78 Notable alumni of Old Dominion University
Updated: June 22, 2026 EliteDegrees
Old Dominion University is ranked #541 in the world and #169 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 78 notable alumni from Old Dominion University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Old Dominion University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Rick Skwiot
novelist
Rick Skwiot is the award-winning author of three published works set in Mexico and a critically praised childhood memoir. He received the Hemingway First Novel Award for his debut work, Death in Mexico and was the Willa Cather Fiction Prize Finalist for Sleeping With Pancho Villa in 1998. In addition, he has published numerous feature stories, short stories, essays, and...
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2. John Tammen
1962-. (aged 64)
military officer
John William Tammen Jr. is a retired United States Navy rear admiral who last served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy of the Allied Command Transformation from June 12, 2019 to August 2021. Previously, he served as the Director of Undersea Warfare of the United States Navy from January 2018 to June 2019.
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3. Tim Ward
1997-. (aged 29)
American football player
Tim Ward is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Old Dominion Monarchs.
4. Jack T. Kirby
1938-2009 (aged 71)
historian
Jack Temple Kirby was an American historian who wrote about the Southern United States and the persistent stereotyping of Southerners. He was awarded the Bancroft Prize for his 2006 book Mockingbird Song: Ecological Landscapes of the South.
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5. Richard C. McCarty
1947-. (aged 79)
university teacher
psychologist
Richard C. McCarty is a professor of psychology and the former provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to serving as provost, he was dean of Vanderbilt's College of Arts and Science.
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6. Brian Cvilikas
1984-. (aged 42)
association football player
Brian Cvilikas is an American former soccer player. He now is a US Soccer Federation certified A License Coach.
7. Mark Wasinger
1961-. (aged 65)
baseball player
Mark Thomas Wasinger is an American former professional baseball infielder who has had a long career as a scout and front-office official. A former major league third baseman, second baseman and shortstop, he appeared in 50 games between 1986 and 1988 for the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. He threw and batted right-handed, and was listed at 6...
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8. Annika Holopainen
1993-. (aged 33)
basketball player
Annika Alexandra Holopainen is a Finnish professional basketball player and a member of the Finnish national team. She played college basketball for the University of Portland and later Old Dominion University. Following her college career, she has played professionally in Europe.
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9. Yomby William
1984-. (aged 42)
association football player
Richard Lowe Yomby William is a retired Cameroonian footballer who spent the majority of his career with the Richmond Kickers. He is currently an assistant coach at University of Evansville for their men's soccer program.
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10. Barbara Tillett
1946-. (aged 80)
librarian
Barbara Ann Barnett Tillett is a librarian and library scholar known for her work on authority control and bibliographic data modeling.
11. Terrie Suit
1964-. (aged 62)
politician
Terrie L. Suit is an American politician and businesswoman. A Republican, she was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2000 to 2008. In April 2011, she became the state's first Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security, a position she held until September 2013.
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12. Chris Cooper
1951-. (aged 75)
film actor
actor
television actor
Chris Cooper is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Old Dominion University.
13. Terry Bell
1962-. (aged 64)
baseball player
Terence William Bell is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He was the first round selection of the Seattle Mariners in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft, two selections ahead of Roger Clemens.
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14. Paul Mitchell
1949-. (aged 77)
baseball player
Paul Michael Mitchell Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played from 1975 to 1980 for the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers.
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15. Ron Capps
writer
soldier
Ron Capps is a writer, US Army and Foreign Service veteran, and founder of the Veterans Writing Project, a nonprofit organization that hosts free writing workshops for veterans and others. Capps also wrote the book Seriously Not All Right: Five Wars in Ten Years, a book that details his own experiences with PTSD.
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16. Jennie Simms
1994-. (aged 32)
basketball player
Jennie Simms is an American-Israeli professional basketball player who plays for the Israel women's national basketball team. She played college basketball for 3 seasons at Old Dominion and 1 season at West Virginia. Simms was drafted by the Washington Mystics of the WNBA in the 2017 WNBA draft. She has played for the Mystics, Indiana Fever, and the Phoenix Mercury.
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17. Kathleen M. Gainey
Lieutenant General Kathleen M. Gainey is a retired United States Army general who served as Deputy Commander, United States Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. She retired in 2013.
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18. David Kriete
1963-. (aged 63)
naval officer
David Matthew Kriete is a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy who last served as the deputy commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University.
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19. Lamar Giles
1979-. (aged 47)
writer
Lamar Giles is an American author of young adult novels and short stories. He best known for his award-winning novels with his most popular being Fake ID, SPIN, Not So Pure and Simple, and The Legendary Alston Boys middle grade fantasy series. He is also one of the founding members of the American non-profit We Need Diverse Books.
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20. Ashton Lewis
1972-. (aged 54)
racing driver
Ashton Lewis Jr. is an American former stock car racing driver who competed in 226 races and over 11 seasons. Lewis earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. After his racing career, he earned his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. As of March 2013, he is chief operating officer...
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21. Benjamin S. Griffin
1946-. (aged 80)
Benjamin Saunders Griffin, was a four-star general in the United States Army. He served as the Commanding General, United States Army Materiel Command from 5 November 2004 to 13 November 2008. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Department of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8. He retired from the Army after over 38 years of service.
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22. Kenneth R. Plum
1941-. (aged 85)
politician
Kenneth Ray Plum is an American politician and former Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 36th District from 1982 to 2024. He earlier served from 1978 through 1980. His district included a large part of Fairfax County, including the entirety of Reston.
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23. Trey Freeman
1992-. (aged 34)
basketball player
James H. "Trey" Freeman III is an American professional basketball player for Šibenka of the Croatian League. He played college basketball for Old Dominion University and Campbell University.
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24. Phillip G. Sawyer
1961-. (aged 65)
Phillip Grayson Sawyer is a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy, who served as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy from October 10, 2019, to August 6, 2021. He previously served as commander for naval mine and anti-submarine warfare, and commander of United States Seventh Fleet, stationed at Japan.
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25. Wayne Gomes
1973-. (aged 53)
baseball player
Wayne Maurice Gomes is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1997 through 2002 for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox. Listed at 6' 2", 215 lb., Gomes batted and threw right handed.
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26. David Bradley
1952-2022 (aged 70)
politician
David T. Bradley was an American politician and a Democratic member of the Arizona Senate representing District 10 from January 14, 2013, to 2021. Bradley served non-consecutively in the Arizona State Legislature from January 2003 until January 10, 2011, in the Arizona House of Representatives District 28 seat. He was a State Senator representing District 10 starting in 2012 after...
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27. Meyera E. Oberndorf
1941-2015 (aged 74)
politician
Meyera E. Oberndorf was the 23rd Mayor of Virginia Beach, Virginia. She was Virginia Beach's longest-serving mayor, and she previously served as the city's vice mayor. She was the city's first female mayor and was the first woman elected to public office in the more than 300-year history of Virginia Beach or its predecessor, Princess Anne County.
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28. John Michael Bednarek
John Michael "Mick" Bednarek is a retired United States Army officer. He was chief of the United States Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq and former commander of the United States First Army. Bednarek took command of the First Army on April 6, 2011, from Lieutenant General Thomas G. Miller and was succeeded as commanding officer by Major General Kevin...
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29. D. Arthur Kelsey
1961-. (aged 65)
judge
Denham Arthur Kelsey is an American lawyer and justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. His twelve-year term on the Supreme Court began on February 1, 2015. Kelsey was previously an appellate judge on the Court of Appeals of Virginia and a trial court judge in the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Virginia.
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30. Tahani R. Amer
1965-. (aged 61)
engineer
Tahani Amer is an Egyptian aerospace engineer who is the executive for the Earth Science Division of NASA Headquarters' Science Mission Directorate. She was awarded the 2022 Award for Science from the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations.
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31. Christy Goldsmith Romero
lawyer
Christy Goldsmith Romero is an American lawyer and federal government official. She served as a member of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission from 2022 to 2025, having been nominated by President Joe Biden.
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32. David Horst
1985-. (aged 41)
association football player
David Horst is an American former soccer player who last played for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.
33. Carlos Mendes
1980-. (aged 46)
association football player
association football coach
Carlos Mendes is an American soccer manager and former player currently serving as head coach of the United States Merchant Marine Academy women's soccer program. He holds American and Portuguese nationality, due to lineage.
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34. Ahmad Caver
1996-. (aged 30)
basketball player
Ahmad Caver is an American professional basketball player for the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Old Dominion Monarchs.
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35. Audra the Rapper
1989-. (aged 37)
songwriter
rapper
television personality
singer
Audra The Rapper is the stage name of Audra M. Green is an American rapper, songwriter, and television personality. She is a cast member on the third season of Oxygen Network's hit series 'Sisterhood of Hiphop' executive produced by T.I. Audra started writing music at the age of six years old and recording herself at age thirteen in her mother's...
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36. Sarah McCoy
1980-. (aged 46)
writer
novelist
journalist
lecturer
Sarah McCoy is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling American novelist.
37. Evan Newton
1988-. (aged 38)
association football player
Evan Alexander Newton is an American former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
38. Michael J. Bloomfield
1959-. (aged 67)
military officer
aircraft pilot
astronaut
Michael John "Bloomer" Bloomfield is an American former astronaut and a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions.
39. Kenny Gattison
1964-. (aged 62)
basketball player
basketball coach
Kenneth Clay Gattison is an American former professional basketball player and National Basketball Association (NBA) assistant coach.
40. Thelma Drake
1949-. (aged 77)
business executive
real-estate agent
politician
Thelma Day Drake is an American politician and former member of Congress for Virginia's 2nd congressional district. A Republican, she served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2005 to 2009. Prior to serving in Congress, Thelma Drake served nine years in the Virginia House of Delegates.
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41. Frank Hassell
1988-. (aged 38)
basketball player
Franklin Hassell is an American professional basketball player for Mineros de Zacatecas of the Mexican League. Standing at 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m), he plays as a power forward. In 2012–13, he was the top rebounder in the Israel Basketball Premier League.
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42. Tzipora Obziler
1973-. (aged 53)
tennis player
Tzipora "Tzipi" Obziler is an Israeli former professional tennis player.
43. Kenneth R. Whitesell
1961-. (aged 65)
United States Naval Aviator
military officer
Kenneth Ray Whitesell is a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy, and the past Commander, Naval Air Forces. He retired on September 7, 2023.
44. Kavon Hakimzadeh
1968-. (aged 58)
naval flight officer
Kavon "Hak" Hakimzadeh is an Iranian-American rear admiral in the US Navy. He has served as the commander of Carrier Strike Group 2 since June 16, 2024. He served as the director of joint/fleet operations of the United States Fleet Forces Command from 2022 to 2024, and as the director of aircraft carrier requirements in the office of the Chief...
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45. Kenneth Cooper Alexander
1966-. (aged 60)
politician
Kenneth Cooper Alexander is an American politician serving as mayor of Norfolk, Virginia since July 2016.
46. Glenn Michael Souther
1957-1989 (aged 32)
spy
Glenn Michael Souther, also known as Mikhail Yevgenyevich Orlov, was an American sailor who became a Soviet intelligence officer after defecting to the Eastern Bloc in 1986.
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47. Gerald Lee
1987-. (aged 39)
basketball player
Gerald Raymond Lee Jr. is a Finnish professional basketball player who last played for Ironi Nes Ziona of the Israeli Premier League. He played college basketball for Old Dominion University.
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48. Natalie Diaz
1978-. (aged 48)
basketball player
poet
university teacher
writer
Natalie Diaz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning Mojave American poet, language activist, former professional basketball player, and educator. She is enrolled in the Gila River Indian Community and identifies as Akimel O'odham. She is currently an associate professor at Arizona State University.
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49. George Thomas Coker
1943-. (aged 83)
military officer
George Thomas Coker is a retired United States Navy commander who was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War. An Eagle Scout, he is noted for his devotion to Scouting.
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50. Elizabeth A. Duke
1952-. (aged 74)
Betsy Duke is an American bank executive who served as a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors from 2008 to 2013. Duke was confirmed by the Senate to fill an unexpired term ending January 31, 2012. She was the seventh woman to be appointed to the board. In July 2013, she announced her resignation from the board.
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51. Daryl Caudle
1963-. (aged 63)
military personnel
Daryl Lane Caudle is an admiral in the United States Navy who has served as the 34th chief of naval operations since 2025.
52. Jay Harris
1965-. (aged 61)
journalist
sports commentator
Jay Harris is an American journalist who has worked for ESPN since February 2003. He works for late night broadcasts, primarily on the 11pm and midnight eastern editions of SportsCenter and occasionally on the west coast Sportscenter from Los Angeles. He has hosted a variety of shows during his tenure at the network including Sportscenter, Outside the Lines, NFL Live,...
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53. Tony Brothers
1964-. (aged 62)
basketball official
Tony Brothers is an American professional basketball referee who works in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has been a referee in the NBA since the 1994–95 season. Now in his 32nd year, Brothers has officiated 1,854 regular season games, 215 playoff games and 19 NBA Finals games. He officiated the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, Arizona. In a...
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54. Jodi Rell
1946-2024 (aged 78)
politician
Mary Carolyn Rell, known as M. Jodi Rell, was an American politician who served as the 87th governor of Connecticut from 2004 to 2011. Rell also had served as the state's 105th lieutenant governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004 under Governor John G. Rowland, and became governor after Rowland resigned from office. To date, Rell is the last Republican...
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55. Amanda Lee
1986-. (aged 40)
United States Naval Aviator
Amanda Lee is a naval aviator in the United States Navy. She was selected in June 2022 as the first female fighter jet pilot in the elite Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron. Lee made her debut as the Left Wing demo pilot in the number three jet on March 11, 2023, in El Centro, California, and she then served as...
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56. William J. Fallon
1944-. (aged 82)
military officer
William Joseph Fallon is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who retired after serving for over 41 years. His last military assignment was as Commander, U.S. Central Command from March 2007 to March 2008. ADM Fallon was the first Navy officer to hold that position. His other four-star assignments include Commander, U.S. Pacific Command from February 2005 to March...
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57. Anne Donovan
1961-2018 (aged 57)
basketball player
basketball coach
Anne Theresa Donovan was an American women's basketball player and coach. From 2013 to 2015, she was the head coach of the Connecticut Sun.
58. Samuel Paparo
1964-. (aged 62)
military personnel
Samuel John Paparo Jr. is a United States Navy four-star admiral serving as the 27th Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, the nation’s oldest and largest geographic combatant command. A TOPGUN-trained naval aviator with combat experience spanning three decades, Paparo has commanded at every level from fighter squadron to combatant command, with the rare distinction of having led forces both...
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59. Ryan Yarbrough
1991-. (aged 35)
baseball player
Ryan Christian Yarbrough is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays. The Seattle Mariners selected Yarbrough in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut with the...
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60. Ticha Penicheiro
1974-. (aged 52)
basketball player
basketball agent
Patrícia "Ticha" Nunes Penicheiro OIH is a Portuguese sports agent and former basketball player. She played for the Sacramento Monarchs of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for most of her professional career. She was a four-time WNBA All-Star and a three-time All-WNBA selection. Regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, she ranks third all-time in...
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61. Jen Kiggans
1971-. (aged 55)
nurse
naval aviator
politician
Jennifer Ann Kiggans is an American politician, former United States Navy helicopter pilot, and geriatric nurse practitioner serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 2nd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served in the Virginia Senate from 2020 to 2022. Kiggans defeated Democratic incumbent Elaine Luria in the 2022 election and was re-elected in...
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62. Joe McCain
1942-. (aged 84)
journalist
actor
Joseph Pinckney McCain II is an American stage actor, newspaper reporter, and the brother and only living sibling of the late U.S. Senator and two-time presidential candidate John McCain.
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63. LaShawn Merritt
1986-. (aged 40)
athletics competitor
sprinter
LaShawn Merritt is an American retired track and field athlete who competed in sprinting events, specializing in the 400 metres. He is a former Olympic champion over the distance and his personal best of 43.65 seconds makes him the eleventh fastest of all time.
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64. Scott Taylor
1979-. (aged 47)
writer
real-estate agent
entrepreneur
politician
Scott William Taylor is an American politician and former Navy SEAL who served as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 2nd congressional district from 2017 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates for the 85th district. On November 6, 2018, Taylor was defeated for reelection by Democratic nominee...
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65. Daniel Hudson
1987-. (aged 39)
baseball player
Daniel Claiborne Hudson is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 16 seasons of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2009 to 2024. Hudson was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the fifth round of the 2008 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut for the White Sox in 2009 and has also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh...
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66. Ben Bailey
1970-. (aged 56)
television presenter
comedian
podcaster
Benjamin Ray Bailey is an American comedian best known as the host of the game show Cash Cab. He also does stand-up comedy, and as an actor has appeared in some films and television shows.
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67. Elaine Luria
1975-. (aged 51)
naval officer
engineer
politician
Elaine Goodman Luria is an American politician and US Navy veteran who served as the U.S. representative from Virginia's 2nd congressional district from 2019 to 2023. Luria's congressional district included most of Hampton Roads, including all of Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Poquoson and parts of Norfolk and Hampton. Before running for Congress, she served as a naval officer for 20...
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68. Deborah Shelton
1948-. (aged 78)
model
television actor
beauty pageant contestant
actor
film actor
Deborah Shelton is an American actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 1970. She is also known for her appearances on Dallas for three seasons, with a special guest return in 2013.
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69. Magnum T.A
1959-. (aged 67)
professional wrestler
Terry Wayne Allen is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Magnum T. A. Allen won the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship twice and was being groomed for a potential run with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, but a car crash in 1986 forced him into retirement. After retiring, Magnum T. A. continued to appear in...
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70. Justin Verlander
1983-. (aged 43)
baseball player
Justin Brooks Verlander is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also played in MLB for the Houston Astros, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants. A three-time Cy Young Award winner, an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award recipient, and a two-time World Series champion, Verlander is considered...
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71. Nabeel Qureshi
1983-2017 (aged 34)
missionary
writer
Nabeel Asif Qureshi was a Pakistani-American evangelical Christian apologist. Raised in a devout Ahmadi Muslim family, Qureshi converted to Christianity as a university student following several years of debate with David Wood.
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72. Brandon Vera
1977-. (aged 49)
military personnel
kickboxer
mixed martial arts fighter
Brandon Michael Vera, or also known by his nickname "The Truth", is a Filipino and American retired mixed martial artist where he was the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Champion and the 2005 WEC Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion. A professional competitor from 2002 until 2022, he competed in the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions of ONE Championship, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and...
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73. Kent Bazemore
1989-. (aged 37)
basketball player
Kenneth Lamont Bazemore Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League. As a junior at Old Dominion University in 2010–11, Bazemore won the Lefty Driesell Award, an award given to the best defensive player in college basketball.
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74. Nancy Lieberman
1958-. (aged 68)
sports commentator
basketball player
basketball coach
Nancy Ilizabeth Lieberman, nicknamed "Lady Magic", is an American former professional basketball player and coach in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), who is a broadcaster for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA) as well as the head coach of Power, a team in the BIG3 which she led to its 2018 Championship. Lieberman is regarded...
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75. Gene Fant Jr
1963-. (aged 63)
educator
writer
Gene Fant Jr., a leader in Christian higher education and prolific writer, is the current president of North Greenville University, which is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention and located in Tigerville, South Carolina. Gene was elected as president by the university's board of trustees and officially began his term on June 1, 2017. Gene became the university's first...
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76. Winsome Sears
1964-. (aged 62)
politician
electrician
Winsome Earle-Sears is an American politician and businesswoman who served as the 42nd lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2022 to 2026. A member of the Republican Party, she was Virginia's first female lieutenant governor and the first woman of color elected statewide in the commonwealth.
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77. Antwan McClellan
1974-. (aged 52)
politician
Antwan McClellan is an American Republican Party politician who has represented the 1st Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 14, 2020. McClellan served as a councilman in Ocean City, New Jersey from 2012 until 2020.
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78. Tanja Softić
1966-. (aged 60)
artist
Tanja Softić is a Bosnian-American visual artist and art educator who works in media of drawing, printmaking, painting and photography. She is Professor of Art Practice in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Richmond.
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