Following is a list of notable Eastern Kentucky University alumni.
Athletics
editName | Class | Major | Notability | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Josh Anderson | Non-degreed | Professional baseball player | [1][2] | |
Richie Bancells | 1981 | M.S. sports science | Head Athletic Trainer for the Baltimore Orioles | [3][4] |
Yeremiah Bell | 2002 | Professional football player with Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals | [5][6] | |
Joanna Bernabei-McNamee | 1999 | M.S. sports administration | Head coach for Boston College Eagles women's basketball | [7] |
Steve Bird | 1983 | Professional football player and football special teams coordinator for South Carolina State | [8] | |
Elmo Boyd | Professional football player with the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers | [9] | ||
Chad Bratzke | 1994 | Professional football player with the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts | [10] | |
Wally Chambers | 1973 | Professional football player with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 1973 Defensive NFL Rookie of the Year Award | [11] | |
Al Clark | Professional baseball umpire | [12] | ||
Earle Combs | 1919 | Education | Professional baseball player with the New York Yankees, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame | [13] |
Danny Copeland | 1989 | Professional footaball player with the Washington Redskins and Super Bowl XXVI champions | [14][15] | |
Dale Dawson | Professional football player with the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and Green Bay Packers | [16] | ||
Jessamyn Duke | Professional mixed martial artist formally for the UFC | [17] | ||
Jason Dunn | 1995 | Professional football player with the Kansas City Chiefs | [18] | |
Matt Figger | 1995 | College basketball coach | [19] | |
Charlie Fisher | M.S. | College football coach | [20] | |
George Floyd | 1982 | Profesesional football player with the New York Jets and member of the College Football Hall of Fame | [21] | |
Christian Friedrich | 2008 | Professional baseball player with the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres | [22] | |
Simon B. Gray | M.S. sports administration | Athletic director of Niagara University | ||
Myron Guyton | 1989 | Professional football player with the New York Giants and New England Patriots | [23][24] | |
Ole Hesselbjerg | 2015 | Physics | Runner who competed in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2016 Summer Olympics for Denmark | [25] |
Sam Holbrook | Major League Baseball umpire | [26] | ||
Chris Isaac | 1981 | Professional gridiron football player with the Canadian Football League | ||
John Jackson | 1988 | Professional football player with the Pittsburgh Steelers | [27] | |
Aaron Jones | 1988 | Professional football player with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins | [28] | |
Roy Kidd | 1955 | College football coach and member of the College Football Hall of Fame | [29] | |
W. H. Lyon | College football coach | |||
Antwaun Molden | 2008 | Professional football player with the Houston Texans | ||
Mark Montgomery | 1992 | College softball head coach | [30] | |
Tom Riginos | 1993 | M.A. physical education and sports administration | Head baseball coach of the Winthrop Eagles | [31] |
Chrissy Roberts | 1998 | College basketball coach | [32] | |
Dallas Robinson | 2006 | Bobsledder in the 2014 Winter Olympics | [33] | |
Michael Scot | M.A. physical education | Director of the New South Wales Institute of Sport and chief executive officer of Sport New Zealand | ||
Garfield Smith | 1968 | Professional basketball player with the Boston Celtics and the San Diego Conquistadors | [34] | |
Steve Smith | M.S. | Head basketball coach at Oak Hill Academy | ||
Teddy Taylor (football) | College football coach and two-time All-American college football player | [35] | ||
Corey Walden | 2015 | Professional basketball player, 2019 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP | [36] |
Business
editName | Class | Major | Notability | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Don McNay | 1981 | Journalism and political science | Chartered financial consultant, financial author, and The Huffington Post contributor | [37] |
Education
editName | Class | Major | Notability | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lori Stewart Gonzalez | Communication disorders | 23rd President of Ohio University | [38] | |
Kishonna Gray | 2005, 2007 | Criminal justice, M.S. justice studies | Researcher in communication and gender studies at the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences | |
Teresa W. Haynes | 1975, 1978, 1984 | B.S. and M.A. mathematics and education, M.S. mathematics | Professor of mathematics and statistics at East Tennessee State University known for her research in graph theory | |
Don Showalter | 1964 | Chemistry and math | Professor emeritus and former chairman of the department of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point | [39] |
Aaron Thompson | 1978 | Political science and sociology | President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education | [40] |
Entertainment
editName | Class | Major | Notability | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chuckie Campbell | 2007 | M.A. English literature and creative writing | Rapper, poet, and author | [41] |
Sam Champion | 1983 | Broadcast news | Weather editor and anchor for Good Morning America and ABC News | [42] |
Mallory Ervin | Political science | Miss Kentucky 2009 and The Amazing Race contestant | ||
Faith Esham | Non-degreed | M.S. clinical psychology | Opera singer | [43] |
Carl Hurley | 1966 | B.S. and M.A. education | Comedian and motivational speaker; former EKU professor | [44] |
Laura Kirkpatrick | Non-degreed | Art | America's Next Top Model cycle 13 runner up | [45] |
Homer Ledford | 1954 | Bluegrass musician and maker of dulcimers | [46] | |
Lee Majors | 1962 | History and physical education | Actor known for Six Million Dollar Man and The Fall Guy | [47] |
Mike Morgan | 1970 | Education | Singer-songwriter and record producer | [48] |
Dan Patrick | Non-degreed | Co-host of ESPN's SportsCenter | [49] |
Law
editName | Class | Major | Notability | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tom Colbert | 1976 | M.A. | Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court | [50] |
Pleas Jones | Education | Associate justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals (subsequently renamed the Kentucky Supreme Court) | ||
James E. Keller | 1966 | Justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court | [51] | |
Debra H. Lambert | 1983 | Associate justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court and former Judge on the Kentucky Court of Appeals | [52] | |
Danny C. Reeves | 1978 | Chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky | [53] | |
Gregory N. Stivers | 1982 | Chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky | [54] |
Literature and journalism
editName | Class | Major | Notability | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gwenda Bond | Journalism | Novelist | [55] | |
Silas House | English | Novelist | [56] | |
John Samples | 1978 | Political science and government | Author, political theorist, and vice president of the Cato Institute | [57] |
Crystal Wilkinson | 1985 | Journalist | Writer, poet, educator, and winner of the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence | [58] |
Military
editName | Class | Major | Notability | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ken Keen | 1974 | Mathematics | Lt. General and Military Deputy Commander of United States Southern Command | [59] |
Jeffrey H. Norwitz | 1974 | Law enforcement | Counter-terrorism and law enforcement officer with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and
John Nicholas Brown Chair of Counterterrorism at the Naval War College |
[60] |
Craig E. Williams | Philosophy | Vietnam War Army veteran and co-founder of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation | [61] |
Politics
editScience and medicine
editName | Class | Major | Notability | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eula Bingham | 1951 | Chemistry and biology | Occupational health scientist | [94] |
Ranthony Edmonds | 2013 | M.S. mathematical sciences | Mathematician specializing in commutative ring theory, factorization theory, and applied algebraic topology | [95] |
Other
editName | Class | Major | Notability | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Andrew C. Thornton II | 1971 | Law enforcment | Head of "The Company" drug smuggling ring | [96] |
References
edit- ^ "Josh Anderson Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Josh Anderson (2009) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Richie Bancells (2018) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Bancells Honored as Outstanding Alumnus | Exercise and Sports Medicine". Eastern Kentucky University. March 10, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Jordan, Darrell (2014-08-22). "Yeremiah Bell retires from NFL". Maroon Nation. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Yeremiah Bell (2018) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Joanna Bernabei-McNamee - Head Coach - Staff Directory". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Steve Bird (2010) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Elmo Boyd Stats, News and Video - WR". NFL.com. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Chad Bratzke (2006) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Wally Chambers (2006) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Trenton, Paul Franklin | For The Times of (2014-05-20). "Ex-Umpire Al Clark uses his experiences to help others". nj. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Earle B. Combs · EKU x 100: The Story of Eastern in 100 Objects, People, and Places · Digital Collections". digitalcollections.eku.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Danny Copeland". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
- ^ "Danny Copeland (2009) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Dale Dawson". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
- ^ "Jessamyn Duke - Official UFC® Fighter Profile". www.ufc.com. September 14, 2018.
- ^ "Jason Dunn (2015) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Matt Figger - Men's Basketball Coach". Austin Peay State University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Charlie Fisher - Football Coach". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "George Floyd (2007) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Christian Friedrich (2016) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Myron Guyton". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
- ^ "Myron Guyton (2007) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Eastern Kentucky University Track and Field and Cross Country - Richmond, Kentucky - Athletes - Ole Hesselbjerg". www.runnerspace.com. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "EKU Baseball Alum Sam Holbrook Umpiring 2011 NLCS". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "John Jackson (2008) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Aaron Jones (2007) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Roy Kidd (2006) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Mark Montgomery - Softball Coach". University of Maryland Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Tom Riginos - Baseball Coach". Winthrop University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Chrissy Roberts - Women's Basketball Coach". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Dallas Robinson (2017) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Garfield Smith (2012) - Hall of Fame". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Hutchinson, Nathan (2017-09-22). "OVC FOOTBALL: 50 years later, Teddy Taylor still has a passion for football". Richmond Register. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "Corey Walden - Men's Basketball". Eastern Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Financial expert Don McNay dies suddenly at age 57". WYMT. 2016-05-30. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Johnson, Rae (March 23, 2023). "Former University of Louisville interim president to take over leading role at Ohio". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
- ^ "Donald Showalter". American Chemical Society. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "The First African American President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. 2019-03-04. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Wylie, Crystal Wylie (2013-01-21). "Richmond's own Chuckie Campbell is trending artist on 'Grammy Amplifier'". Richmond Register. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "EKU In National Spotlight As GMA Profiles Weather Anchor Sam Champion". ABC 36 News. 2013-09-12. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Blau, Eleanor (1987-08-22). "Faith Esham, Soprano, Communicates by Song". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Dr. Carl L. Hurley Speaker". AEI Speakers Bureau. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Harris, Chris (2012-01-17). "Kirkpatrick holding fashion show fundraiser to raise awareness of dyslexia". Commonwealth Journal. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Bramel, Alli. "Homer C. Ledford". ExploreKYHistory. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Penn State Tailgate Tales: Indiana is the start for Lee Majors, Mark Cuban". York Daily Record. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Votaw, Emily (2017-09-01). "Acclaimed Songwriter Headed to Athens Uncorked September 9". WOUB Public Media. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Dan Patrick: Don Donoher a 'wonderful man and wonderful coach'". dayton-daily-news. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Tom Colbert". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "James E. Keller | J David Rosenberg College of Law". law.uky.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Debra Hembree Lambert". Kentucky Court of Justice. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Hon. Danny C. Reeves". The Federalist Society. 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Greg N. Stivers". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Interview: Kentucky Author Gwenda Bond". Her Kentucky. 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Alumni Spotlight Series x EKU Scholars Week: Author Silas House". www.alumni.eku.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "John Samples". Paso Robles. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Crystal Wilkinson | College of Arts & Sciences English". University of Kentucky. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Ken Keen". Emory University Goizueta Business School. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Robin Stansbury (1995-03-23). "Ex-resident Gets 'Secret' Honor". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
- ^ "Craig Williams". Kentucky Environmental Foundation. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Linda Belcher". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Begley, Elmer, 1912-1970". Western Kentucky University - Special Collections. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Obituary for Leila (Feltner) Begley". Adams Family Funeral Homes & Crematory. May 9, 2010. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Joshua Branscum". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Legislator Information". services.statescape.com. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
- ^ "Dwight Butler". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Josh Calloway's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "John Carney (Kentucky)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Jared Carpenter". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Jack Coleman, Jr.'s Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Kentucky House Republican Caucus | About Us | Caucus Members | Alecia Webb-Edgington". 2012-04-07. Archived from the original on 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Clyde Evans". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Danny Ford". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Deanna Frazier '91". www.alumni.eku.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Terry Goodin". Rural Development. 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "J. Dudley Goodlette - 2004 - 2006 ( Speaker Bense )". www.myfloridahouse.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "About Mike Harmon - Auditor of Public Accounts". www.auditor.ky.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Representative Kim King (R)". Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Ashley Tackett Laferty". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "C. Ed Massey". Blankenship, Massey & Assoc. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Winkler, Makenzie (May 25, 2023). "Political Science and English Double Major Gains Experience for a Career in Politics | EKU Stories". Eastern Kentucky University. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Robinson, Bill / (2016-10-28). "Election 2016 81st House District: C. Wesley Morgan". Richmond Register. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Rick Nelson (Kentucky)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "MMAC selects Steve Pence as 2004 distinguished alum". College of Business | Eastern Kentucky University. April 2, 2004. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "Darryl M. Scott". Leadership Delaware. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Thaksin Shinawatra | Biography & Facts". Britannica. 2023-08-08. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Kevin Sinnette". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Liz Stefanics". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Colonel Works Alongside Legislator Serving Her Hometown | EKU Stories". Eastern Kentucky University. June 12, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "Representative Ken Upchurch (R)". Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Meet Steve | Steve West". Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Freese, Alicia (April 19, 2017). "Convict-Turned-Lawmaker Pushes Criminal Justice Reform in Vermont". Seven Days. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Pasi, Gino (2020-06-16). "Eula Bingham 1929-2020 | LiBlog". Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "Ranthony Edmonds | Department of Mathematics". The Ohio State University. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ Denton, Sally Ann (October 20, 1985). "Drew Thornton's Last Adventure". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 13, 2023.