# Who is/was the Most Famous Person to graduate from your Alma Mater? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 18, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962 "2011-06-18T19:34:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/121 "2011-06-21T05:20:02Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > Very famous, if a football player can be such a thing. He won a 3 super bowls with the Redskins and the Broncos, and is now a prominent figure in NFL broadcasting with ESPN. I’d say he’s as famous as any offensive lineman in history. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/122 "2011-06-21T05:44:12Z")
I’m a little surprised that no one’s claimed to be the most famous person from their high school. Right now, the best my high school can do is a NY state assemblyman. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/123 "2011-06-21T06:26:47Z")
**High school:** According to Wikipedia: **Cecil Fielder** (Former MLB Player), Hit a ton of home runs after spending time in Japan. **Tom House** (Former MLB Pitcher), I believe caught Hank Aaron’s 715th home run. And in the past year I learned that **Nadya Suleman** (the Octomom) graduated from my high school just a few years after I did. Sigh… **University:** Tons of famous folks from Cal-Berkeley and U-Dub (Seattle). Take your pick. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/124 "2011-06-21T06:28:49Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > gary larson, edward r murrow and keith jackson **go cougs!** ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/125 "2011-06-21T07:02:44Z")
From my High School: Rich Hill (Cubs pitcher) William Rutecki (computer scientist) (think I knew his daughter) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/126 "2011-06-21T07:47:36Z")
High School: Tom Fogerty University: Plenty to choose from. Jack London may be the most famous alum internationally. In the U.S. the most famous may be Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby, real name Pauline Esther Friedman), although she is fading from public conciousness. Rube Goldberg, Gregory Peck and Earl Warren are also up there. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/127 "2011-06-21T08:43:41Z")
I went to a hoity toity prep school, so we’ve got olympians and pro sports players, CEOs, and even a president. Not sure why they let me in there, though. I guess someone has to fill out the underachieving part of the class. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/128 "2011-06-21T10:33:42Z")
High School: Herndon High, Herndon, VA Suzanne Whang (actress, stand-up comic, former host of “House Hunters”) was co-valedictorian of my graduating class, and a really sweet girl, not the foul-mouthed tart she pretends to be on Facebook. College: UVA, Coll. of Arts and Sciences. We’re all proudest of Tina Fey, of course, and Katie Couric. Daniel Baldacci also graduated from there. Not too excited by all the Kennedys who went through the Law School (well, some more than others). Too bad Edgar Allen Poe didn’t graduate… ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/129 "2011-06-21T14:00:06Z")
Hanover College, Indiana Up till recently, it was definitely Woody Harrelson. Now, at least if you’re into the News & Politics, it’s Representative Mike Pence. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/130 "2011-06-21T14:11:49Z")
No, it’s still Woody. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/131 "2011-06-21T14:41:10Z")
Can’t believe I’m the first on this one: Ball State University, Muncie IN - David Letterman We were both in what is now called ‘mass communications’ altho he was long gone by the time i got there in 1976. Somewhere in the English Building I think (going on ancient memory, here), there’s a room dedicated to him which has a plaque on the door that says, ‘To all C students before and after me.’ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/132 "2011-06-21T14:53:09Z")
Frazz creator, Jef Mallett ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/133 "2011-06-21T15:21:57Z")
College - tons to choose from; lots of famous alum from Emerson College. I guess Jay Leno is probably the most famous. Or maybe Henry Winkler. High School - I don’t remember his name, but the guy who sang The Thong Song a bunch of years ago. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/134 "2011-06-21T15:42:39Z")
HS: a surprisingly large number of recognizable names - Steve Francis, Carl Bernstein, Connie Chung, Goldie Hawn, Nora Roberts, and Ben Stein would be the big ones. College: Jim Henson, Larry David, Connie Chung and Carl Bernstein again, Karen Allen, dozens of professional basketball and football players, take your pick. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/135 "2011-06-21T15:47:51Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > College: Either Drew Carey or Josh Cribbs or Joe Walsh. Probably Joe Walsh - who got his honorary doctorate at the same time I got my bachelor’s 🙂 Go you Kent State Golden Flashes, which is my undergrad alma mater as well. When I was in grad school I was in a bull session, where a guy from Yale and another guy from Harvard were one-upping each other with famous people who’d graduated from their respective schools. “So and so went to Harvard” “Well, such and such went to Yale.” Back and forth they went until finally I piped up, “Joe Walsh dropped out of Kent State.” One guy said, “That’s it, Zamboniracer wins.”😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/136 "2011-06-21T17:46:42Z")
Dunno why I said Tom Fogerty for my high school. His brother John went to the same school and is more famous. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/137 "2011-06-21T17:52:28Z")
From my high school - no one of note (yet). I’m hoping to make a killing in non-fiction soon, so watch for my name on the NYT Bestseller List. From my college - the wikipedia article on her isn’t clear on whether she graduated or just attended (Ozark Christian College), but she and I were enrolled there at the same time: [Jennifer Knapp](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Knapp). Nice chick. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/138 "2011-06-21T17:54:42Z")
I don’t know of anyone famous who went to my high school, which is odd, since it’s over 150 years old. As for my university (U. of Cape Town), I suppose the most famous alumni are Richard E. Grant and Christiaan Barnard. Others include: J.M. Coetzee, Breyten Breytenbach, Mark Shuttleworth, Donald Woods. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/139 "2011-06-21T19:12:54Z")
Arroyo Grande H S Zac Effron > [@Infovore](#): > > Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA: > > “Weird Al” Yankovic > Burt Rutan > John Madden > Scott and Laci Peterson > The founders of Jamba Juice Don’t forget Robert “Hoot” Gibson, who was a commander on five Space Shuttle missions. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962/140 "2011-06-21T21:08:47Z")
[Sammy Hagar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Hagar) - My high school. Not sure about my college though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-most-famous-person-to-graduate-from-your-alma-mater/585962.md?page=8)