55 Notable alumni of
Abilene Christian University
Updated:
Abilene Christian University is 907th in the world, 333rd in North America, and 311th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 55 notable alumni from Abilene Christian University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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John Layfield
- Occupations
- entrepreneurradio personalityactorprofessional wrestlerplayer of American football
- Biography
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John Charles Layfield, better known by the ring name Bradshaw or JBL, is an American retired professional wrestler and football player. He is currently signed to WWE, where he is an ambassador for the company. Layfield is currently a financial commentator and is featured regularly on Fox News and Fox Business. He is also employed by Northeast Securities as its senior vice president.
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Daniel Johnston
- Occupations
- singer-songwriterpaintercomics artistpianistsongwriter
- Biography
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Daniel Dale Johnston was an American singer, musician and artist regarded as a significant figure in outsider, lo-fi, and alternative music scenes. Most of his work consisted of cassettes recorded alone in his home, and his music was frequently cited for its "pure" and "childlike" qualities.
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Art Briles
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Arthur Ray Briles is an American football coach who is currently the head coach for the Guelfi Firenze in the Italian Football League. Briles was the head coach of the Houston Cougars from 2002 to 2007 and the Baylor Bears from 2008 to 2015. His college coaching career ended with his dismissal from the team in 2015 as a result of the Baylor University sexual assault scandal. He is the author of Beating Goliath: My Story of Football and Faith (2014). He is the subject of a biography written by Nick Eatman titled Looking Up: My Journey from Tragedy to Triumph (2013).
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Max Lucado
- Occupations
- theologianwriter
- Biography
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Max Lucado is an American author and minister at Oak Hills Church (formerly the Oak Hills Church of Christ) in San Antonio, Texas.
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Ronnie Dunn
- Occupations
- singersinger-songwriter
- Biography
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Ronald Gene Dunn is an American country music singer-songwriter and record executive. Starting in 2011, Dunn has worked as a solo artist following the temporary dissolution of Brooks & Dunn. He released his self-titled debut album for Arista Nashville on June 7, 2011, reaching the Top 10 with its lead-off single "Bleed Red". In 2013, after leaving Arista Nashville in 2012, Dunn founded Little Will-E Records. On April 8, 2014, Ronnie Dunn released his second solo album, Peace, Love, and Country Music through his Little Will-E Records. On November 11, 2016, he released his third album Tattooed Heart on NASH Icon label. His fourth album Re-Dunn was released on January 10, 2020.
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Jeev Milkha Singh
- Occupations
- golfer
- Biography
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Jeev Milkha Singh Rathore is an Indian professional golfer who became the first player from India to join the European Tour in 1998. He has won four events on the European Tour, becoming the most successful Indian on tour. He was the first Indian golfer to break into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking in October 2006. The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of Padma Shri in 2007. He is also the recipient of 1999 Arjuna Award.
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Johnny Knox
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Johnny Otis Knox II is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for three seasons with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Abilene Christian University. He was selected by Bears as the 140th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Knox's career abruptly ended after sustaining a severe spinal injury in 2011. When it became apparent he would never be cleared to play again, he retired in 2013. Knox was also a coaching intern for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015.
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Taylor Gabriel
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Taylor James Gabriel is a former American football wide receiver who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football at Abilene Christian, he signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He also played with the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears.
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Aaron Watson
- Occupations
- singersinger-songwriter
- Biography
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James Aaron Watson is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since 1999, Watson has recorded several independent albums in his career. His 2015 album The Underdog reached No. 1 on Top Country Albums that year, and in 2017, Watson had his first major radio airplay hit with "Outta Style", which reached top 10 on Country Airplay.
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Chris Beard
- Occupations
- basketball coach
- Biography
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Christopher Michael Beard is an American basketball coach who is the head men's coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). He also previously served as head coach at Texas, Texas Tech, Little Rock, Angelo State, and McMurry. Beard graduated from high school from McCullough High School in The Woodlands, Texas. He was a manager at Texas under former Longhorns coach Tom Penders, graduating in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology. He received a Masters of Education from Abilene Christian University where he served as a graduate assistant in 1998.
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Ted Poe
- Enrolled in Abilene Christian University
- In 1970 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- lawyerpoliticianjudgeteacher
- Biography
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Lloyd Theodore Poe is an American politician who represented Texas's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2005 to 2019. Poe was the first Republican to represent the 2nd district.
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Charcandrick West
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Charcandrick West is a former American football running back. He played college football at Abilene Christian University and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
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Janice Hahn
- Enrolled in Abilene Christian University
- In 1974 graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- politicianteacher
- Biography
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Janice Kay Hahn is an American politician serving as a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from the 4th district since 2016. A member of the Democratic Party, she was a U.S. Representative from California from 2011 to 2016, elected in the 36th congressional district until 2013 and later in the 44th congressional district. She was previously a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 15th district from 2001 to 2011. From 1997 to 1999, she served as an elected representative on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission.
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Matthew J. Kacsmaryk
- Enrolled in Abilene Christian University
- In 1999 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- judgelawyer
- Biography
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Matthew Joseph Kacsmaryk is a United States district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He was nominated to the position by President Donald Trump in 2017 and sworn in for the position in 2019. In 2023, he presided over a lawsuit regarding the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s approval of abortion medication mifepristone in 2000, and had issued a preliminary ruling suspending the approval of the drug, marking the first time a court tried to invalidate the approval of a drug over the FDA's objection.
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Bobby Morrow
- Occupations
- sprinterwoodworkerfarmerathletics competitor
- Biography
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Bobby Joe Morrow was an American sprinter who won three gold medals at the 1956 Olympics. He has been called "the dominant sprinter of the 1950s" and "the most relaxed sprinter of all time, even more so than his hero Jesse Owens".
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Micah P. Hinson
- Occupations
- singer-songwriter
- Biography
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Micah Paul Hinson is an American Americana singer and guitarist and recording artist for Sketchbook Records in the United Kingdom and Jade Tree Records in the United States. His debut album Micah P. Hinson and the Gospel of Progress was released in 2004 to much critical praise. He has also released two EPs; one of early material (2005's The Baby and the Satellite) and the second as The Late Cord with John Mark Lapham of The Earlies (2006 release Lights from the Wheelhouse). The follow-up to his debut, Micah P. Hinson and the Opera Circuit, was released in 2006 and his third album, Micah P. Hinson and the Red Empire Orchestra on July 14, 2008.
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Wilbert Montgomery
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Wilbert Montgomery is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for nine years with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. He was also the running backs and tight ends coach for St. Louis Rams (1997–2005), the running backs coach for the Lions (2006–2007), the running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens (2008–2013), and the running backs coach for the Cleveland Browns (2014–2015).
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Robert L. Pitman
- Occupations
- judgelawyer
- Biography
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Robert Lee Pitman is an American attorney and jurist who serves as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas and former United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. He was previously a United States Magistrate Judge of the same court.
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Daryl Richardson
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Daryl Lashay Richardson is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at Abilene Christian.
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Kent Brantly
- Occupations
- physician
- Biography
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Kent Brantly is an American doctor with the medical mission group Samaritan's Purse. While treating Ebola patients in Liberia, he contracted the virus. He became the first American to return to the United States to be treated for the disease.
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Danieal Manning
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Danieal LaCraig Manning is a former American football safety. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Abilene Christian University.
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Ove Johansson
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Ove Claes Johansson was an American football placekicker and the current holder of the record for the longest field goal ever kicked during an American football game, at 69 yards (63 m), for Abilene Christian University in their October 16, 1976 victory over East Texas State. Johansson is the oldest player to be drafted in the NFL Draft, being 28 years, 281 days old when he was selected in the 12th round of the 1977 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers.
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Bernard Scott
- Occupations
- player of American footballCanadian football player
- Biography
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Bernard Scott is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Abilene Christian. His brother Daryl Richardson is also a former NFL running back.
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Lindy McDaniel
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Lyndall Dale McDaniel, known as Lindy McDaniel, was an American professional baseball pitcher who had a 21-year career in Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1975. During his career, he witnessed approximately 3,500 major league games (not including spring training), had more than 300 teammates, and played under eight different managers. He attended the University of Oklahoma and Abilene Christian College, then played with the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and San Francisco Giants (all of the National League), and the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals (both of the American League). He stood 6’3” and was listed at 195 lb. (88kg). McDaniel was a minister for the Church of Christ.
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Zane Williams
- Occupations
- singer-songwriter
- Biography
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Zane Williams is an American country music singer. He is best known for his song "Hurry Home", covered by Jason Michael Carroll.
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Stephen Mansfield
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
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Stephen Lee Mansfield is an American author who writes about history, modern culture, religion and men's issues. His books have appeared on the New York Times best-seller list.
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Billie Hughes
- Occupations
- songwritermusician
- Biography
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Billie Keith Hughes was an American recording artist, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known for his successful artist career in Japan, lead vocalist of his band Lazarus and his collaboration with Roxanne Seeman writing songs for Philip Bailey, Phil Collins, Bette Midler, The Jacksons, The Sisters Of Mercy, Wink, and for his songs in film and television. He has two Emmy nominations.
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Louie Welch
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Louie Welch was an American politician who served from 1964 to 1974 as the mayor of Houston, Texas.
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Clyde Gates
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Edmond Darell "Clyde" Gates is a former American football wide receiver. Gates was drafted by the Miami Dolphins as the 111th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He is the cousin of running backs Bernard Scott and Daryl Richardson.
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Everett Ferguson
- Occupations
- historian of religion
- Biography
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Everett Ferguson currently serves as Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He is author of numerous books on early Christian studies and served as co-editor of the Journal of Early Christian Studies.
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Brantley Starr
- Occupations
- judgelawyer
- Biography
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Brantley David Starr is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
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John Pilley
- Years
- 1928-2018 (aged 90)
- Occupations
- ethologistacademicdog trainer
- Biography
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John W. Pilley was an American behavioral psychologist best known for his research into canine cognition and language learning with his Border collie, Chaser, who had the largest tested memory of any non-human animal. He was a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology at Wofford College and was an avid kayaker throughout his life. Pilley was awarded an honorary Doctor of Psychology from Wofford College in 2016.
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Joe Shirley, Jr
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Joe Shirley Jr. is a Navajo politician who is the only two-term President of the Navajo Nation. He served as president from 2003 to 2011. He lives in Chinle, Arizona, and is Tódíchʼíiʼnii, born for Tábąąhá.
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K. J. Maura
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Kevin "K. J." Maura Colón is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player for Cariduros de Fajardo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for the UMBC Retrievers. A native of San Juan, he competed at the high school level with Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Florida. He began his college career representing the Abilene Christian Wildcats but transferred to College of Central Florida after his freshman season. He spent his final two years of eligibility with the UMBC Retrievers, earning America East Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference honors as a senior. Listed as a 5-foot-8, 140-pound point guard, he was measured as the lightest player in NCAA Division I basketball while at UMBC.
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Jeffrey S. Boyd
- Occupations
- judgelawyer
- Biography
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Jeffrey Scott Boyd is an American lawyer who has served as an associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court. He was appointed to Place 7 on the court by Governor Rick Perry in the fall of 2012 to fill the seat vacated by Justice Dale Wainwright, and he won a full six-year term on the court in the 2014 election.
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Earl Young
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
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Earl Verdelle Young is a retired American sprinter. He competed at the 1960 Olympics and won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 m relay setting a new world record at 3.02.2. He finished sixth in 400 m, in a time of 45.9 s that matched the former Olympic Record. At the 1963 Pan American Games, Young won gold medals in both 4 × 100 m and 4 × 400 m relays.
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Phil Schubert
- Occupations
- academic
- Biography
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Philip J. Schubert is the eleventh and current president of Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas. Schubert's appointment was publicly announced on February 12, 2010, and he formally took office June 1, 2010, succeeding Royce Money. Schubert's inauguration celebration took place in the Fall of 2010.
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Jack Pope
- Occupations
- judgelawyer
- Biography
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Andrew Jackson Pope Jr., known as Jack Pope, was an American judge, attorney, author and legal scholar who served as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.
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Billy Olson
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
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Billy Richard Olson is a retired American Olympic pole vaulter who held several world records, including the first 19-foot indoor pole vault. Olson finished 12th at the 1988 Summer Olympics, and was to have been part of the U.S. team for the boycotted 1980 Summer Olympics.
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David A. Sampson
- Years
- 1957-.. (age 67)
- Occupations
- Christian ministerchief executive officer
- Biography
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David Allan Sampson is the president and CEO of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), co-headquartered in Washington, DC and Chicago, Illinois. He was born in Washington, Indiana. He joined APCIA in September 2007.
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Jack Scott
- Occupations
- politicianteacher
- Biography
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Jack Alan Scott is an American educator and former Democratic politician. Currently, a scholar in residence at Claremont Graduate University, Scott earlier served as president at two California community colleges, member of the California State Assembly and California State Senate and Chancellor of the California Community Colleges System.
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Bill Blakeley
- Occupations
- basketball coach
- Biography
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Billy Buie Blakeley was an American basketball coach. He coached at the high school, college, and professional levels.
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Omar Truman Burleson
- Occupations
- lawyersecretarypoliticianspecial agent
- Biography
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Omar Truman Burleson was an attorney, judge, FBI agent and veteran of World War II when he was first elected in 1946 as a Democratic U.S. Representative from Texas's 17th congressional district. He was re-elected to Congress from this rural district for more than 30 years, resigning in December 1978 rather than run again for office.
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Sally Gary
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
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Sally Gary is a Christian speaker and author on faith and sexuality. She is founder of CenterPeace, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that fosters belonging for LGBTQ people in the Church, as well as provides resources for Christian leaders, parents, and organizations to respond in Christ-like ways to the LGBTQ community. Gary is the subject of the 2020 biographical documentary Loves God, Likes Girls by Film Mavericks.
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Lindley Beckworth
- Occupations
- lawyerpoliticianjudgeteacher
- Biography
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Lindley Garrison Beckworth Sr. was an American judge and politician who served as a United States representative from Texas and a judge of the United States Customs Court.
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Royce Money
- Occupations
- academic
- Biography
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Royce Lynn Money is an American academic administrator who served as president of Abilene Christian University from 1991 to 2010, whereupon he became Chancellor. He was succeeded as president by Phil Schubert.
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Robert Dean Hunter
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Robert Dean Hunter was an American politician and academic administrator. He served as vice president at Church of Christ-affiliated Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, and as a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, in which from 1986 to 2007 he represented District 71.
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B. F. Sisk
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Bernice Frederic Sisk was an American politician who served as a Congressman from California from 1955 to 1979. He was a Democrat.
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Garrett Harencak
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Major General Garrett Harencak is the Commander of the U.S. Air Force Recruiting Service. Previously, he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U. S. Air Force. Prior this position, Harencak served as commander of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Air Force Materiel Command at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The AFNWC is responsible for the entire scope of U.S. Air Force nuclear weapons support functions and in addition to its headquarters at Kirtland, comprises several other units in the U.S and abroad.
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Raymond Radway
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Raymond Radway is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams. He also was a member of the Los Angeles KISS in the Arena Football League. He played college football at Abilene Christian University.
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Vitamin Smith
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Verda T. "Vitamin" Smith, Jr. was a National Football League (NFL) running back for the Los Angeles Rams from 1949 through 1953.
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Tonto Coleman
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Arthur Marvin "Tonto" Coleman was an American football coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Abilene Christian University from 1942 to 1949, compiling a record of 28–15–2. After working as an assistant football coach at the University of Florida and the Georgia Institute of Technology, Coleman was appointed the commission of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1966, a position he filled until 1972.
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Bob McLeod
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Robert Don McLeod was an American former professional football player who was a tight end for the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL). At 6'5", 232 lbs., he played college football for the Abilene Christian Wildcats and was selected by the Oilers in the 1961 AFL draft. McLeod played six seasons in professional football, from 1961 to 1966.
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Dudley E. Faver
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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Major General Dudley Ervin Faver was a United States Air Force major general who was director, Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council, Washington, D.C.
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Kolton Kohl
- Years
- 1998-.. (age 26)
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Kolton Alan Kohl is an American basketball player. He played college basketball for the Abilene Christian Wildcats.
