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NOTE: The categories used below are based on how the alum is "well-known" and may not tie to their SJSU major.
Education
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Charles W. Childs, 1867, San Jose State Normal School Principal, 1889-96
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Dr. Marshall "Mark" Drummond, (BS Management and Economics, and MBA), Chancellor of the California Community College system (2003 - present)
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Margaret Shallenberger McNaught, 1880, first State Commissioner of Elementary Schools, first woman to teach in the School of Education at Stanford University (1891)
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Henry Zuzallo, 1895, (former) President of the University of Washington
Science/Engineering
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Ray Dolby. founder of Dolby sound systems
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John Farley, 2000 (MS Meteorology), NBC 11 Chief Meteorologist (San Jose)
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Dian Fossey, 1954 (Occupational Therapy) (1932-1985) gorilla researcher, author, teacher
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Gordon Moore, founder of Intel Corporation, "Moore's Law" creator
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Ed Oates, 1968 (Science/Math) co-founder of Oracle
Literature
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Lorna Dee Cervantes (1985) - poet
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James D. Houston - author of Farewell to Manzanar, Continental Drift, Snow Mountain Passage, and others; Lurie Distinguished Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at SJSU in Spring 2006
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Jayne Ann Krentz (Masters in Library Science), author; also writes under Amanda Quick, Jayne Castle and others
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Edwin Markham, 1872, Poet (1852-1940)
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Sandra McPherson - poet
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Amy Tan, 1972 (BA English and Linguistics), novelist, author of The Joy Luck Club, The Bonesetter's Daughter, The Opposite of Fate, and others
Journalism
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Valerie Coleman-Morris, anchor for CNN Financial News
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Eric Grigorian, photojournalism, recipient of the 2002 World Press Photo of the Year Award
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David Willman, 1978 (B.A. in Journalism), Los Angeles Times reporter who won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting
Arts and Entertainment
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Irene Dalis, 1946, former Metropolitan Opera star and founder of Opera San Jose, Tower Award 1974
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Robert Graham (1938 - 2008), internationally acclaimed sculptor whose work includes the Olympic Gateway in Los Angeles and the Plumed Serpent in San Jose's Plaza de Cesar Chavez
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Edith Harvey Heron, 1918 & 1929 (1895-1980), watercolorist
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Jerry Juhl, (1937 - 2005), head writer and producer for The Muppets and Fraggle Rock
- Dorothy Liebes (1897 - 1972), textile designer, weaver, recipient of various craft awards
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Omar Benson Miller, actor
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Stevie Nicks, member of Fleetwood Mac
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Tom and Dick Smothers, popular comedy duo
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Luis Valdez, 1964 (English), prize-winning playwright, film actor and director
Politics and Law Enforcement
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James T. Beall, Jr, (BA in Political Science) San Jose City Council 1980 - 1994; Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (District 4) 1994 - 2006;
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Dr. Lee P. Brown, 1964 (Masters in Sociology) former mayor of Houston; professor; law enforcement
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Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, one of the first Native Americans to serve in the U.S. Senate
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Albert E. Carter, 1903, (former) U.S. Congressman (Oakland)
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Cindy Chavez, San Jose City Councilmember, District 3
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Judy Chirco, San Jose City Councilmember, District 9
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Robert C. Doerr, (former) Mayor of San Jose (Mayor during SJSC's Centennial year - 1957)
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Robert Foster (BA public administration), president of Southern California Edison, CSU Trustee (1997 - 2006); elected Mayor of Long Beach in 2006
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Leslie C. Francis, 1965 (BA in Social Science) and 1966 (Secondary Teaching Credential) Democratic political consultant. served in the Carter administration
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Congressman Mike Honda, 1968 (BA Biological Sciences and Spanish; MA Education, 1974) representing San Jose
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Lou Henry Hoover, 1893 (1874-1944), first lady (Herber Hoover, 31st U.S. President)
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Linda J. LeZotte, San Jose City Councilmember, District 1
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Nancy McFadden, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Clinton Administration; currently VP Governmental Relations for PG&E
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Gaylord A. Nelson, 1939 Political Science; 1960 Honorary Master of Arts degree; founder of Earth Day, former U.S. Senator and Governor from Wisconsin
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Lyn Nofziger, 1950 (BA in Journalism) (1924 - 2006), aide to Governor Reagan, advisor to Presidents Nixon and Reagan, campaign advisor for Steve Forbes and Pat Buchanan
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Ed Rollins, political strategist
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Laurie Smith, first California female sheriff, Santa Clara County
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Fernando Torres-Gil, 1970 (BA in Political Science) first Assistant Secretary for Aging at the Department of Health and Human Services in the Clinton Administration; currently Associate Dean of the School of Public Affairs at UCLA
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Susanne B. Wilson, former member of San Jose City Council and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors; recipient of the SJSU Tower Award in 1996
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Ken Yeager, San Jose City Councilmember, District 6
Business
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Chuck Davidson, major Bay Area home builder, and former chair of the SJSU Tower Foundation
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Robert Foster (BA public administration), president of Southern California Edison, CSU Trustee (1997 - 2006); elected Mayor of Long Beach in 2006
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Robert W. Foy, Chairman of the Board, California Water Service Group
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Charles Gingold, vice president, Discovery Channel
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Carl Guardino, President and CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
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William Hauck, 1963 (BA social science), President of California Business Roundtable, CSU Trustee (1993 - 2009)
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Omid Kordestani, Google's senior VP for Global Sales and Business Development
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Donald Lucas, retired founder of the Lucas Dealership Group, and philanthropist
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Jessica McClintock, fashion design
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Jenny Ming, President, Old Navy
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Gordon Moore, founder of Intel Corporation
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Peter Ueberroth, 1959 (Business), former Baseball Commissioner, head of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Time Man of the Year for 1984
Sports
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Tariq Abdul-Wahad (Art History Major; attended SJSU as Olivier Saint-Jean), player for Dallas Mavericks
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John Carlos,1970, "Speed City" athlete and Bronze Medal Winner in the 200-meter race at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City; USATF Hall of Fame (2003)
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Jeff Garcia, Detroit Lions quarterback (formerly with San Francisco 49ers)
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George Frederick Haines, 1950, (1924 - 2006), swim coach, founder of the Santa Clara Swim Club, 3 time head coach of US Olympic swim team
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Pat Hurst, pro golf
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Julie Inkster, pro golf
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Patty Sheehan, pro golf
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Tommie Smith, 1968, "Speed City" athlete and Gold Medal Winner in the 200-meter race at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City; USATF Hall of Fame (1978)
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Yosh Uchida, SJSU judo coach, entrepreneur
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Ken Venturi, pro golf
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Dick Vermeil, 1958 (BA) and 1959 (MA), coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, former coach St. Louis Rams
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Bill Walsh, former head coach and currently general manager/vice president of the San Francisco 49ers; former head coach of Stanford football team
Olympic Medalists
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Kevin Asano, judo, 1988, silver
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Chuck Adkins, boxing, 1952, gold
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Bob Berland, judo, 1984, silver
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John Carlos, track and field, 1968, bronze
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Jim Doehring, track and field, 1992, silver
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Lee Evans, track and field, 1968, two gold medals
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Mitch Ivey, swimming, silver in 1968 and bronze in 1972
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John Powell, track and field, bronze in 1976 and 1984
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Ronnie Ray Smith, track and field, 1968, gold
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Tommie Smith, track and field, 1968, gold
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Willie Steele, track and field, 1948, gold
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Jill Sudduth, synchronized swimming, 1996, gold
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Mike Swain, judo, 1988, bronze
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Lynn Vidali, swimming, silver in 1968 and bronze in 1972
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