AL Cy Young Award 1983; AL wins leader 1982-83; Chicago White Sox), born in Columbia, South Carolina (d. 2021)
- Jan 6 Chantal Langlacé, French runner (women's marathon & 100k world records), born in Amiens, France
- Jan 8 Spiros Livathinos, Greek footballer, born in Patras, Greece
- Jan 18 Mable Fergerson, American 4x400m runner (Olympic silver 1972), born in Los Angeles, California
- Jan 21 Peter Fleming, American tennis player (US Open Doubles 1979, 81, 83; Wimbledon doubles 1979, 81, 83, 84; 7 x Tour Finals doubles [John McEnroe]), born in Chatham Borough, New Jersey
- Jan 23 Ruth Haring, American chess player and president of the US Chess Federation, born on Cape Cod, Massachusetts (d. 2018)
- Jan 24 James Montgomery, American swimmer (1976 Olympics 3 golds), born in Madison, Wisconsin
- Jan 27 Brian Engblom, Canadian NHL hockey player, 1975-87 (Montreal Canadiens, and 4 other teams), and TV broadcaster, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Jan 27 Koji Ushikubo, Japanese racing driver
- Jan 29 John Tate, American boxer (WBA heavyweight championship 1979-80), born in Marion, Arkansas (d. 1998)
Curtis Strange (69 years old)
Jan 30 American golfer (US Open 1988-89), born in Norfolk, Virginia
Virginia Ruzici (69 years old)
Jan 31 Romanian tennis star (1978 French Open champion), born in Campia Turzii, Romania
About January 1955
How Old? 69 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Leap Year: No
Chinese Zodiac: Horse (Jan 1 - Jan 23), Goat/Sheep (Jan 24 - Jan 31)
Star Signs: Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19), Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions