53 Notable alumni of
Sam Houston State University
Updated:
Sam Houston State University is 1033rd in the world, 375th in North America, and 352nd in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 53 notable alumni from Sam Houston State 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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Marcus Luttrell
- Occupations
- United States Navy SEALs
- Biography
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Marcus Luttrell is a retired United States Navy SEAL who received the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his actions in June 2005 against Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wings in which he was the lone survivor. Marcus Luttrell was saved because an Afghan villager named Mohammad Gulab found him, provided shelter, and protected him from the Taliban, following the traditional Pashtunwali code of hospitality. Gulab then alerted American forces, leading to a massive rescue operation that extracted the wounded SEAL. Luttrell became an SO1 by the end of his eight-year career in the United States Navy.
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Richard Linklater
- Occupations
- actorscreenwriterdirectoranimatorfilm director
- Biography
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Richard Linklater is an American filmmaker. He is known for making films which deal thematically with suburban culture and the effects of the passage of time. In 2015, Linklater was named to the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.
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Dan Rather
- Occupations
- television producernews presenterjournalistopinion journalist
- Biography
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Daniel Irvin Rather Jr. is an American journalist, commentator, and former national evening news anchor. He began his career in Texas, becoming a national name in September 1961 after his reporting saved thousands of lives during Hurricane Carla. He has reported on some of the most significant events of the modern age, such as from Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War, 9/11, the Iraq War, and the war on terror.
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Thaksin Shinawatra
- Enrolled in Sam Houston State University
- Graduated with Master of Philosophy
- Occupations
- businesspersonentrepreneurlecturerwriterrefugee
- Biography
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Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai former politician, businessman, and police officer who served as the 23rd prime minister of Thailand from 2001 until his overthrow in 2006. Since 2009 he has also been a citizen of Montenegro.
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Charlie Wilson
- Occupations
- politicianmilitary officer
- Biography
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Charles Nesbitt Wilson was an American politician and naval officer who was a 12-term Democratic Representative from Texas's 2nd congressional district. Wilson is best known for leading Congress into supporting Operation Cyclone, the largest-ever Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) covert operation, which during the Carter and Reagan administrations supplied military equipment to the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet–Afghan War. His behind-the-scenes campaign was the subject of the non-fiction book Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History by George Crile III and the subsequent film Charlie Wilson's War, in which he was portrayed by Tom Hanks.
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Billy Gunn
- Occupations
- powerlifterprofessional wrestler
- Biography
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Monty Kip Sopp, better known by his ring name Billy Gunn, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he also performs under the ring name Daddy Ass and is a coach as well as an occasional in-ring talent. He was a member of The Acclaimed as a manager and the team's six-man tag team partner. He is also signed to WWE under a Legends contract.
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Dana Andrews
- Occupations
- television actoractorfilm actortrade unionist
- Biography
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Carver Dana Andrews was an American film actor who became a major star in what is now known as film noir and later in Western films. A leading man during the 1940s, he continued acting in less prestigious roles and character parts into the 1980s. He is best known for his portrayal of obsessed police detective Mark McPherson in the noir mystery Laura (1944) and his critically acclaimed performance as World War II veteran Fred Derry returning home in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946).
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Josh McCown
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Joshua Treadwell McCown is an American professional football coach and former quarterback who is the quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the SMU Mustangs and Sam Houston Bearkats, and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft. McCown went on to play eighteen seasons in the NFL across twelve franchises. He also spent a season in the United Football League (UFL).
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William F. Garrison
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
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William F. Garrison is a retired American major general who commanded the United States forces during Operation Gothic Serpent, the military operation launched during the Somali Civil War in 1993 to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
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Abby Johnson
- Occupations
- writeractivist
- Biography
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Abby Johnson is an American anti-abortion activist who previously worked at Planned Parenthood as a clinic director, but resigned in October 2009. She states that she resigned after watching an abortion on ultrasound. The veracity of her account and the details and motivation for her conversion have been challenged by investigative reporters, as medical records contradict some of her claims.
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Morgan Luttrell
- Enrolled in Sam Houston State University
- In 2000 graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- naval officerbusinesspersonpolitician
- Biography
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Morgan Joe Luttrell is an American politician, businessman, and military veteran serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 8th congressional district since 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party.
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Ralph Yarborough
- Occupations
- lawyerjudgepolitician
- Biography
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Ralph Webster Yarborough was an American politician and lawyer. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Texas in the United States Senate from 1957 to 1971 and was a leader of the progressive wing of his party. Along with Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson and Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, but unlike most Southern congressmen, Yarborough refused to support the 1956 Southern Manifesto, which called for resistance to the racial integration of schools and other public places. Yarborough voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court. Yarborough was the only senator from a state that was part of the Confederacy to vote for all five bills.
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Blake Anderson
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Blake Robert Anderson is an American football coach and former player who is the current head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi. Anderson previously served as the head coach at Utah State University from 2021 to 2023, Arkansas State University from 2014 to 2020, the offensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina from 2012 to 2013, and the offensive coordinator, run game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Southern Miss from 2009 to 2011.
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Emily Neves
- Occupations
- screenwritervoice actorstage actordub director
- Biography
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Emily Neves is an American voice actress known for her contributions to the English dubbing of Japanese anime series. Some of her major voice roles include Kotomi Ichinose in Clannad, Kanade "Angel" Tachibana in Angel Beats, Minene Uryu in Future Diary, Yuuko Kanoe in Dusk Maiden of Amnesia, Chelsea in Akame ga Kill!, Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi in Cross Ange, Toriko Nishina in Otherside Picnic, Ayase Shinomiya in Guilty Crown, Sheffield in Azur Lane, Umaru Doma in Himouto! Umaru-chan and Lammis in Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon.
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Zach Neal
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Zachary Sheridan Neal is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
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Rhett Bomar
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Rhett Matthew Bomar is an American former professional football quarterback. He was selected by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma and Sam Houston State University. He was also a member of the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders.
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Ryan Tepera
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Dennis Ryan Tepera is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and St. Louis Cardinals. He attended Brazoswood High School in Texas, and played college baseball for the Sam Houston State Bearkats.
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Ryan O'Hearn
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Ryan Patrick O'Hearn is an American professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, and San Diego Padres. O'Hearn was an All-Star in 2025.
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Ashley Etienne
- Enrolled in Sam Houston State University
- 1996-2000 studied political science
- Occupations
- political adviserdirector of communications
- Biography
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Ashley Danielle Etienne is an American political advisor who served as the communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris. She is the former communications director and senior advisor to Nancy Pelosi, the first woman and person of color to hold the position of Communications Director for the House Speaker. She was also a former special assistant to Barack Obama.
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Colton Cowser
- Years
- 2000-.. (age 26)
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Colton Dale Cowser nicknamed “The Milkman”, is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Sam Houston State Bearkats.
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Katie Rose Clarke
- Occupations
- singertelevision actorstage actor
- Biography
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Katherine "Katie" Rose Clarke is an American musical theater actress.
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Phillip Wellman
- Occupations
- baseball managerbaseball coachbaseball player
- Biography
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Phillip Lane Wellman, is an American professional baseball coach and manager. He is the current bench coach for the Greensboro Grasshoppers, High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. Wellman entered minor league baseball as a player in 1984 and began coaching in 1988. Wellman attended Sam Houston State University and Southwestern University.
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Roger Creager
- Occupations
- pianistsingersinger-songwriter
- Biography
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Roger Creager is an American Texas country music singer and songwriter from Corpus Christi, Texas.
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P. J. Hall
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Patrick "P. J." Hall Jr. is an American professional football defensive end. He played college football at Sam Houston State and was selected by the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft. He has also played for the Houston Texans of the NFL, and the San Antonio Brahmas and Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL.
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Caleb Smith
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Caleb Anthony Smith is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Dorados de Chihuahua of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, and Arizona Diamondbacks.
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Steve Sparks
- Years
- 1965-.. (age 61)
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Steven William Sparks is an American former knuckleball-throwing right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher and broadcaster. A graduate from Holland Hall School, he attended Sam Houston State University in 1987. In addition to the knuckleball, Sparks threw an occasional slider and low-80s fastball.
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Lac Edwards
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Lachlan Edwards is an Australian former professional American football punter. He played college football at Sam Houston State University.
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Tyler Eppler
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Tyler Austin Eppler is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes, the KBO League for the Kiwoom Heroes, and the CPBL for the Fubon Guardians and Wei Chuan Dragons.
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Ken Boswell
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Kenneth George Boswell is an American former Major League Baseball second baseman.
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Davion Davis
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Davion Davis is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the Sam Houston State Bearkats and has also been a member of several other teams.
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Keith Davis
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Keith Lamont Davis is an American former professional football player who was a safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Sam Houston State Bearkats.
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John E. Ferling
- Occupations
- historian
- Biography
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John E. Ferling is a professor emeritus of history at the University of West Georgia. As a leading historian in the American Revolution and founding era, he has appeared in television documentaries on PBS, the History Channel, C-SPAN Book TV, and the Learning Channel.
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Adrian Devine
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Paul Adrian Devine was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher in 1973 and from 1975 through 1980 for the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers. He batted and threw right-handed and served primarily as a relief pitcher.
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Joel McDonald
- Occupations
- screenwritervoice actortelevision actoractor
- Biography
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Joel McDonald is an American voice actor, voice director, and scriptwriter who worked on English versions of anime series at Funimation. He is currently a voiceover producer and director with Gearbox Entertainment and author of Getting In: An Actor's Guide to the Greatest Gig There Is.
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Derick Roberson
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Derick Roberson is an American football linebacker for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). Following two seasons with Texas, Roberson played college football at Sam Houston State.
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Robert Gammage
- Occupations
- lawyerjudgepolitician
- Biography
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Robert Alton Gammage was an American politician, having served as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives.
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Gib Lewis
- Occupations
- lobbyistpolitician
- Biography
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Gibson Donald "Gib" Lewis is an American politician and political consultant from Fort Worth, Texas. He was the first person to be elected five times as the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, but he did not seek reelection in 1992, in compliance with a plea bargain agreement connected with his misdemeanor conviction of a violation of Texas financial disclosure law.
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Bill Zedler
- Years
- 1943-.. (age 83)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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William Wade Zedler, known as Bill Zedler, is a retired medical consultant from Arlington, Texas and a former a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 96. He served continuously from 2003 to 2021 except for the term from 2009 to 2011, when he was temporarily unseated by Democrat Chris Turner.
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Fred Beene
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Freddy Ray Beene is an American former professional baseball player. Beene was a right-handed pitcher who played in the Major Leagues between 1968 and 1975. He was listed at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and 155 pounds (70 kg).
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Lindley Beckworth
- Occupations
- lawyerteacherjudgepolitician
- 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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Jordan Tata
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Jordan Arthur Tata is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers from 2006 to 2007. He played college baseball at Sam Houston State. He is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall and weighs 220 pounds (100 kg). Tata bats and throws right-handed.
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Timothy Flanders
- Occupations
- Canadian football player
- Biography
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Timothy Flanders is an American former professional football running back. He played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the BC Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Redblacks.
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Phil Hennigan
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Phillip Winston Hennigan was an American professional baseball right-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1969 to 1973 with the Cleveland Indians and New York Mets.
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Jimmy Hill
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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James Hill Jr., nicknamed "Iron Claw", was an American professional football cornerback who played for the Chicago / St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He ended his career with the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL). He was a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback. He did not have high interception totals during his career because quarterbacks avoided throwing to his side of the field. He had a three-season span of not giving up a single passing touchdown. In the early 1960s, he was considered among the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
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Ray Benge
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Raymond Adelphia Benge was an American pitcher for the Cleveland Indians (1925–26), Philadelphia Phillies (1928–32 and 1936), Brooklyn Dodgers (1933–35), Boston Bees (1936) and Cincinnati Reds (1938). He led the National League in home runs allowed (24) and earned runs allowed (139) in 1929.
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Robert Manuel
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Robert Mehmet Manuel is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He pitched parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox.
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Rick Matula
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Richard Carlton Matula [muh-tu'-la] is an American former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1979 to 1981 for the Atlanta Braves. Listed at 6' 0", 190 lb., he batted and threw right handed.
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Boney Watson
- Years
- 1978-.. (age 48)
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Boney Harold Watson is an American-Qatari basketball point guard. He was part of the Qatari team that won the 2013 FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship and 2014 FIBA 3x3 World Championships.
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Ronda Carman
- Years
- 1970-.. (age 56)
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
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Ronda Rice Carman is an American writer and founder of All the Best blog, a Rizzoli author, and founder of Ronda Carman Fine Fabrics. All the Best was named as one of ten top design blogs in 2010 Fox News Carman is a former contributing writer for New York Social Diary and the Huffington Post. Her first book Designers At Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living was named by Amazon as one of the Best Interior Design Books for 2013. In early 2014 Ronda started her own luxury fabric line, Ronda Carman Fine Fabrics.
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Hiram "Doc" Jones
- Occupations
- military leader
- Biography
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Hiram Lee "Doc" Jones is an American United Methodist leader and retired US Air Force chaplain.
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Chris Cralle
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
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Christopher James Cralle is a competitive USA hammer thrower, who is regarded as the most accomplished Sam Houston State athlete in Hammer Throw of all time.
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Jerome Cabeen
- Occupations
- missionary
- Biography
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Jerome Cabeen is an author, speaker, social justice advocate and missionary originally from Houston, Texas, in the United States. He is the author of the Amazon.com bestseller, Memoirs of a Reluctant Servant – Two Years of Triumph and Sorrow in Liberia, Africa. The book reached #1 on the Amazon.com Bestseller List in the Coastal West Africa category. Cabeen lived in Honduras in Central America from 2004 to 2008 and Liberia in West Africa from 2008 to 2010, volunteering as a missionary for Franciscan Works, a Catholic missionary organization based in Chicago. Currently he resides in Beaumont, Texas, and works for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont. He is a practicing Catholic and travels around the United States giving talks and lectures on Liberia, Honduras, social justice teachings and missionary work.
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Alvin Brooks
- Occupations
- basketball playerbasketball coach
- Biography
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Alvin Joseph Brooks Jr. is an American basketball coach who is the head coach of Lamar University's men's basketball team. Brooks returned to Lamar as men's basketball head coach on April 1, 2021. Prior to Lamar, he most recently served as an assistant coach for the Houston Cougars. Brooks has also served as Director of Basketball Operations for the Kentucky Wildcats. He coached the Houston Cougars from 1993 to 1998. He also served as an assistant coach for the Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team and was at Texas A&M through the '06–'07 season.
