68 Notable alumni of University of Dayton
Updated: June 22, 2026 EliteDegrees
University of Dayton is ranked #800 in the world and #225 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 68 notable alumni from University of Dayton sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with University of Dayton won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Gregory L. Wayt
1953-. (aged 73)
military officer
Major General Gregory Lynn Wayt served as Adjutant General of Ohio under Governors Bob Taft and Ted Strickland.
2. Rita Rapp
1928-1989 (aged 61)
physiologist
Rita Rapp was an American physiologist who led the Apollo Food System team. She won a NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the United States Civil Service Commission Federal Woman's Award and University of Dayton Distinguished Alumni Award. A plaque in her honor remains at the Johnson Space Center.
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3. Biff Schlitzer
1884-1948 (aged 64)
baseball player
Victor Joseph "Biff" Schlitzer was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1908 through 1914 for the Philadelphia Athletics (1908–09) and Boston Red Sox (1909) of the American League, and with the Buffalo Buffeds of the Federal League (1914). Listed at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), 175 lb (79 kg), Schlitzer batted and threw right-handed. A native...
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4. Frank F. Ledford, Jr
1934-2019 (aged 85)
military physician
Frank Finley Ledford Jr. was an American orthopedic surgeon who served as the 37th Surgeon General of the United States Army from 1988 to 1992.
5. Johnny Horan
1932-1980 (aged 48)
basketball player
John F. Horan, also nicknamed "The Vertical Hyphen," was an American professional basketball player. Horan was selected in the 1955 NBA draft (first round, sixth overall) by the Fort Wayne Pistons after a collegiate career at Dayton. He played for the Pistons in seven games before being traded to the Minneapolis Lakers in the middle of the 1955–56 season. While...
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6. John W. Sweeterman
1907-1998 (aged 91)
publisher
John William Sweeterman was an American newspaperman who was publisher of The Washington Post from 1961 to 1968, and who helped engineer the Post's 1954 acquisition of the Washington Times-Herald, which improved the Post's struggling financial situation.
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7. Thomas C. Seamands
1959-. (aged 67)
Thomas C. Seamands became the U.S. Army's 48th Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 on 26 May 2017. He is responsible for developing, managing, and executing manpower and personnel plans, programs, and policies for the total Army. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Commanding General of the United States Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky.
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8. Edward G. Breen
1908-1991 (aged 83)
politician
Edward Grimes Breen was an American politician of the Democratic party.
9. Bucky Bockhorn
1933-. (aged 93)
basketball player
Arlen Dale "Bucky" Bockhorn is an American former basketball player. He was a guard for the National Basketball Association's Cincinnati Royals from 1958 to 1965. He played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers and is a member of Dayton's Hall of Fame and All-Century team.
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10. Emil Karas
1933-1974 (aged 41)
American football player
Emil Karas was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and in the American Football League (AFL) with the Los Angeles / San Diego Chargers. He was on the Chargers' 1963 AFL Championship team, and an AFL All-Star in 1961, 1962, and 1963. Karas played college football at...
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11. Bill Uhl
1933-2022 (aged 89)
basketball player
William George Uhl Sr. was an American basketball player. The 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) center was a consensus second team All-American player at the University of Dayton in 1956.
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12. Bill Lange
1928-1995 (aged 67)
basketball coach
American football player
William Henry Lange was an American professional football offensive guard who played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Colts and Chicago Cardinals. He was selected by the Rams in the 30th round of the 1950 NFL draft after playing college football at the University of Dayton.
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13. Bill Coley
1960-. (aged 66)
politician
Bill Coley is a former Republican member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 4th District from 2011 to 2020. Formerly, he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011.
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14. Dennis M. McCarthy
1945-2023 (aged 78)
lawyer
Dennis M. McCarthy was a United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General and served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs from June 2009 - April 2011. McCarthy was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Dayton and the Capital University Law School.
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15. Charles W. Whalen
1920-2011 (aged 91)
historian
economist
university teacher
politician
Charles William Whalen Jr was an American politician from Ohio. Whalen was a member of the Republican Party who served in the Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives. In his six terms in the U.S. House, Whalen established himself in the liberal wing of the Republican Party and led opposition to U.S....
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16. Garry Roggenburk
1940-. (aged 86)
basketball player
baseball player
Garry Earl Roggenburk is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. The left-hander was listed as a lanky 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall and 195 pounds (88 kg). Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was a high school teammate of Mike Hegan's at Saint Ignatius High School. The two would later be teammates with the 1969 Seattle Pilots.
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17. Cole C. Kingseed
1949-. (aged 77)
historian
writer
Cole Christian Kingseed is an Army veteran, military historian, and professor. He is the author of Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters. Kingseed, a 30-year army veteran, served as a Full Professor of History and Chief of Military History at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
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18. Greg Graham
1955-. (aged 71)
basketball coach
basketball player
Don Gregory Graham is an American college basketball coach. He is a former head men's basketball coach at Boise State University.
19. Devin Searcy
1989-. (aged 37)
basketball player
Devin Searcy is an American professional basketball player who last played for Rasta Vechta of the German ProA.
20. The Neutron Man
1942-2004 (aged 62)
The Neutron Man, real name Orlas King, was a popular Ohio State Buckeyes fan for over thirty years. Always seated by the marching band, King would burst into his original dances whenever the Ohio State University Marching Band would play the “Neutron Dance”.
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21. Ricardo Lancaster-Jones y Verea
1905-1983 (aged 78)
diplomat
art collector
historian
Ricardo Lancaster-Jones y Verea, MA BE KHS was a Mexican historian and scholar who made significant contributions toward the study of the haciendas of the State of Jalisco (Mexico) in the twentieth century. His enthusiasm for history led him to become a professor of Regional History at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in 1965....
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22. Zed Key
2002-. (aged 24)
basketball player
Zed Key is an American college basketball player for the Dayton Flyers of the Atlantic 10 Conference.
23. Richard Boykin
politician
Richard R. Boykin is an American politician who served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, representing the 1st district from December 2014 until December 2018.
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24. Hank Finkel
1942-. (aged 84)
basketball player
Henry J. Finkel is an American basketball player whose professional career lasted from 1966 to 1975. Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in second round of the 1966 NBA draft he remained with the team through 1966–67, then played with the San Diego Rockets from 1967 to 1969 and spent the remaining years with the Boston Celtics, when, during his...
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25. Joseph Desch
1907-1987 (aged 80)
mathematician
Joseph Raymond Desch was an American electrical engineer and inventor. During World War II, he was Research Director of the project to design and manufacture the US Navy version of the bombe, a cryptanalytic machine designed to read communications enciphered by the German Enigma.
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26. Trenton Meacham
1985-. (aged 41)
basketball player
Trenton "Trent" Meacham is an American former professional basketball player and current college basketball analyst. He played college basketball at both the University of Dayton and the University of Illinois.
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27. Robert Lowery
1987-. (aged 39)
basketball player
Robert Lowery Jr. is an American professional basketball player for Al-Najma of the Bahraini Premier League. Standing at 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in), he plays the point guard position. After two years at Cecil College and two years at Dayton, Lowery entered the 2010 NBA draft but was not selected in the draft's two rounds.
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28. Jim Katcavage
1934-1995 (aged 61)
American football player
James Richard Katcavage was an American professional football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) who played thirteen seasons for the New York Giants.
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29. Chris Rolfe
1983-. (aged 43)
association football player
Chris Rolfe is an American former professional soccer player. Playing both as a forward and winger, Rolfe primarily played for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, in addition to spending time in the Danish Superliga, before joining D.C. United later in his career. He also earned 10 caps for the United States during his career. He has been the...
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30. Mike Sylvester
1951-. (aged 75)
basketball coach
basketball player
Michael Joseph "Mike" Sylvester is an American and Italian former professional baseball player, professional basketball player, and basketball coach. During his basketball playing career, at a height of 1.97 m (6 ft 5+1⁄2 in), he was known as an accurate shooter. Due to the United States boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympics, he was the only American to win a medal...
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31. Jeff Jones
1967-. (aged 59)
business executive
Jeffrey J. Jones II is an American business executive. He is president and chief executive officer of H&R Block, and formerly held executive posts with Target Corporation, Uber and Gap Inc.
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32. Jalen Crutcher
1999-. (aged 27)
basketball player
Jalen Crutcher is an American professional basketball player for the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers.
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33. Scoochie Smith
1994-. (aged 32)
basketball player
Dayshon "Scoochie" Smith is an American professional basketball player for Manisa Basket of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He played college basketball for Dayton.
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34. Bob Schaffer
1962-. (aged 64)
entrepreneur
politician
Robert Warren Schaffer is an American businessman and a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Colorado in the 105th Congress and the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003). Schaffer was co-chairman of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, and an outspoken leader in promoting American interests and human rights in...
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35. Juwan Staten
1992-. (aged 34)
basketball player
Juwan Marquez Staten is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League. He played for his hometown school, the University of Dayton, through his freshman year at college. Staten later led West Virginia in points, assists, field goal percentage, and steals during the 2013–14 season.
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36. Devin Oliver
1992-. (aged 34)
basketball player
Devin Michael Oliver is an American professional basketball player for SLUC Nancy of the LNB Élite. He played college basketball for Dayton.
37. Lalas Abubakar
1994-. (aged 32)
association football player
Alhassan "Lalas" Abubakar pronunciation is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Major League Soccer club FC Dallas.
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38. Peter J. Phipps
1973-. (aged 53)
lawyer
Peter Joseph Phipps is a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
39. Keith Powers
1983-. (aged 43)
politician
Keith Powers is an American politician who is a member of the New York State Assembly for the 74th district. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a council member for the 4th district of the New York City Council from 2018 to 2025, and served as Majority Leader from 2022 to 2024.
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40. DaRon Holmes II
2002-. (aged 24)
basketball player
DaRon Rodrick Holmes II is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers.
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41. Richard Schoen
1950-. (aged 76)
university teacher
mathematician
academic
Richard Melvin Schoen is an American mathematician known for his work in differential geometry and geometric analysis. He is best known for the resolution of the Yamabe problem in 1984 and his works on harmonic maps.
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42. Chris Wright
1988-. (aged 38)
basketball player
Chris Wright is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Dayton. Previously, Wright played in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks.
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43. Michael B. Coleman
1954-. (aged 72)
politician
Michael B. Coleman is an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the 52nd mayor of Columbus, Ohio. He was the first African-American to serve as the mayor of Ohio's capital city.
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44. Erica Chenoweth
1980-. (aged 46)
university teacher
researcher
political scientist
Erica Chenoweth is an American political scientist and professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. They are known for their research work on nonviolent civil resistance movements.
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45. Craig Stammen
1984-. (aged 42)
baseball player
baseball coach
Craig Nicholas Stammen is an American professional baseball manager and former pitcher who is the manager of the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Washington Nationals and the Padres.
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46. Chris Johnson
1984-. (aged 42)
baseball player
Christapher Johnson is an American professional basketball player who last played for Hapoel Jerusalem. He played college basketball for the University of Dayton. Standing at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), he plays at the small forward and the shooting guard positions.
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47. Mike Gallagher
1960-. (aged 66)
political pundit
talk show host
non-fiction writer
radio personality
Mike Gallagher is an American radio host and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Mike Gallagher Show, a nationally syndicated radio program that airs throughout the United States on Salem Radio Network and is also a FOX News Channel Contributor and guest host. According to Talkers magazine, Gallagher is the tenth most-listened-to radio talk show host in...
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48. Dyshawn Pierre
1993-. (aged 33)
basketball player
Dyshawn Dylan Pierre is a Canadian professional basketball player for UNICS of the VTB United League. He is from Whitby, Ontario and played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers. Standing at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), he plays at the power forward and small forward positions.
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49. Mark Giangreco
1952-. (aged 74)
sports journalist
Mark Giangreco is the former sports director and lead sports anchor for WLS-TV in Chicago, Illinois. Until 2021, Giangreco had anchored the sports segment on ABC7 during the 5pm and 10pm newscasts. He remains an ESPN Radio contributor.
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50. Anthony Grant
1966-. (aged 60)
basketball player
basketball coach
Anthony Duvale Grant is an American basketball coach who is the head men's basketball coach at the University of Dayton. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University from 2006 to 2009, and at the University of Alabama from 2009 to 2015. Prior to becoming the VCU head coach, he was an assistant coach at the...
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51. Brian Roberts
1985-. (aged 41)
basketball player
Brian Lloyd Roberts is an American former professional basketball player whom played five seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), among other leagues. He played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers. At a height of 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall, he played the point guard position.
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52. Jim Paxson
1957-. (aged 69)
basketball player
James Joseph Paxson Jr. is an American former professional basketball player. A first round selection (12th pick overall) of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1979 NBA draft, Paxson played for Portland and the Boston Celtics of the NBA from 1979 to 1990 and was twice an All-Star. Paxson served as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers for six years...
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53. David Joyce
1957-. (aged 69)
lawyer
politician
David Patrick Joyce is an American politician and attorney currently serving in the United States House of Representatives for Ohio's 14th congressional district since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Joyce was previously the prosecutor of Geauga County, Ohio.
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54. Richard Rohr
1943-. (aged 83)
Catholic priest
religious writer
writer
motivational speaker
spiritual teacher
Richard Rohr, OFM is an American Franciscan priest and writer on spirituality based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church in 1970, founded the New Jerusalem Community in Cincinnati in 1971, and the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque in 1987. In 2011, PBS called him "one of the most popular...
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55. Jon Husted
1967-. (aged 59)
politician
Jon Allen Husted is an American politician serving since 2025 as the junior United States senator from Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, Husted served from 2019 to 2025 as the 66th lieutenant governor of Ohio and from 2011 to 2019 as the 50th secretary of state of Ohio.
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56. Nan Whaley
1976-. (aged 50)
politician
Nannette L. Whaley is an American politician who served as the 56th mayor of Dayton, Ohio, from 2014 to 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, she was first elected to the mayorship in November 2013, after serving on the city commission for two terms. Whaley presided over the United States Conference of Mayors from 2021 to 2022. She was...
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57. Kostas Antetokounmpo
1997-. (aged 29)
basketball player
Konstantinos Entoumpouisi "Kostas" Antetokounmpo is a Nigerian-Greek professional basketball player for Aris of the Greek Basketball League, on loan from Olympiacos.
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58. Obi Toppin
1998-. (aged 28)
basketball player
Obadiah Richard "Obi" Toppin Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A power forward, he played college basketball for the Dayton Flyers.
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59. Amy Schneider
1979-. (aged 47)
game show contestant
mind gamer
management engineer
Amy Schneider is an American writer and game show contestant. Winning 40 consecutive games on the quiz show Jeopardy! from November 2021 to January 2022 and the November 2022 Tournament of Champions, she holds the second-longest win streak in the program's history, behind only Ken Jennings (74 games), who hosted the show as she competed. and the fourth-highest winnings in...
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60. Don Novello
1943-. (aged 83)
actor
television actor
director
writer
film actor
Don Novello is an American comedian, actor, writer, singer, film director and producer.
61. James V. Stanton
1932-2022 (aged 90)
lawyer
politician
James Vincent Stanton was an American lawyer and politician who served three terms as a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1971 to 1977.
62. Katie Moon
1991-. (aged 35)
athletics competitor
Kathryn Elizabeth Moon is an American pole vaulter. She won gold medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics, 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships (shared with Australian Nina Kennedy), and silver medals at the 2022 World Indoor Championships and the 2024 Summer Olympics. Moon was also the 2019 Pan American Games silver medalist. In 2025, she became the first woman to...
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63. Jon Gruden
1963-. (aged 63)
American football player
sports analyst
American football coach
Jon David Gruden is an American former football coach and media personality, currently employed by Barstool Sports.
64. Francis Augustine Thill
1893-1957 (aged 64)
Catholic priest
Catholic bishop
Francis Augustine Thill was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Concordia in Kansas, later becoming the Diocese of Salina, from 1938 until his death in 1957.
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65. Joseph Schember
1950-. (aged 76)
politician
Joseph Schember is an American banker and politician who served as the 48th mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania from 2018 to 2026. Schember previously served as a vice president of PNC Bank and as a member of the Erie City Council between 2006 and 2012.
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66. Allan Day
military leader
Allan E. Day is a retired United States Air Force major general who recently served as the director of logistics operations of the Defense Logistics Agency. Previously, he was the director of logistics, civil engineering, force protection, and nuclear integration of the Air Force Materiel Command.
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67. Kristina Keneally
1968-. (aged 58)
politician
Kristina Marie Kerscher Keneally AO is an American-born Australian politician who served as the first female Premier of New South Wales from 2009 to 2011 and was later a Labor Senator for New South Wales from February 2018 until April 2022. She resigned from the Senate to contest the House of Representatives seat of Fowler, but was unsuccessful. From 2019...
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68. Mike Turner
1960-. (aged 66)
lawyer
politician
Michael A. Turner, also known as Emtee, is an English-born Canadian musician and producer. He is best known as the former lead guitarist and founding member of the band Our Lady Peace and current member of alternative rock supergroup Crash Karma.
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