List of Eastern Kentucky University alumni explained

Eastern Kentucky University is a public university in Richmond, Kentucky. Following is a list of some of its notable alumni.

Athletics

Name	Class	Major	Notability	References
Josh Anderson	Non-degreed		Professional baseball player	^[1] ^[2]
Richie Bancells	1981	M.S. sports science	Head Athletic Trainer for the Baltimore Orioles	^[3] ^[4]
Yeremiah Bell	2002		Professional football player with Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals	^[5] ^[6]
	1999	M.S. sports administration	Head coach for Boston College Eagles women's basketball	^[7]
	1983		Professional football player and football special teams coordinator for South Carolina State	^[8]
Elmo Boyd			Professional football player with the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers	^[9]
	1994		Professional football player with the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts	^[10]
Wally Chambers	1973		Professional football player with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 1973 Defensive NFL Rookie of the Year Award	^[11]
Al Clark			Professional baseball umpire	^[12]
Earle Combs	1919	Education	Professional baseball player with the New York Yankees, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame	^[13]
Danny Copeland	1989		Professional footaball player with the Washington Redskins and Super Bowl XXVI champions	^[14] ^[15]
Dale Dawson			Professional football player with the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and Green Bay Packers	^[16]
Jessamyn Duke			Professional mixed martial artist formally for the UFC	^[17]
Jason Dunn	1995		Professional football player with the Kansas City Chiefs	^[18]
Matt Figger	1995		College basketball coach	^[19]
		M.S.	College football coach	^[20]
	1982		Profesesional football player with the New York Jets and member of the College Football Hall of Fame	^[21]
Christian Friedrich	2008		Professional baseball player with the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres	^[22]
Simon B. Gray		M.S. sports administration	Athletic director of Niagara University
Myron Guyton	1989		Professional football player with the New York Giants and New England Patriots	^[23] ^[24]
Ole Hesselbjerg	2015	Physics	Runner who competed in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2016 Summer Olympics for Denmark	^[25]
Sam Holbrook			Major League Baseball umpire	^[26]
Chris Isaac	1981		Professional gridiron football player with the Canadian Football League
John Jackson	1988		Professional football player with the Pittsburgh Steelers	^[27]
Aaron Jones	1988		Professional football player with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins	^[28]
	1955		College football coach and member of the College Football Hall of Fame	^[29]
W. H. Lyon			College football coach
Antwaun Molden	2008
Mark Montgomery	1992		College softball head coach	^[30]
Tom Riginos	1993	M.A. physical education and sports administration	Head baseball coach of the Winthrop Eagles	^[31]
Chrissy Roberts	1998		College basketball coach	^[32]
	2006			^[33]
Michael Scot		M.A. physical education	Director of the New South Wales Institute of Sport and chief executive officer of Sport New Zealand
Garfield Smith	1968		Professional basketball player with the Boston Celtics and the San Diego Conquistadors	^[34]
Steve Smith		M.S.	Head basketball coach at Oak Hill Academy
Teddy Taylor (football)			College football coach and two-time All-American college football player	^[35]
Corey Walden	2015		Professional basketball player, 2019 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP	^[36]

Education

Name	Class	Major	Notability	References
Lori Stewart Gonzalez		Communication disorders	23rd President of Ohio University	^[38]
	2005, 2007	Criminal justice, M.S. justice studies	Researcher in communication and gender studies at the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences
Teresa W. Haynes	1975, 1978, 1984	B.S. and M.A. mathematics and education, M.S. mathematics	Professor of mathematics and statistics at East Tennessee State University known for her research in graph theory
Don Showalter	1964	Chemistry and math	Professor emeritus and former chairman of the department of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point	^[39]
Aaron Thompson	1978	Political science and sociology	President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education	^[40]

Entertainment

Name	Class	Major	Notability	References
	2007	M.A. English literature and creative writing	Rapper, poet, and author	^[41]
Sam Champion	1983	Broadcast news	Weather editor and anchor for Good Morning America and ABC News	^[42]
Mallory Ervin		Political science	Miss Kentucky 2009 and The Amazing Race contestant
	Non-degreed	M.S. clinical psychology	Opera singer	^[43]
Carl Hurley	1966	B.S. and M.A. education	Comedian and motivational speaker; former EKU professor	^[44]
Laura Kirkpatrick	Non-degreed	Art	America's Next Top Model cycle 13 runner up	^[45]
Homer Ledford	1954		Bluegrass musician and maker of dulcimers	^[46]
Lee Majors	1962	History and physical education	Actor known for Six Million Dollar Man and The Fall Guy	^[47]
Mike Morgan	1970	Education	Singer-songwriter and record producer	^[48]
Dan Patrick	Non-degreed		Co-host of ESPN's SportsCenter	^[49]

Law

Name	Class	Major	Notability	References
Tom Colbert	1976	M.A.		^[50]
		Education	Associate justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals (subsequently renamed the Kentucky Supreme Court)
James E. Keller	1966		Justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court	^[51]
Debra H. Lambert	1983		Associate justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court and former Judge on the Kentucky Court of Appeals	^[52]
Danny C. Reeves	1978		Chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky	^[53]
Gregory N. Stivers	1982		Chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky	^[54]

Literature and journalism

Name	Class	Major	Notability	References
Gwenda Bond		Journalism	Novelist	^[55]
Silas House		English	Novelist	^[56]
John Samples	1978	Political science and government	Author, political theorist, and vice president of the Cato Institute	^[57]
Crystal Wilkinson	1985	Journalist	Writer, poet, educator, and winner of the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence	^[58]

Military

Name	Class	Major	Notability	References
Ken Keen	1974	Mathematics	Lt. General and Military Deputy Commander of United States Southern Command	^[59]
Jeffrey H. Norwitz	1974	Law enforcement	Counter-terrorism and law enforcement officer with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service andJohn Nicholas Brown Chair of Counterterrorism at the Naval War College	^[60]
Craig E. Williams		Philosophy	Vietnam War Army veteran and co-founder of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation	^[61]

Politics

Name	Class	Major	Notability	References
Bob Babbage	1973	Journalism and political science	Kentucky State Auditor and Kentucky Secretary of State.
J. C. W. Beckham	Non-degreed		Governor of Kentucky and a United States Senator
			Kentucky House of Representatives
Linda H. Belcher		Elementary education	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[62]
Elmer Begley			Secretary of State of Kentucky	^[63]
Leila Feltner Begley			Secretary of State of Kentucky	^[64]
Josh Branscum	2007	Construction management	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[65]
Josh Bray		Business Administration	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[66]
			Kentucky House of Representatives	^[67]
Josh Calloway		Certificate health and safety	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[68]
John Carney		Master	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[69]
Jared Carpenter	2000		Kentucky Senate	^[70]
Jack Coleman			Kentucky House of Representatives and city commissioner of Harrodsburg, Kentucky	^[71]
Carl Day			Kentucky House of Representatives
Alecia Webb-Edgington		M.A. Criminal justice	Kentucky House of Representatives and executive director of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security	^[72]
Clyde Evans		Master	Ohio House of Representatives	^[73]
Danny Ford (politician)	1974		Kentucky House of Representatives	^[74]
	1991	Communication disorders	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[75]
Terry Goodin	1989		Indiana House of Representatives	^[76]
J. Dudley Goodlette	1970	Political science	United States House of Representatives	^[77]
		Math, statistics, and theater	Kentucky House of Representatives and Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts	^[78]
Kim King	2004	Fitness and wellness management	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[79]
Ashley Tackett Laferty			Kentucky House of Representatives	^[80]
C. Ed Massey	1989	Criminal justice and police science	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[81]
Bobby McCool	1991	Education	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[82]
			Kentucky House of Representatives and Kentucky State Treasurer
Virgil Moore	1961	Mathematics	Kentucky Senate
C. Wesley Morgan		Accounting	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[83]
Rick Nelson	1988	M.A.	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[84]
Steve Pence	1976, 1978	Business education, M.S. business management	Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky	^[85]
		Business administration	Delaware House of Representatives	^[86]
Thaksin Shinawatra	1975	Criminal justice	Prime Minister of Thailand	^[87]
Kevin Sinnette	1984		Kentucky House of Representatives	^[88]
Liz Stefanics			New Mexico Senate and Santa Fe County Commission	^[89]
Brandon J. Storm	2000	Police administration	Kentucky Senate	^[90]
Ken Upchurch		Political science	Kentucky House of Representatives	^[91]
Steve West	1993	Communications	Kentucky Senate	^[92]
Janssen Willhoit	2000		Vermont House of Representatives	^[93]

Science and medicine

Name	Class	Major	Notability	References
Eula Bingham	1951	Chemistry and biology	Occupational health scientist	^[94]
	2013	M.S. mathematical sciences	Mathematician specializing in commutative ring theory, factorization theory, and applied algebraic topology	^[95]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Josh Anderson Stats, Fantasy & News . 2023-08-14 . MLB.com . en.
2. Web site: Josh Anderson (2009) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
3. Web site: Richie Bancells (2018) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
4. Web site: March 10, 2015 . Bancells Honored as Outstanding Alumnus Exercise and Sports Medicine . August 13, 2023 . Eastern Kentucky University.
5. Web site: Jordan . Darrell . 2014-08-22 . Yeremiah Bell retires from NFL . 2023-08-14 . Maroon Nation . en-US.
6. Web site: Yeremiah Bell (2018) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
7. Web site: Joanna Bernabei-McNamee - Head Coach - Staff Directory . 2023-08-14 . Boston College Athletics . en.
8. Web site: Steve Bird (2010) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
9. Web site: Elmo Boyd Stats, News and Video - WR . 2023-08-14 . NFL.com . en-US.
10. Web site: Chad Bratzke (2006) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
11. Web site: Wally Chambers (2006) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
12. Web site: Trenton . Paul Franklin For The Times of . 2014-05-20 . Ex-Umpire Al Clark uses his experiences to help others . 2023-08-14 . nj . en.
13. Web site: Earle B. Combs · EKU x 100: The Story of Eastern in 100 Objects, People, and Places · Digital Collections . 2023-08-14 . digitalcollections.eku.edu.
14. Web site: Danny Copeland . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121015223442/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=COPELDAN01 . October 15, 2012 . December 21, 2012 . databaseFootball.com.
15. Web site: Danny Copeland (2009) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
16. Web site: Dale Dawson . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120531022509/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DAWSODAL01 . May 31, 2012 . December 21, 2012 . databaseFootball.com.
17. Web site: September 14, 2018 . Jessamyn Duke - Official UFC® Fighter Profile . www.ufc.com.
18. Web site: Jason Dunn (2015) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
19. Web site: Matt Figger - Men's Basketball Coach . 2023-08-14 . Austin Peay State University Athletics . en.
20. Web site: Charlie Fisher - Football Coach . 2023-08-14 . Arizona State University Athletics . en.
21. Web site: George Floyd (2007) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
22. Web site: Christian Friedrich (2016) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
23. Web site: Myron Guyton . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120717054248/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=GUYTOMYR01 . July 17, 2012 . December 21, 2012 . databaseFootball.com.
24. Web site: Myron Guyton (2007) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
25. Web site: Eastern Kentucky University Track and Field and Cross Country - Richmond, Kentucky - Athletes - Ole Hesselbjerg . 2023-08-14 . www.runnerspace.com.
26. Web site: EKU Baseball Alum Sam Holbrook Umpiring 2011 NLCS . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
27. Web site: John Jackson (2008) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
28. Web site: Aaron Jones (2007) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
29. Web site: Roy Kidd (2006) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
30. Web site: Mark Montgomery - Softball Coach . 2023-08-14 . University of Maryland Athletics . en.
31. Web site: Tom Riginos - Baseball Coach . 2023-08-14 . Winthrop University Athletics . en.
32. Web site: Chrissy Roberts - Women's Basketball Coach . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
33. Web site: Dallas Robinson (2017) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
34. Web site: Garfield Smith (2012) - Hall of Fame . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
35. Web site: Hutchinson . Nathan . 2017-09-22 . OVC FOOTBALL: 50 years later, Teddy Taylor still has a passion for football . 2023-08-13 . Richmond Register . en.
36. Web site: Corey Walden - Men's Basketball . 2023-08-14 . Eastern Kentucky University Athletics . en.
37. Web site: 2016-05-30 . Financial expert Don McNay dies suddenly at age 57 . 2023-08-14 . WYMT . en.
38. Web site: Johnson . Rae . March 23, 2023 . Former University of Louisville interim president to take over leading role at Ohio . 2023-12-24 . The Courier-Journal . en-US.
39. Web site: Donald Showalter . 2023-08-14 . American Chemical Society . en.
40. Web site: 2019-03-04 . The First African American President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education . 2023-08-14 . The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.
41. Web site: Wylie . Crystal Wylie . 2013-01-21 . Richmond's own Chuckie Campbell is trending artist on 'Grammy Amplifier' . 2023-08-14 . Richmond Register . en.
42. Web site: 2013-09-12 . EKU In National Spotlight As GMA Profiles Weather Anchor Sam Champion . 2023-08-14 . ABC 36 News . en-US.
43. News: Blau . Eleanor . 1987-08-22 . Faith Esham, Soprano, Communicates by Song . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-08-14 . 0362-4331.
44. Web site: Dr. Carl L. Hurley Speaker . 2023-08-14 . AEI Speakers Bureau . en-US.
45. Web site: Harris . Chris . 2012-01-17 . Kirkpatrick holding fashion show fundraiser to raise awareness of dyslexia . 2023-08-14 . Commonwealth Journal . en.
46. Web site: Bramel . Alli . Homer C. Ledford . 2023-08-14 . ExploreKYHistory . en.
47. Web site: Penn State Tailgate Tales: Indiana is the start for Lee Majors, Mark Cuban . 2023-08-14 . York Daily Record . en-US.
48. Web site: Votaw . Emily . 2017-09-01 . Acclaimed Songwriter Headed to Athens Uncorked September 9 . 2023-08-14 . WOUB Public Media . en-US.
49. Web site: Dan Patrick: Don Donoher a 'wonderful man and wonderful coach' . 2023-08-14 . dayton-daily-news . English.
50. Web site: Tom Colbert . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
51. Web site: James E. Keller J David Rosenberg College of Law . 2023-08-14 . law.uky.edu . en.
52. Web site: Debra Hembree Lambert . 2023-08-14 . Kentucky Court of Justice.
53. Web site: 2021-11-08 . Hon. Danny C. Reeves . 2023-08-14 . The Federalist Society.
54. Web site: Greg N. Stivers . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
55. Web site: 2012-10-09 . Interview: Kentucky Author Gwenda Bond . 2023-08-14 . Her Kentucky . en-US.
56. Web site: Alumni Spotlight Series x EKU Scholars Week: Author Silas House . 2023-08-14 . www.alumni.eku.edu . en.
57. Web site: John Samples . 2023-08-14 . Paso Robles . en.
58. Web site: Crystal Wilkinson College of Arts & Sciences English . 2023-08-14 . University of Kentucky . en.
59. Web site: Ken Keen . 2023-08-14 . Emory University Goizueta Business School.
60. Robin Stansbury (1995-03-23). "Ex-resident Gets 'Secret' Honor". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
61. Web site: Craig Williams . 2023-08-14 . Kentucky Environmental Foundation . en-US.
62. Web site: Linda Belcher . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
63. Web site: Begley, Elmer, 1912-1970 . 2023-08-14 . Western Kentucky University - Special Collections.
64. Web site: May 9, 2010 . Obituary for Leila (Feltner) Begley . 2023-08-14 . Adams Family Funeral Homes & Crematory . en.
65. Web site: Joshua Branscum . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
66. Web site: Legislator Information . 2023-12-02 . services.statescape.com.
67. Web site: Dwight Butler . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
68. Web site: Josh Calloway's Biography . 2023-08-14 . Vote Smart.
69. Web site: John Carney (Kentucky) . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
70. Web site: Jared Carpenter . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
71. Web site: Jack Coleman, Jr.'s Biography . 2023-08-14 . Vote Smart.
72. Web site: 2012-04-07 . Kentucky House Republican Caucus About Us Caucus Members Alecia Webb-Edgington . 2023-08-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120407055704/http://www.kentuckyhouserepublicans.org/index.cfm/Alecia_Webb_Edgington.htm# . 2012-04-07 .
73. Web site: Clyde Evans . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
74. Web site: Danny Ford . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
75. Web site: Deanna Frazier '91 . 2023-08-14 . www.alumni.eku.edu . en.
76. Web site: 2022-02-25 . Terry Goodin . 2023-08-14 . Rural Development . en.
77. Web site: J. Dudley Goodlette - 2004 - 2006 (Speaker Bense) . 2023-08-14 . www.myfloridahouse.gov . en-US.
78. Web site: About Mike Harmon - Auditor of Public Accounts . 2023-08-14 . www.auditor.ky.gov.
79. Web site: Representative Kim King (R) . 2023-08-14 . Kentucky General Assembly.
80. Web site: Ashley Tackett Laferty . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
81. Web site: C. Ed Massey . August 13, 2023 . Blankenship, Massey & Assoc..
82. Web site: Winkler . Makenzie . May 25, 2023 . Political Science and English Double Major Gains Experience for a Career in Politics EKU Stories . August 13, 2023 . Eastern Kentucky University.
83. Web site: Robinson . Bill / . 2016-10-28 . Election 2016 81st House District: C. Wesley Morgan . 2023-08-14 . Richmond Register . en.
84. Web site: Rick Nelson (Kentucky) . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
85. Web site: April 2, 2004 . MMAC selects Steve Pence as 2004 distinguished alum . August 13, 2023 . College of Business Eastern Kentucky University.
86. Web site: Darryl M. Scott . 2023-08-14 . Leadership Delaware . en-US.
87. Web site: 2023-08-08 . Thaksin Shinawatra Biography & Facts . 2023-08-14 . Britannica . en.
88. Web site: Kevin Sinnette . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
89. Web site: Liz Stefanics . 2023-08-14 . Ballotpedia . en.
90. Web site: June 12, 2023 . Colonel Works Alongside Legislator Serving Her Hometown EKU Stories . August 13, 2023 . Eastern Kentucky University.
91. Web site: Representative Ken Upchurch (R) . 2023-08-14 . Kentucky General Assembly.
92. Web site: Meet Steve Steve West . 2023-08-14 . en-US.
93. Web site: Freese . Alicia . April 19, 2017 . Convict-Turned-Lawmaker Pushes Criminal Justice Reform in Vermont . 2023-08-14 . Seven Days . en.
94. Web site: Pasi . Gino . 2020-06-16 . Eula Bingham 1929-2020 LiBlog . 2023-08-14 . en-US.
95. Web site: Ranthony Edmonds Department of Mathematics . 2023-08-14 . The Ohio State University.
96. News: Denton . Sally Ann . October 20, 1985 . Drew Thornton's Last Adventure . The Washington Post . August 13, 2023.