# Who are the most famous and/or notable alumni from your high school? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751 "2009-01-24T02:49:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/21 "2009-01-24T05:10:08Z")
Probably only [Peter Andre](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Andre), 1990 ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/22 "2009-01-24T05:13:57Z")
Another product of Jesuit education here. Our “notable alumni” (the bolded ones are the ones I’m familiar with): [ul] **Toby Bailey** , basketball player [li]Tom Barrack, real estate investor, billionaire[/li][li]Gordon Bennett, bishop[/li][li]Gregory J. Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries[/li][li]William Byrne, judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California[/li][li] **Stan Chambers** (1941), television reporter[/li][li]John Debney, composer [/li][li]Danny Farmer, football player [/li][li]Eddie Galan, songwriter, producer [/li][li]Thomas Girardi (1957), attorney[/li][li]John F. Grundhofer, retired chairman & CEO, U.S. Bancorp[/li][li] **Ryan Lefebvre** (1989), play-by-play baseball announcer[/li][li]Tony Plana, actor[/li][li]Al Pollard, football player [/li][li]Thomas T. Roberts, labor arbitrator [/li][li]Edward P. Roski, real estate investor, billionaire [/li][li]Bob Shrum (1961), political strategist[/li]Michael Wayne (1952), film producer[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/23 "2009-01-24T05:20:23Z")
Well, there was this one girl who became a Laker girl. I think that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/24 "2009-01-24T05:34:07Z")
Considering my HS’s first graduating class was 2002, I don’t think anyone has hit it big yet. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/25 "2009-01-24T05:37:02Z")
A couple of football players my dad says are well-known now: Harris Barton and Billy Ray. Also Ryan Seacrest. ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/26 "2009-01-24T05:43:51Z")
[Piers Anthony](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piers_Anthony) the sci-fi writer graduated from my high school many many years ago. As did [Livingston Taylor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livingston_Taylor), singer-songwriter and brother of James Taylor. Also [Garrick Utley](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrick_Utley), formerly of of CNN. [Marysol Castro](http://a.abcnews.com/GMA/story?id=447974) from ABC News was in my class. Other than that I got nothin’… ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/27 "2009-01-24T05:46:09Z")
[Scot Pollard](http://www.nba.com/playerfile/scot_pollard/bio.html) …basically, I got nothin… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/28 "2009-01-24T05:48:08Z")
Aransas Pass High School. Our valedictorian now works for the CDC. The people linked on the town’s wiki: - Emory Bellard, former University of Texas Offensive Coordinator and Head Coach at Texas A&M, inventor of the Wishbone formation. - Tommy Blake, current standout football player at Texas Christian University. I guess we’ve always had a pretty good football team. It is not a very inspiring place. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/29 "2009-01-24T05:54:24Z")
Jesse Ventura (Jim Janos back then). He was just a tall, skinny kid on the swim team. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/30 "2009-01-24T06:07:54Z")
These days, that would be Keith Olbermann. I had no idea, until he showed up at a reunion a few months ago. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/31 "2009-01-24T06:44:20Z")
DJ Dozier class of 1985, Kempsville HS J.R. Reid, class of 1986 could have givenMJ a run for his money. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/32 "2009-01-24T06:45:35Z")
You might recognize some of these folks. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central\_High\_School\_(Memphis,\_Tennessee)#Noteworthy\_Alumni](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_High_School_(Memphis,_Tennessee)#Noteworthy_Alumni) ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/33 "2009-01-24T07:34:01Z")
> [@rolandgunslinger](#): > > You might recognize some of these folks. > > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central\_High\_School\_(Memphis,\_Tennessee)#Noteworthy\_Alumni](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_High_School_(Memphis,_Tennessee)#Noteworthy_Alumni) I’m afraid I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/34 "2009-01-24T07:40:38Z")
I went to Methodist Ladies’ College in Melbourne and the most famous alumni would probably be Cate Blanchett. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/35 "2009-01-24T08:14:25Z")
Queen Beatrix and Prince Willem Alexander of the Netherlands. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/36 "2009-01-24T08:21:55Z")
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, she still sends her personal regards to our graduations and knows the AP Government teacher personally (he was in politics, albeit on a smaller scale before, so he’ll advise her sometimes and she’ll inform him on the current happenings in Congress so he can teach the class with more updated information). ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/37 "2009-01-24T08:41:38Z")
Serra High in San Diego: Playboy Playmate (July '98), St. Pauli Girl (2003) and sportscaster [Lisa Dergan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Dergan). Near miss: Tony Hawk lived in the neighborhood a few years before I moved there. He was gone by the time I got there, but a lot of people had middle school yearbooks with him in it. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/38 "2009-01-24T08:50:02Z")
- Darryl Gee, U.S. Olympic Soccer player - D’Monroe - a Broadway and Off-Broadway actor - Ian Jones-Quartey - creator of RPG World, a successful yet now-defunct web comic - Aaron McGruder - creator of The Boondocks - Randy Pausch - professor at Carnegie-Mellon University. Dr. Pausch, a father of three young children, gained a level of internet and YouTube notoriety for recording what is known as his inspirational “Last Lecture” due to a battle with terminal pancreatic cancer.[12] - Clint Peay - U.S. Olympic Soccer player - Marc Peyser - Senior editor for Newsweek magazine - Rob Ryerson - former professional soccer player, soccer coach at Mount St. Mary’s University - Dante Washington - U.S. Olympic Soccer player - Aaron Mandela Hazel- Oakland Raiders Defensive End I had no idea Randy Pausch went to my school. Huh. I was very good friends with Aaron McGruder’s brother. ---
**Author:** ![wunderkammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@wunderkammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wunderkammer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/39 "2009-01-24T09:00:32Z")
My high school is pretty small and undistinguished, but we did produce the famous-in-Wisconsin radio show hosts [Bob & Brian.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_and_Brian) My mom recalls that they used to hang out at her house with her older brother, and I think my dad knew them, too. Yeah, when high school sweethearts get married, their vague fame connections start to get a bit incestuous. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/40 "2009-01-24T09:12:22Z")
Cave Spring High School, Roanoke, VA. We’ve had a few professional athletes. The most famous are [Tiki and Ronde Barber](http://www.uvamagazine.org/site/c.esJNK1PIJrH/b.1601293/k.9A06/The_Power_of_Two_The_parallel_lives_of_Tiki_and_Ronde_Barber.htm), whom I’ve never met. The two I know were from my graduating class: [J.J. Redick](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.J._Redick) (self-superior ass) and [Tom Hagan](http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/H/tom-hagan.shtml) (great guy). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751.md?page=3)