72 Notable alumni of University of Northern Colorado
Updated: June 22, 2026 EliteDegrees
University of Northern Colorado is ranked #1,288 in the world and #317 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 72 notable alumni from University of Northern Colorado 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 Northern Colorado won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Nathan Reichert
politician
Nathan K. Reichert is a former Iowa State Representative from the 80th District. A Democrat, he served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011. He received his BA from the University of Northern Colorado and MBA from the University of Iowa.
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2. Ervin Dennis
1936-. (aged 90)
university teacher
politician
Ervin A. Dennis is an American politician in the state of Iowa.
3. Mike Madden
1958-. (aged 68)
baseball player
Michael Anthony Madden is an American former professional baseball player who pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1983 to 1986 for the Houston Astros. Madden played college ball at University of Northern Colorado.
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4. J. Michael Martinez
1978-. (aged 48)
poet
J. Michael Martinez is an American poet.
5. Sa'ra Charismata
1986-. (aged 40)
singer
songwriter
Sara Haile, better known by her stage name Sa'ra Charismata, is a Swedish singer and songwriter.
6. Joe Strain
1954-. (aged 72)
baseball player
Joseph Allan Strain is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1979 to 1981 for the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.
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7. Don Marostica
1948-. (aged 78)
politician
Don Marostica is a real estate developer and former legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado, currently serving as director of the state's Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
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8. Lynn A. Johnson
1959-. (aged 67)
social worker
Lynn Ann Johnson is an American government official. Previously serving as the executive director of the Jefferson County Department of Human Services, she was the Assistant Secretary for Family Support at the Department of Health and Human Services.
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9. Dave Nakama
1962-. (aged 64)
baseball player
David M. Nakama in an American baseball coach and former infielder, who is current hitting coach for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.
10. Tom Carlson
1941-. (aged 85)
politician
Tom Carlson is a politician in the U.S. state of Nebraska. He served in the Nebraska Legislature from 2007 to 2015. In 2014, he ran in the Nebraska gubernatorial election, but was defeated by Pete Ricketts in the Republican primary.
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11. Nancy Todd
1948-. (aged 78)
teacher
politician
Nancy Janann Todd is an American politician and a former Democratic member of the Colorado Senate. In the state senate, she represented District 28 from January 2013 to 2021. Previously, from January 2005 to January 9, 2013, Todd served in the Colorado House of Representatives, representing District 41.
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12. Randall Schmidt
military officer
Randall Mark Schmidt was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force.
13. Lucile Buchanan
1884-1989 (aged 105)
Lucile Berkeley Buchanan Jones was the first black woman to graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder. She graduated with a degree in German in 1918.
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14. Camila Alire
1948-. (aged 78)
librarian
Camila Alire is an American librarian and was president of the American Library Association from 2009 to 2010. She was the first Hispanic president of the ALA. She was previously the president of REFORMA, National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking, in 1993-1994.
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15. Chris Coursey
1954-. (aged 72)
politician
Chris Coursey is an American politician and former journalist serving as a member of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. Representing District 3, Coursey assumed office in 2021. He previously served as the mayor of Santa Rosa, California from December 6, 2016 to December 18, 2018.
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16. Kai Edwards
1997-. (aged 29)
basketball player
Kai Simon Edwards is a Dutch professional basketball player for Bakken Bears of the Basketligaen. Born in Amsterdam, he played college basketball with Northern Colorado. He continued his career in Spain.
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17. Cisco Carlos
1940-. (aged 86)
baseball player
interior designer
Francisco Manuel Carlos Guzmán is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played from 1967 through 1970 for the Chicago White Sox and Washington Senators of Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at 6' 3", 205 lb., Carlos batted and threw right handed. He was born in Monrovia, California, of Mexican American descent.
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18. John Cooke
politician
John B. Cooke III is an American politician who served in the Colorado Senate from the 13th district as a member of the Republican Party. He also served as the Minority Leader in the state senate from May 2022 to January 2023. Prior to his tenure in the state legislature, he served as sheriff of Weld County, Colorado.
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19. Van E. Chandler
1925-1998 (aged 73)
aircraft pilot
military personnel
Van Edgar Chandler was an American military officer and flying ace who was credited in destroying five enemy aircraft in aerial combat during World War II, becoming the youngest flying ace in the United States Armed Forces. He flew missions in the Korean War and Vietnam War, before his retirement from the United States Air Force in 1974 with the...
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20. Mackey Saturday
1985-. (aged 41)
typographer
graphic designer
Mackey Saturday is an American designer and typographer whose work includes logos for Instagram, Oculus and Luxe. He runs a graphic design firm Mackey Saturday and was formerly a principal at New York City design firm Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv.
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21. Stephen R. Lorenz
1951-. (aged 75)
military officer
Stephen Randolph Lorenz, is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who currently serves as president and chief executive officer of the United States Air Force Academy Endowment. His last military assignment was as the 29th Commander, Air Education and Training Command (AETC), Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. As commander, he was responsible for the recruiting, training and education...
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22. Mike Trujillo
1960-. (aged 66)
baseball player
Michael Andrew Trujillo is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, and Detroit Tigers from 1985 to 1989.
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23. Charles M. Roessel
1961-2025 (aged 64)
academic administrator
educator
photographer
Charles Monty Roessel was an American photographer and journalist. As an academic administrator, he served as Director of the Bureau of Indian Education from 2013 until 2016 and president of Diné College from 2017 until his death.
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24. Rich Stubler
1949-2023 (aged 74)
coach
Richard Stubler was an American football coach, primarily in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was most recently an assistant coach for the Toronto Argonauts. He is a five-time Grey Cup champion, all as a defensive coordinator, and was formerly the head coach of the Argonauts. He has been coaching since the 1970s and has coached at the high school...
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25. Ron Herbel
1938-2000 (aged 62)
baseball player
Ronald Samuel Herbel was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in 331 games, all but 79 in relief, for the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. A right-hander born in Denver, he was listed as 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and 195 pounds (88 kg).
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26. Daniel Heath Justice
1975-. (aged 51)
novelist
Daniel Heath Justice OC is an American-born Canadian academic and citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He is professor of First Nations and Indigenous Studies and English at the University of British Columbia. He started his studies at University of Northern Colorado and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He began his career at the University of...
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27. Joel Collier
1963-. (aged 63)
coach
Joel Collier is an American football executive who most recently was a national scout for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He is the son of Joe Collier, a former defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots and head coach of the Buffalo Bills.
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28. Rhonda Fields
politician
Rhonda Marshall Fields is a Democratic politician from Colorado. She represents District 28 in the Colorado Senate. During the 2020 reapportionment process, Buckner's residence moved from senate district 29 to senate district 28. Earlier, she represented District 29 from January 2017 to January 2023. Previously, she served as member of the Colorado State House of Representatives representing District 42 from...
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29. Dirk Johnson
1975-. (aged 51)
American football player
Dirk Johnson is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL). He is most notable for his four-season tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles. After playing college football at Northern Colorado, Johnson signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1998. Johnson was also a member of the New York...
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30. William M. Fraser III
1952-. (aged 74)
military officer
General William M. Fraser III is a retired United States Air Force officer who served as Commander, United States Transportation Command. He previously served as Commander, Air Combat Command from September 10, 2009 to September 30, 2011, the 34th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force from 9 October 2008 to 27 August 2009, and as Assistant to the...
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31. Marshall Gilkes
1978-. (aged 48)
jazz musician
Marshall Gilkes is an American jazz trombonist and composer.
32. Gregg Brandon
1956-. (aged 70)
head coach
American football coach
Gregg Brandon is an American college football coach and former player. He was most recently the head football coach at the Colorado School of Mines, a position he had held from 2015 until his retirement after the 2021 season. Prior to that, he was the offensive coordinator at New Mexico State University and coached tight ends in the United Football...
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33. Jonah Radebaugh
1997-. (aged 29)
basketball player
Jonah Kameron Radebaugh is an American-born naturalized Montenegrin professional basketball player for UCAM Murcia of the Spanish Liga ACB. He played college basketball for Northern Colorado.
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34. Reed Doughty
1982-. (aged 44)
American football player
Reed Doughty is an American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round, with the 173rd overall pick, of the 2006 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Northern Colorado.
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35. Wellington Webb
1941-. (aged 85)
politician
Wellington E. Webb is an American politician. He served as a Democratic member in the Colorado House of Representatives and was the first African American mayor of Denver, Colorado, serving from 1991 to 2003.
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36. Carlotta Walls LaNier
1942-. (aged 84)
activist
Carlotta Walls LaNier is the youngest of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who, in 1957, were the first black students ever to attend classes at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. She was the first black female to graduate from Central High School. In 1999, LaNier and the rest of the...
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37. Aaron Smith
1976-. (aged 50)
American football player
Aaron Douglas Smith is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Steelers and played for the team for thirteen seasons. He played college football for the Northern Colorado Bears.
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38. Autumn Hurlbert
1980-. (aged 46)
stage actor
actor
singer
film actor
Autumn Marie Hurlbert is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Hurlbert is best known as the runner-up on the reality competition series Legally Blonde: The Musical – The Search for Elle Woods. After taping the competition, Hurlbert served as a member of the Broadway cast in Legally Blonde: The Musical until its closing on Oct 19, 2008. She also understudied...
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39. Beth Malone
1969-. (aged 57)
actor
singer
stage actor
Elizabeth Ann "Beth" Malone is an American actress and singer known for her work in Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theatre. She originated the role of Alison Bechdel in the musical Fun Home, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
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40. Kimberly S. Corban
1985-. (aged 41)
activist
Kimberly S. Corban is a rape survivor and crime victim advocate. She is notable for her victim advocacy speeches, a nationally televised question at CNN's 'Guns in America' Town hall hosted by Anderson Cooper with former president Barack Obama to discuss the Second Amendment and her 2018 TEDx Talk, 'How my sexual assault was hijacked by politicians and lobbies'.
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41. Tom Tancredo
1945-. (aged 81)
politician
Thomas Gerard Tancredo is an American politician from Colorado who represented the state's sixth congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009 as a Republican. He ran for President of the United States during the 2008 election, and was the Constitution Party's unsuccessful nominee for Governor of Colorado in 2010.
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42. Tyler Ward
1989-. (aged 37)
television producer
singer-songwriter
singer
record producer
Tyler Ray Ward is an American independent singer, songwriter, and producer. On his YouTube channel, he has over 2 million subscribers with 5+ billion views. Ward also has a strong social media following on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify.
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43. Edward Tipper
1921-2017 (aged 96)
teacher
Edward Joseph Tipper Jr. was a paratrooper in Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 101st Airborne Division, United States Army during World War II. Tipper was one of the 140 original Toccoa men of Easy Company. Tipper was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Bart Ruspoli. Information about Tipper was featured in the...
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44. David L. Bernhardt
1969-. (aged 57)
civil servant
lawyer
lobbyist
politician
David Longly Bernhardt is an American lawyer who served as the 53rd United States secretary of the interior from 2019 to 2021 in the administration of Donald Trump. He previously was a shareholder at the Colorado law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where he was a lobbyist and natural resources attorney. He began working for the United States Department of...
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45. Kyle Sloter
1994-. (aged 32)
American football player
Kyle Joseph Sloter is an American former professional football quarterback. He played college football for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles before transferring to the Northern Colorado Bears. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) in 2017. He was also a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Chicago...
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46. Mary Peltola
1973-. (aged 53)
politician
judge
Mary Sattler Peltola is an American politician and former tribal judge who served as the U.S. representative from Alaska's at-large congressional district from 2022 to 2025. A moderate Blue Dog Democrat, she previously served as a judge on the Orutsararmiut Native Council's tribal court, executive director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Bethel city councilor, and member of the...
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47. Connie Willis
1945-. (aged 81)
writer
science fiction writer
poet
novelist
Constance Elaine Trimmer "Connie" Willis is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. She has won more major genre awards than any other writer, including eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards. Most recently, she won the "Best Novel" Hugo and Nebula Awards for Blackout/All Clear (2010). She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2009 and...
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48. Dominic Breazeale
1985-. (aged 41)
American football player
boxer
Dominic Angelo Breazeale is an American former professional boxer. He has challenged twice for heavyweight world titles; the IBF title in 2016 and the WBC title in 2019. As an amateur, he represented the United States at the 2012 London Olympics.
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49. Vincent Jackson
1983-2021 (aged 38)
American football player
Vincent Terrell Jackson was an American professional football wide receiver who played for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northern Colorado Bears and was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft. Jackson also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was selected to the...
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50. Justin Gaethje
1988-. (aged 38)
mixed martial arts fighter
Justin Ray Gaethje is an American professional mixed martial artist. A professional since 2011, he currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) where he is the current and two-time interim UFC Lightweight Champion. He is the first fighter in UFC history to win the interim title twice and is also a former UFC "BMF" titleholder....
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51. Greg Germann
1958-. (aged 68)
voice actor
television actor
actor
film actor
Gregory Andrew Germann is an American actor who is known for playing Richard Fish on the television series Ally McBeal, which earned him a Screen Actors Guild award. He also is known for his roles as Eric "Rico" Morrow on the sitcom Ned & Stacey, Dr. Tom Koracick in Grey's Anatomy and as Hades in Season Five of Once Upon...
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52. Katherine Archuleta
1949-. (aged 77)
teacher
Katherine L. Archuleta is an American teacher and a political executive. She was the director of the United States Office of Personnel Management. President Barack Obama appointed her on May 23, 2013. She was sworn in on November 4, 2013. She had previously served as National Political Director for Obama's 2012 reelection campaign. Prior to that, she had been executive...
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53. Ken Summers
1953-. (aged 73)
teacher
politician
Kenneth Guy Summers is a retired Colorado legislator. Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 2006, Summers represented House District 22, including southern Lakewood, Colorado and portions of Jefferson County from 2006 to 2012.
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54. Al Jourgensen
1958-. (aged 68)
composer
disc jockey
saxophonist
guitarist
music executive
Alain David Jourgensen is a Cuban-American singer, musician and music producer. Closely related with the independent record label Wax Trax! Records, his musical career spans five decades. He is the frontman and lyricist of the industrial metal band Ministry, which he founded in 1981 and of which he remains the only constant member. He was the primary musician of several...
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55. Bob Bacon
1935-. (aged 91)
politician
Robert Bacon is a retired educator and Democratic politician from Fort Collins, Colorado. Bacon served as a Democratic member of the Colorado Senate, representing the 14th district from 2005 to 2013. Bacon also served in the Colorado State House from 1997 to 2003. Prior to that, he was elected twice to the Poudre School District Board of Education, serving from...
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56. Chesley Sullenberger
1951-. (aged 75)
military officer
glider pilot
author
commercial pilot
expert
Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III is an American retired aircraft pilot, diplomat and aviation safety expert, who is best known for his actions as captain of US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009, when he ditched the plane on the Hudson River after both engines were disabled by a bird strike; all 155 people aboard survived. After the Hudson...
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57. Lynn Lashbrook
1948-. (aged 78)
Lynn Lashbrook is an American sports agent and educator. He is currently an NFL certified contract advisor who has represented over 150 NFL football players throughout his career. A former college athletic director and sports agent, Lashbrook is founder and president of Sports Management Worldwide, a sports agency and an international, online sports career training school with over 20,000 graduates...
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58. Kenneth W. Winters
1934-. (aged 92)
politician
Kenneth W. Winters is Kentucky politician who served in the Kentucky State Senate and as president of Campbellsville University.
59. Jordan Davis
1997-. (aged 29)
basketball player
Jordan Carl Wheeler Davis is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is signed to Universal Music Group Nashville's MCA Nashville division, for which he has released the albums Home State in 2018, Bluebird Days in 2023 and Learn the Hard Way in 2025, as well as two extended plays. His discography also includes eleven singles, of which five...
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60. Henrietta H. Fore
1948-. (aged 78)
diplomat
environmental health officer
Henrietta Holsman Fore is an American government official and business executive who was the executive director of UNICEF from 2018 until 2022. Fore is chairman and CEO of Holsman International, a management, investment, and advisory services company. She served in three presidential appointments under President George W. Bush: Fore was the first woman Administrator of the United States Agency for...
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61. Bill Frisell
1951-. (aged 75)
jazz guitarist
composer
William Richard Frisell is an American jazz guitarist. He first came to prominence at ECM Records in the 1980s, as both a session player and a leader. He went on to work in a variety of contexts, notably as a participant in the Downtown Scene in New York City, where he formed a long working relationship with composer and saxophonist...
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62. Georgia Lee Lusk
1893-1971 (aged 78)
teacher
supervisor
educator
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
director
Georgia Lee Witt Lusk was the first female U.S. Congressional representative from New Mexico, an educator, and a devoted public servant.
63. Edward W. Hardy
1992-. (aged 34)
instrumentalist
violinist
musical theatre composer
music director
classical composer
Edward W. Hardy is an American composer, music director, violinist and violist. He is known as the composer, co-conceiver, music director, and violinist of the Off-Broadway show The Woodsman and is the owner of The Black Violin.
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64. Mary Golda Ross
1908-2008 (aged 100)
mathematician
military flight engineer
Mary Golda Ross was a Cherokee and American aerospace engineer. She worked at the Lockheed Corporation from 1942 until her retirement in 1973, where she was best remembered for her work on aerospace design. She was one of the 40 founding engineers of the renowned and highly secretive Skunk Works project while at Lockheed Corporation. Throughout her life, Ross was...
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65. Carol Mutter
1945-. (aged 81)
military officer
Carol A. Mutter is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general. She is the first woman in the history of the United States Armed Forces to be nominated to be a three-star rank (O-9), and the first female to be promoted to lieutenant general. She retired from the Marine Corps on January 1, 1999 after 31 years of service....
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66. Frances C. Wilson
1948-. (aged 78)
military officer
Frances Carlotta Wilson is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general, who served as the 12th president of the National Defense University.
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67. Dalton Knecht
2001-. (aged 25)
basketball player
Dalton Douglas Knecht is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Northeastern Junior College, Northern Colorado, and Tennessee. He was selected 17th overall by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA draft.
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68. Thurman D. Rodgers
1934-2022 (aged 88)
military officer
Thurman Donell Rodgers was a lieutenant general in the United States Army. His assignments included Commanding General of the United States Army Information Systems Command, United States Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon. Rodgers attended the Tennessee Polytechnic Institute, graduating in 1957 with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering. He later earned an M.A. degree in public administration from the...
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69. Huang Kun-huei
1936-. (aged 90)
politician
Huang Kun-huei is a Taiwanese politician and educator. A former member of the Kuomintang, he had served as the party's secretary general from 1999 to 2000. Prior to that, Huang served as the minister of the Mainland Affairs Council from 1991 to 1994 and Minister of the Interior from 1994 to 1996. He later left the KMT and joined the...
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70. Shyu Jong-shyong
1957-. (aged 69)
politician
Shyu Jong-shyong is a Taiwanese politician.
71. James A. Michener
1907-1997 (aged 90)
autobiographer
screenwriter
writer
novelist
teacher
James Albert Michener was an American writer. He wrote more than 40 books, most of which were long, fictional family sagas covering the lives of many generations, set in particular geographic locales and incorporating detailed history. Many of his works were bestsellers and were chosen by the Book of the Month Club. He was also known for the meticulous research...
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72. Sayyid Qutb
1906-1966 (aged 60)
non-fiction writer
revolutionary
journalist
poet
philosopher
Sayyid Ibrahim Husayn Shadhili Qutb was an Egyptian political theorist and revolutionary who was a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood.