68 Notable alumni of Minnesota State University – Mankato
Updated: June 13, 2026 EliteDegrees
Minnesota State University – Mankato is ranked #1,577 in the world and #386 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 68 notable alumni from Minnesota State University – Mankato sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Minnesota State University – Mankato won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Shannon Savick
1940-. (aged 86)
politician
Shannon Savick is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represented District 27A in southern Minnesota.
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2. Marcella Frevert
1937-. (aged 89)
politician
Marcella R. Frevert was the Iowa State Representative from the 7th District. She served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1996 through 2011. She received her AA from Emmetsburg Junior College, her BS from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and her MA from the University of Northern Iowa.
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3. John Rose
1934-1988 (aged 54)
politician
John T. Rose was an American state representative and former teacher from Minnesota. Prior to entering politics, Rose taught at Emmet D. Williams Elementary school and St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Roseville as a physical education teacher.
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4. Mike May
1945-. (aged 81)
politician
Mike May was the Iowa State Representative from the 6th District. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2005 through 2011. He received his BA from Simpson College and his MS from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
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5. Michael Cormack
1970-. (aged 56)
politician
Michael G. Cormack is an American politician in the state of Iowa.
6. William A. Sederburg
1947-. (aged 79)
politician
William A. Sederburg is an American university president and politician. He is a senior scholar at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Sederburg was commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education from 2008 to 2012. He was president of President of Utah Valley State College from 2003 to 2008, overseeing its transformation into Utah Valley University. Sederburg...
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7. Rich Murray
1957-. (aged 69)
politician
Richard J. "Rich" Murray is a Minnesota politician serving as the mayor of Albert Lea, Minnesota, since 2023. From 2011 to 2013, he served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 27A, which includes all or parts of Freeborn and Mower Counties.
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8. Linda Higgins
1950-. (aged 76)
politician
Linda Higgins is a Minnesota politician who represented the second district of Hennepin County as county commissioner from late 2012 to January 2019. Higgins is a former member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 58, which included portions of the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County, which is in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. A Democrat, she was first elected...
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9. Shane Joseph
1981-. (aged 45)
ice hockey player
Shane Joseph is a former Canadian professional ice hockey winger. He most recently played for the Iserlohn Roosters in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
10. Kathy Sheran
1947-. (aged 79)
politician
Kathleen J. "Kathy" Sheran is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represented District 19, which included portions of Blue Earth, Le Sueur, and Nicollet counties in the south central part of the state.
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11. Ben Youds
1988-. (aged 38)
ice hockey player
Ben Youds is an American professional ice hockey defenseman. He is currently playing with IK Oskarshamn in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
12. Arthur S. Thomas
1935-2001 (aged 66)
military officer
Arthur Sam Thomas was a Roman Catholic priest and the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force from 1995 to 1997.
13. Barbara Fister
1954-. (aged 72)
novelist
librarian
Barbara Fister is an American author, blogger, librarian, best known for her writing about libraries and the role they play in student learning. She is a frequent contributor to Library Babel Fish for Inside Higher Ed as well as ACRLog, a blog by and for academic and research librarians.
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14. Mohamed Aden Tiiceey
1972-. (aged 54)
politician
Mohamed Abdullahi Moalim Adan, commonly known as Mohamed Adan Tiiceey (Somali: Maxamed Aadan Tiiceey), is a Somali politician, founder and former president of the autonomous state, Himan and Heeb.
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15. Lyndon Carlson
1940-. (aged 86)
politician
Lyndon R. Carlson, Sr. is a retired American politician who served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1973 until 2021. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Carlson represented District 45A, which included portions of Hennepin County including the city of Crystal in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
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16. John W. Roberts
1921-1999 (aged 78)
military officer
John Wendell Roberts was a United States Air Force general and commander of the Air Training Command with headquarters at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He had a bachelor of science degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato and a master's degree from The George Washington University. He was also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the...
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17. Rich Draheim
politician
Rich Draheim is an American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represents District 22 in south-central Minnesota.
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18. Andy Hedlund
1978-. (aged 48)
ice hockey player
Andy Hedlund is an American former professional ice hockey player. He was a defenseman for the Trenton Titans, Binghamton Senators, Hershey Bears, Krefeld Pinguine, Adler Mannheim, DEG Metro Stars and EHC Black Wings Linz in his career.
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19. Craig W. Duehring
1945-. (aged 81)
military personnel
Craig William Duehring was United States Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs) from 2007 to 2009.
20. Zach Palmquist
1990-. (aged 36)
ice hockey player
Zach Palmquist is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL).
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21. Stephon Williams
1993-. (aged 33)
ice hockey player
Stephon Williams is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
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22. John Jasinski
1966-. (aged 60)
politician
John R. Jasinski is an American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represents Minnesota's 19th Senate District in southeastern Minnesota.
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23. John M. Zwach
1907-1990 (aged 83)
teacher
politician
John Matthew Zwach Sr. was an American farmer, rural school teacher, and politician. Zwach was most notably a U.S. Representative from Minnesota, serving four terms from 1967 to 1975. He also served for several terms in the Minnesota legislature.
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24. Julia Sears
1840-1929 (aged 89)
suffragist
Julia Ann Sears was a pioneering academic and suffragist, achieving a milestone early in her career as she became the first woman to head a public college in the United States, in 1872. The school was Mankato Normal School, now Minnesota State University, Mankato, which named a residence hall after Sears in 2008. Sears was an active suffragist in Tennessee.
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25. Jon Kalinski
1987-. (aged 39)
ice hockey player
Jonathon Brent Kalinski is a former Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played parts of two National Hockey League (NHL) seasons as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.
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26. Steve Wagner
1984-. (aged 42)
ice hockey player
Steven Lee Wagner is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He most notably played with the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League (NHL) before playing abroad for Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
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27. Jerry Terrell
1946-. (aged 80)
baseball player
Jerry Wayne Terrell is an American former professional baseball player. The former infielder from Elysian, Minnesota, attended Minnesota State University, Mankato and played in the Major Leagues for the Minnesota Twins (1973–1977) and Kansas City Royals (1978–1980), appearing in 657 games played and collecting 412 hits. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and...
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28. Eriah Hayes
1988-. (aged 38)
ice hockey player
Eriah Joseph Hayes is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks.
29. Joe Klanderman
American football coach
American football player
Joe Klanderman is an American football coach who is currently the defensive coordinator at Baylor University.
30. Yonassan Gershom
1947-. (aged 79)
writer
rabbi
Yonassan Gershom is an American Rabbi and writer who was ordained in the Jewish Renewal movement during the 1980s, and is now a follower of Breslov Hasidism. He was associated with the early days of the B'nai Or movement, a forerunner of Jewish Renewal, in which he was ordained by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi in 1986, although he is not in...
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31. Emilia Ramboldt
1988-. (aged 38)
ice hockey player
Emilia Ingrid Maria Andersson Ramboldt née Andersson is a Swedish ice hockey defenceman. She was a member of the Swedish national team for twelve seasons, playing in eight IIHF Women's World Championships and at the Winter Olympics in 2010, 2014, and 2018. Ramboldt was named Riksserien Player of the Year for the 2014–15 season.
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32. Kael Mouillierat
1987-. (aged 39)
ice hockey player
Kael Mouillierat is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing under contract to the Krefeld Pinguine of the DEL2.
33. LaMark Brown
1989-. (aged 37)
American football player
LaMark Brown II is an American former professional football wide receiver. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Falcons in 2012. He played college football for the Minnesota State Mavericks.
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34. Grant Stevenson
1981-. (aged 45)
ice hockey player
Grant Thomas Stevenson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks during the 2005–06 season.
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35. Pat Garofalo
1971-. (aged 55)
politician
Patrick "Pat" Garofalo is an American politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represented District 58B, which includes portions of Dakota and Goodhue counties in the southeastern Twin Cities metropolitan area.
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36. Richard C. Nash
1950-. (aged 76)
military personnel
Lieutenant General Richard C. Nash (born 1950) was the 30th adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard, having been appointed to that position by the governor of Minnesota in 2010. Nash had previously served as commanding general of both US Army and multi-national forces including the US Army's 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, the Multi-National Division-South during Operation Iraqi Freedom,...
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37. Connor Mackey
1996-. (aged 30)
ice hockey player
Connor Mackey is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Mackey became highly coveted as an undrafted free agent after playing three years of college ice hockey for Minnesota State University, ultimately signing with the Calgary Flames in March 2020. He is the son of former...
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38. Travis Morin
1984-. (aged 42)
ice hockey player
Travis Andrew Morin is an American former professional ice hockey center and current assistant coach. While he briefly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars, he most notably played with the Stars' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Texas Stars. Morin appeared in 686 games for the Texas Stars across 10 seasons and had his jersey...
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39. Aaron Fox
1976-. (aged 50)
ice hockey player
Aaron Fox is an American ice hockey executive and former professional ice hockey player.
40. Dennis Hejlik
military officer
Dennis J. Hejlik is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general. Hejlik previously served as commanding general of United States Marine Corps Forces, Europe and United States Marine Corps Forces Command. Until early 2008, Hejlik commanded the newly established Marine Special Operations Command.
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41. Daniel Brickley
1995-. (aged 31)
ice hockey player
Daniel Brickley is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for Tappara in the Liiga.
42. David G. Bronner
1945-. (aged 81)
business executive
David George Bronner is an American businessman. He is best known as the head of Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA), the pension fund for employees of the State of Alabama. Bronner briefly served as the chairman of US Airways in the 1990s when RSA owned many shares in the airline.
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43. Marc Michaelis
1995-. (aged 31)
ice hockey player
Marc Michaelis is a German professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for Adler Mannheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
44. Tim Jackman
1981-. (aged 45)
ice hockey player
Timothy M. Jackman is an American former professional ice hockey player. He was the first player from Minnesota State University, Mankato to be drafted after becoming the Columbus Blue Jackets' second round selection, 38th overall, at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Jackman made his NHL debut during the 2003–04 season with Columbus, and has also played for the Phoenix Coyotes,...
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45. Bonya Ahmed
1969-. (aged 57)
writer
Rafida Bonya Ahmed is a Bangladeshi-American who is a writer, blogger, and humanitarian activist. In 2020, she founded the educational channels Think Bangla and Think English on YouTube. Along with her husband Avijit Roy, she was attacked and badly wounded by machete-wielding Islamic extremists at the Ekushey Book Fair in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2015, and Roy was killed.
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46. Ryan Carter
1983-. (aged 43)
ice hockey player
Ryan Michael Carter is an American former professional ice hockey forward. He played nearly 500 games in the National Hockey League (NHL).
47. Larry Buendorf
1937-2025 (aged 88)
U.S. Secret Service agent
Larry Merle Buendorf was a United States Navy aviator and Secret Service agent. He served as Chief Security Officer of the United States Olympic Committee. Buendorf broke up an assassination attempt on United States President Gerald Ford in 1975.
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48. Assem Marei
1992-. (aged 34)
basketball player
Assem Ahmed Marei is an Egyptian professional basketball player for Al Ahli Tripoli of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). He also represents the senior Egyptian national team internationally.
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49. Chad Brownlee
1984-. (aged 42)
ice hockey player
singer
songwriter
Chad Brownlee is a Canadian country music artist, songwriter, actor, and former ice hockey defenceman. He has one #1 Canada Country hit with "Forever's Gotta Start Somewhere".
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50. Teodors Bļugers
1994-. (aged 32)
ice hockey player
Teodors Bļugers is a Latvian professional ice hockey player who is a centre for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 52nd overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, making him the third-highest selected Latvian player in the NHL entry draft, behind Zemgus Girgensons and Sandis Ozoliņš.
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51. Theresa Greenfield
1963-. (aged 63)
urban planner
real-estate agent
politician
Theresa Greenfield is an American businesswoman, government official, and former political candidate. She was the Democratic nominee for the 2020 United States Senate election in Iowa, losing to incumbent Republican Joni Ernst.
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52. Glen Taylor
1941-. (aged 85)
businessperson
politician
Glen Albert Taylor is an American billionaire business magnate and former politician from Minnesota. Taylor made his fortune as the founder and owner of Minnesota-based Taylor Corporation, one of North America's largest graphic communication companies.
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53. David Backes
1984-. (aged 42)
ice hockey player
David Anthony Backes is an American former professional ice hockey forward. He played for fifteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks. Backes was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but grew up in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota.
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54. Tyler Pitlick
1991-. (aged 35)
ice hockey player
Tyler Pitlick is an American professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 31st overall, by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2010 NHL entry draft. Pitlick has also previously played for the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, St....
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55. Billie Joe Armstrong
1972-. (aged 54)
composer
stage actor
singer-songwriter
television actor
guitarist
Billie Joe Armstrong is an American musician and actor. He is best known for being the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Green Day, which he co-founded with Mike Dirnt in 1987. He is also a guitarist and vocalist for the punk rock band Pinhead Gunpowder, and provides lead vocals for Green Day's side projects Foxboro...
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56. Melissa Peterman
1971-. (aged 55)
comedian
television actor
film actor
game show host
stage actor
Melissa Peterman is an American actress, television host and comedian. She has played the role of Barbra Jean in the television comedy series Reba, appeared as Bonnie Wheeler in the ABC Family/Freeform series Baby Daddy, and was host of ABC Family's Dancing Fools, ABC's Bet on Your Baby, and CMT's The Singing Bee. From 2017 to 2024, she played Brenda...
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57. Adam Thielen
1990-. (aged 36)
American football player
Adam John Thielen is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He played college football for the Minnesota State Mavericks and signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2013, playing for them for ten seasons. Thielen holds several NFL records, including eight straight games over...
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58. Greg Davids
1958-. (aged 68)
politician
Gregory Michael Davids is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2009, and from 1991 to 2006. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Davids represents District 26B in southeastern Minnesota, which includes the cities of La Crescent and Spring Valley, and parts of Fillmore, Houston, and Mower Counties.
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59. Jessica Benham
1990-. (aged 36)
disability rights activist
politician
Jessica L. Benham is an American politician and disability rights activist serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 36th District. She is the first openly LGBTQ+ woman and first openly autistic person elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. She co-founded the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy in 2014.
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60. Eli L. Huggins
1842-1929 (aged 87)
Eli Lundy Huggins was an American Brigadier General and author who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Indian Wars. He was also the commander of the 8th Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Spanish–American War.
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61. Gwen Walz
1966-. (aged 60)
community leader
academic administrator
educator
Gwen Walz is an American educator and public school administrator. She is the 39th First Lady of Minnesota as of 2019 and the wife of Governor Tim Walz. Her husband was the Democratic Party candidate for vice president in the 2024 United States presidential election.
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62. Bob Bird
1951-. (aged 75)
teacher
sports commentator
Bob Bird is an American conservative activist, retired high school teacher, home-school tutor and the former chairman of the Alaskan Independence Party (AIP). He was the AIP's candidate for the United States Senate seat formerly occupied by Ted Stevens in the 2008 senate election.
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63. Scott Newman
1947-. (aged 79)
lawyer
politician
Scott J. Newman is an American attorney and former Republican member of the Minnesota Senate. He represented Senate District 18, which includes portions of McLeod, Meeker, Sibley and Wright counties just west of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. He is also a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and was the Republican nominee for attorney general in the...
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64. Allen Quist
1944-. (aged 82)
politician
Allen J. Quist is an American politician, a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and a two-time candidate for governor of the state.
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65. David Bly
1952-. (aged 74)
educator
politician
David Bly is an American politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represented District 20B, which included portions of Le Sueur and Rice counties in the southeastern part of the state. He is also a retired teacher.
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66. Tim Walz
1964-. (aged 62)
American football coach
educator
non-commissioned officer
politician
Timothy James Walz is an American politician, former educator, and Army National Guard veteran serving since 2019 as the 41st governor of Minnesota. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019, representing Minnesota's 1st congressional district, and was the Democratic nominee for vice president in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
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67. Greg Stevens
1960-. (aged 66)
politician
Greg R. Stevens is an American politician in the state of Iowa.
68. Doug Plumb
1988-. (aged 38)
basketball coach
basketball player
Douglas Anthony Plumb is a Canadian former professional basketball player. As of 2019, he is the head coach for the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada. He is a 3 time champion of the NBLC and holds the second highest winning percentage in league history winning over 81% of his games. He finished his college basketball career...
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