100 Notable alumni of
University of South Carolina - Columbia
Updated:
The University of South Carolina - Columbia is 177th in the world, 79th in North America, and 76th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 100 notable alumni from the University of South Carolina - Columbia sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Lindsey Graham
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- In 1977 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- In 1981 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- air force officerlawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Lindsey Olin Graham is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States senator from South Carolina, a seat he has held since 2003. A member of the Republican Party, Graham chaired the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 2019 to 2021.
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Mike Colter
- Occupations
- film actoractortelevision actor
- Biography
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Mike Colter is an American actor best known for his role as Luke Cage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Luke Cage (2016–2018), The Defenders (2017), and Jessica Jones (2015; 2019). He has also appeared as Lemond Bishop in the television series The Good Wife (2010–2015) and The Good Fight (2018–2019), Malcolm Ward in Ringer (2011–2012), Agent J's father in Men in Black 3 (2012), Jameson Locke in the Halo franchise (2014–2015), and David Acosta, a former journalist studying to be a Catholic priest in the CBS/Paramount+ series Evil (2019–2024).
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Ainsley Earhardt
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- television presentercorrespondentnews presenter
- Biography
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Ainsley Earhardt is an American conservative television host and author. She is a co-host of Fox & Friends.
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Darius Rucker
- Occupations
- composersinger-songwriterguitaristsinger
- Biography
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Darius Carlos Rucker is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, which he founded in 1986 at the University of South Carolina along with Mark Bryan, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld, and Dean Felber. The band released five studio albums with Rucker as a member and charted six top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Rucker co-wrote most of the songs with the other members of the band.
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Trey Gowdy
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- In 1989 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- clerklawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Harold Watson "Trey" Gowdy III is an American television news presenter, former politician and former federal prosecutor who served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district from 2011 to 2019. His district included much of the Upstate region of South Carolina, including Greenville and Spartanburg.
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Jo Jorgensen
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- In 2016 graduated with graduate certificate in addiction psychology
- In 2017 graduated with Master of Social Work in social work
- Occupations
- university teacherbusiness executivepolitician
- Biography
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Jo Jorgensen is an American libertarian political activist and academic. Jorgensen was the Libertarian Party's nominee for president of the United States in the 2020 election, in which she finished third in the popular vote with about 1.9 million votes, 1.2% of the national total. She was previously the party's nominee for vice president in the 1996 election, as Harry Browne's running mate. She is a full-time lecturer of psychology at Clemson University.
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Dawn Brancheau
- Occupations
- entertainer
- Biography
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Dawn Therese Brancheau was an American animal trainer at SeaWorld. She worked with orcas at SeaWorld Orlando for fifteen years, including a leading role in revamping the Shamu show, and was SeaWorld's poster girl. She was killed by an orca, Tilikum, who was also involved in the deaths of Keltie Byrne and Daniel P. Dukes.
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Bianca Belair
- Occupations
- professional wrestlerathletics competitor
- Biography
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Bianca Nicole Crawford is an American professional wrestler and fitness and figure competitor. As of April 2016, she is signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Bianca Belair. Belair is one of two women to win at a WrestleMania main event and her 420-day reign as Raw Women's Champion stands as the longest in the championship's history. She is also the only two-time Women's Elimination Chamber winner, once each with Raw and Smackdown.
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Jadeveon Clowney
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Jadeveon Davarus Clowney is an American professional football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, winning the Ted Hendricks Award in 2012. Clowney was selected first overall in the 2014 NFL draft by the Houston Texans, where he spent five seasons. During his final three seasons with the Texans, Clowney received three consecutive Pro Bowl selections and one second-team All-Pro selection. Following his departure from Houston, he played with the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Carolina Panthers before joining the Cowboys in 2025.
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A'ja Wilson
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Studied in 2014-2018
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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A'ja Riyadh Wilson is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Wilson is regarded by many as the best basketball player of her generation, and is widely considered one of the greatest WNBA players of all time.
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Melvin Purvis
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
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Melvin Horace Purvis II was an FBI agent who was instrumental in capturing bank robbers John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd in 1934. In his later military career, he was directly involved with General George Patton, Hermann Göring, and the Nuremberg Trials.
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Cheslie Kryst
- Occupations
- modelbeauty pageant contestantlawyerathletics competitor
- Biography
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Cheslie Corrinne Kryst was an American television correspondent, model, and beauty pageant titleholder. She was also an attorney and a correspondent for the TV show Extra from October 2019 until her death. For her work on Extra, she was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards. As Miss USA 2019, Kryst represented the United States at Miss Universe 2019, where she placed in the Top 10. She was the third woman from North Carolina to win Miss USA.
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Kyle Carpenter
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
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William Kyle Carpenter is a medically retired United States Marine who received the United States' highest military honor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2010. Carpenter is the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient.
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Stephon Gilmore
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Stephon Stiles Gilmore is an American professional football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, receiving third-team All-American and first-team All-SEC honors in 2010. Gilmore was selected 10th overall in the 2012 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills, where he spent his first five seasons and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2016.
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Jasper Johns
- Occupations
- costume designerillustratorsculptorartistphotographer
- Biography
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Jasper Johns is an American painter, sculptor, draftsman, and printmaker. Considered a central figure in the development of American postwar art, he has been variously associated with abstract expressionism, Neo-Dada, and pop art movements.
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Zig Ziglar
- Occupations
- oratormotivational speakerwriter
- Biography
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Hilary Hinton "Zig" Ziglar /zɪg 'zɪglər/ was an American author, salesman, and motivational speaker.
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Stanley Donen
- Occupations
- film directordirectordancerfilm producerchoreographer
- Biography
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Stanley Donen was an American film director and choreographer. He received the Honorary Academy Award in 1998, and the Career Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2004. Four of his films have been inducted into the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress.
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Lilian Garcia
- Occupations
- singertelevision presenterpodcasterbeauty pageant contestantring announcer
- Biography
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Lilián Annette Garcia is an American ring announcer, singer and podcaster. She is signed to WWE as a ring announcer for special events. She also announces for the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
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Toro y Moi
- Occupations
- singerrecord producercomposer
- Biography
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Chaz Bear, known professionally as Toro y Moi and occasionally referred to as Les Sins or simply as "Toro", is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and graphic designer. He is often recognized as a spearhead of the chillwave genre in the 2010s, alongside contemporaries Washed Out and Neon Indian, although his music has explored various styles since. His stage name is a multilingual expression consisting of the Spanish words "toro y" (meaning "bull and") and the French word moi (meaning "me").
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Lee Atwater
- Occupations
- political adviser
- Biography
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Harvey LeRoy "Lee" Atwater was an American political consultant and strategist for the Republican Party. He was an adviser to Republican U.S. presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and chairman of the Republican National Committee. Atwater aroused controversy through his aggressive campaign tactics, especially the Southern strategy.
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J. Marion Sims
- Occupations
- physiciangynecologistsurgeon
- Biography
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James Marion Sims was an American physician in the field of surgery. His most famous work was the development of a surgical technique for the repair of vesicovaginal fistula, a severe complication of obstructed childbirth. He developed this technique via non-consensual and unanesthetized surgeries on enslaved black women Anarcha Westcott, Lucy and Betsey and impoverished Irish women. He is also remembered for inventing the Sims speculum, the Sims sigmoid catheter, and Sims' position. Against significant opposition, he established, in New York, the first hospital in the United States specifically for women. He was forced out of the hospital he founded because he insisted on treating cancer patients; he played a small role in the creation of the nation's first cancer hospital, which opened after his death.
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Johnny Chiang
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Graduated with doctorate
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Chiang Chi-chen, also known by his English name Johnny Chiang, is a Taiwanese political scientist and politician who has served as the vice president of the Legislative Yuan since 2024.
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Henry McMaster
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Henry Dargan McMaster is an American politician and attorney serving since 2017 as the 117th governor of South Carolina. A member of the Republican Party, he served from 2003 to 2011 as the 50th attorney general of South Carolina and from 2015 to 2017 as the 91st lieutenant governor of South Carolina, under Governor Nikki Haley.
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Dan Reeves
- Occupations
- American football coachAmerican football player
- Biography
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Daniel Edward Reeves was an American professional football running back and coach in the National Football League (NFL). During his 38 years in the NFL, Reeves participated in nine Super Bowls, the third most for an individual. He was a head coach for 23 seasons, a position he held with the Denver Broncos from 1981 to 1992, the New York Giants from 1993 to 1996, and the Atlanta Falcons from 1997 to 2003. As a player, he spent his eight-season career with the Dallas Cowboys, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1965.
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Charlie Weis
- Occupations
- head coachcoach
- Biography
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Charles Joseph Weis Sr. is an American former football coach. He was the head coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 2005 to 2009 and the Kansas Jayhawks from 2012 to 2014. He also served as an offensive coordinator in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. Weis most recently hosted "Airing It Out," along with Bob Papa, on Sirius XM NFL Radio.
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Alex English
- Occupations
- basketball playercoachactorbasketball coach
- Biography
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Alexander English, nicknamed The Blade, is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and businessman.
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Firdous Bamji
- Occupations
- film actoractortelevision actor
- Biography
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Firdous Bamji is an Indian-born actor and writer.
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Aliyah Boston
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Studied in 2019-2023
- Occupations
- basketball playerpodcaster
- Biography
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Aliyah Boston is an American professional basketball power forward and center for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Phantom of Unrivaled. She was named 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year in a unanimous vote and the AP Rookie of the Year. She played college basketball at the University of South Carolina.
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Amos Lee
- Occupations
- singerjazz musicianguitaristcomposersinger-songwriter
- Biography
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Amos Lee is an American singer-songwriter whose musical style encompasses folk, rock, and soul.
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Xavier Legette
- Years
- 2001-.. (age 25)
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts in sport management
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Anthony Xavier Legette is an American professional football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected by the Panthers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
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Jackie Bradley, Jr
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Jackie Bradley Jr., nicknamed "JBJ", is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Indianapolis Clowns and sports broadcaster. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Kansas City Royals. Listed at 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) and 200 pounds (91 kg), he bats left and throws right-handed.
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Bob McNair
- Occupations
- businesspersonphilanthropist
- Biography
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Robert C. McNair was an American businessman, philanthropist, and the founding owner of the National Football League (NFL)'s Houston Texans.
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Leeza Gibbons
- Occupations
- film actorradio personalitytelevision presenter
- Biography
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Leeza Kim Gibbons is an American talk show host. She is best known as a correspondent and co-host for Entertainment Tonight (1984–2000) as well as for having her own syndicated daytime talk show, Leeza (1993–2000). In 2013, her book Take 2 became a New York Times bestseller and she won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Host in a Lifestyle or Travel program for the PBS show, My Generation. On February 16, 2015, Gibbons was named the winner of The Celebrity Apprentice; while on the show she raised $714,000 for her charity Leeza's Care Connection.
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Kamilla Cardoso
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Studied in 2021
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Kamilla Soares Cardoso is a Brazilian professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Guangdong Vermilion Birds of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). She played college basketball at Syracuse and South Carolina. She won two national championships with South Carolina in 2022 and 2024, and was named NCAA Tournament MOP in 2024. Cardoso was selected third overall in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky.
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Justin Smoak
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Justin Kyle Smoak is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Francisco Giants and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants.
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Melvin Ingram
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Melvin Ingram III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, earning All-American honors in 2011. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round with the 18th overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft. He has also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins.
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Preston Brooks
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Preston Smith Brooks was an American slaver, politician, and member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina, serving as a member of the Democratic Party from 1853 until his resignation in July 1856 and again from August 1856 until his death.
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Curtis Scaparrotti
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
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Curtis Michael "Mike" Scaparrotti is a retired United States Army four-star general who last served as the commander of United States European Command. He concurrently served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Scaparrotti previously served as the director of the Joint Staff. Prior to his tour with the Joint Staff, Scaparrotti served as commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command and deputy commander, U.S. Forces – Afghanistan, the commanding general of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division.
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Washed Out
- Occupations
- composersinger-songwritersingerrecord producer
- Biography
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Ernest Weatherly Greene Jr., better known by the stage name Washed Out, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is commonly associated with the genres of bedroom pop, chillwave, dream pop, and synth-pop. His 2009 breakout song "Feel It All Around" is generally regarded as the definitive chillwave track that set the template for the genre, leading Pitchfork to dub him the "Godfather of Chillwave".
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Te'a Cooper
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Te'a Omari Cooper is an American professional basketball player who played for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and is currently playing in China’s Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). She played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears, South Carolina Gamecocks, and the Tennessee Volunteers.
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Andrew Card
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Andrew Hill Card Jr. is an American politician and academic administrator who was White House Chief of Staff under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006, as well as head of Bush's White House Iraq Group. Card served as United States Secretary of Transportation under President George H. W. Bush from 1992 to 1993.
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Wade Hampton III
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Wade Hampton III was an American politician from South Carolina. He was a prominent member of one of the richest families in the antebellum Southern United States, owning thousands of acres of cotton land in South Carolina and Mississippi, as well as thousands of slaves. He became a senior general in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War. He also had a career as a leading Democratic Party politician in state and national affairs.
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Jaycee Horn
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Jaycee Carrington Horn is an American professional football cornerback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected eighth overall by the Panthers in the 2021 NFL draft. His father, Joe Horn, played wide receiver in the NFL.
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Sam Wyche
- Occupations
- American football coachAmerican football player
- Biography
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Samuel David Wyche was an American professional football quarterback and coach. He was a quarterback and head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals and a quarterbacks coach for the San Francisco 49ers. As head coach, he led the Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII, which they lost to the 49ers 20–16, relinquishing the lead on a last-minute touchdown. He was also known for introducing the use of the no-huddle offense as a standard offense (as opposed to use at the end of the half).
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J. Michelle Childs
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- lawyerjudge
- Biography
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Julianna Michelle Childs is an American lawyer and jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She was previously a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina from 2010 to 2022 and a judge of the South Carolina Circuit Court from 2006 to 2010.
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Rico Dowdle
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Rico Sharod Dowdle Jr. is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
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P. J. Dozier
- Occupations
- basketball playerprofessional athlete
- Biography
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Perry Linnard "PJ" Dozier Jr. is an American professional basketball player for Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
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Renaldo Balkman
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Renaldo Miguel Balkman is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player for Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for the University of South Carolina before being selected with the 20th overall pick of the 2006 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. After spending six seasons with the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association (NBA), since the 2012–13 season, he has been playing internationally. He has represented the Puerto Rican national team.
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David Beasley
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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David Muldrow Beasley is an American politician, law professor, and the former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme. A member of the Republican Party, he served one term as the 113th Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999 before losing reelection to Democrat Jim Hodges. He also served as a state representative from 1981 until 1995.
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Fritz Hollings
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- In 1947 graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Ernest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings was an American politician from the U.S. state of South Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives representing Charleston County, South Carolina from 1949 to 1954, the 77th lieutenant governor of South Carolina from 1955 to 1959, the 106th governor of South Carolina from 1959 to 1963, and a member of the United States Senate from 1966 to 2005. He served alongside Democrat-turned-Republican U.S. Senate member Strom Thurmond for 36 years, making them the longest-serving duo in U.S. Senate history. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former U.S. senator and the second-oldest living former American governor. As of 2026, he is the last Democrat to hold or win a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina.
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G. G. Jackson
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Gregory "GG" Jackson II is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
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Susan Abulhawa
- Occupations
- writerhuman rights defendernovelistjournalist
- Biography
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Susan Abulhawa is a Palestinian-American scientist, writer, and activist. She is best known for her novels Mornings in Jenin, The Blue Between Sky and Water (2015), and Against the Loveless World (2020). She is a human rights activist and animal rights advocate, and founded the children's organization Playgrounds for Palestine.
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Rita Cosby
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Graduated with bachelor's degree
- Occupations
- writerjournalisttelevision presenterbiographer
- Biography
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Rita Cosby is an American television news anchor for Fox, MSNBC and NewsMax, as well as a best selling author. She is a host on the two-hour news show Saturday Report on Newsmax and a special correspondent for the CBS syndicated program Inside Edition, specializing in interviewing newsmakers and political figures. Cosby has the Jack Anderson Award for investigative excellence, the Matrix Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the Lech Walesa Freedom Award. October 11, 2010, was declared "Rita Cosby Day" in the State of New York for her “extraordinary journalism and exemplary service on behalf of her community.”
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Sindarius Thornwell
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Studied in 2013
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Sindarius Dyquann Thornwell is an American professional basketball player for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Thornwell was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 48th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft before he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
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Chris Silva
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Chris Silva Obame Correia Silva is a Gabonese professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
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John Abraham
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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John Antonio Nettles-Abraham is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and linebacker for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, and was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft. Abraham also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals. A three-time first-team All-Pro and five-time selection for the Pro Bowl, Abraham is often regarded as one of the greatest defensive ends of the 2000s, and universally cited as one of the greatest defensive linemen in the history of the New York Jets.
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Paul Jubb
- Occupations
- tennis player
- Biography
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Paul Jubb is a British tennis player. He has a career high ATP singles ranking of world No. 180, achieved on 28 October 2024. Jubb won the singles title at the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship as a member of the South Carolina Gamecocks.
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Allisha Gray
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Studied in 2015-2017
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Allisha Gray is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Mist of Unrivaled. She won a gold medal in women's 3x3 basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
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Anthony Gill
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Anthony Remeral Gill is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Gill played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Virginia Cavaliers.
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Tom Rice
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- In 1979 graduated with Bachelor of Science
- In 1982 graduated with Master of Arts
- In 1982 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- accountantlawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Hugh Thompson Rice Jr. is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 7th congressional district from 2013 to 2023. The district serves most of the northeastern corner of the state and includes Myrtle Beach, the Grand Strand, Florence, Cheraw, and Darlington. A Republican, Rice was first elected in 2012 and was a member of the freshman class chosen to sit at the House Republican leadership table. Rice was reelected in 2014, defeating Democratic nominee Gloria Bromell Tinubu in a rematch of the 2012 election.
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Josh Wolff
- Occupations
- association football playerassociation football coach
- Biography
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Joshua David Wolff is an American former soccer player and current assistant coach for Minnesota United FC.
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Dick Harpootlian
- Years
- 1949-.. (age 77)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Richard A. "Dick" Harpootlian is an American attorney and politician who served as a member of the South Carolina Senate from the 20th district from 2018 to 2024. He served as the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2013. He also previously served as solicitor (district attorney) for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina from 1991 until 1995.
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Chloe Kitts
- Years
- 2004-.. (age 22)
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Chloe Kitts is an American college basketball player for the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
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Matt Watson
- Occupations
- musicianYouTuberpodcastercomedianmusic video director
- Biography
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Matthew Watson is an American YouTuber, comedian, musician, and podcaster. Alongside Ryan Magee, he is the co-creator and co-host of the variety-comedy YouTube channel SuperMega, which has over 1 million subscribers on the site. SuperMega's videos include comedy sketches, Let's Plays, vlogs, movie commentary tracks, and their weekly video podcast, supermegashow.
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Mignon Clyburn
- Occupations
- civil servant
- Biography
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Mignon Letitia Clyburn is an American former government official who served as a member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2009 to 2018.
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Larry Kellner
- Occupations
- businessperson
- Biography
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Lawrence W. Kellner is a former CEO of Continental Airlines, having succeeded Gordon Bethune as CEO in December 2004. Prior to his arrival at Continental, he was the chief financial officer of American Savings Bank. Kellner retired as the airline's CEO at the end of December 2009. During his career at Continental, he previously was a vice president, chief financial officer and chief operating officer. He was chairman of The Boeing Company from 2019 to 2024. Kellner is president of Emerald Creek Group, LLC - a Texas-based private equity firm primarily focused on real estate and is on the board of directors at ExxonMobil.
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Natasha Hastings
- Occupations
- athletics competitorsprinter
- Biography
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Natasha Monique Hastings is a retired American 400 meter track and field sprinter.
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Bruce Ellington
- Occupations
- basketball playerAmerican football player
- Biography
-
Bruce Ellington is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft.
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James Strom Thurmond Jr
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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James Strom Thurmond Jr. is a former United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina and 2nd Circuit Solicitor. He is one of four children born to long-serving United States Senator Strom Thurmond and Nancy (Moore) Thurmond. His younger brother, Paul, is a former member of the South Carolina Senate. Thurmond graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1995 and University of South Carolina School of Law in 1998. He has been Strom Thurmond's oldest living child since the deaths of his sister Nancy in 1993 and his half-sister Essie in 2013.
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Clarke Schmidt
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Clarke Douglas Schmidt is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). Schmidt played college baseball for the South Carolina Gamecocks, and was selected by the Yankees in the first round, 16th overall, of the 2017 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2020.
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Bobby Cremins
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Graduated with marketing
- Occupations
- basketball playerbasketball coach
- Biography
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Robert Joseph Cremins Jr. is an American retired college basketball coach. He served as a head coach at Appalachian State, Georgia Tech, and the College of Charleston.
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John B. Floyd
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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John Buchanan Floyd was an American politician who served as the 31st Governor of Virginia. Under president James Buchanan, he also served as the U.S. Secretary of War from 1857 to 1860. Floyd is also known as the Confederate general in the American Civil War who lost the crucial Battle of Fort Donelson.
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Richard Riley
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Richard Wilson Riley is an American politician who served as the sixth United States secretary of education from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton and as the 111th governor of South Carolina from 1979 to 1987. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Riley is the only Democrat to serve two consecutive terms as governor in the time since the state constitution was amended to allow governors to serve consecutive terms.
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Devin Carter
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Studied public health
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Devin Carter is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Providence Friars and the South Carolina Gamecocks.
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Tarence Kinsey
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Tarence Anthony Kinsey is an American former professional basketball player. He played for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association. He also played for several teams in Europe. He played college basketball for University of South Carolina.
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Darian Stewart
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Darian Stewart is an American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent after the 2010 NFL draft. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As a member of the Broncos, he won a Super Bowl ring in Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers. He was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2017.
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Ryan Hilinski
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Ryan J. Hilinski is an American former college football quarterback who played for the South Carolina Gamecocks and Northwestern Wildcats.
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William Timmons
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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William Richardson Timmons IV is an American politician, prosecutor, and Air Force officer serving as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district since 2019. His district is in the heart of the Upstate and includes Greenville, Spartanburg, and most of their suburbs. A member of the Republican Party, Timmons served as a South Carolina state senator from 2016 to 2018.
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States Rights Gist
- Occupations
- lawyermilitary officer
- Biography
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States Rights Gist was a lawyer and militia general in South Carolina, and later a Confederate Army brigadier general during the American Civil War. He gained prominence during the war but was killed at the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864. Gist was named after the Southern states' rights doctrine of nullification, reflecting the political beliefs of his father, Nathaniel Gist, a follower of John C. Calhoun.
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Jake Bentley
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Jacob Lane Bentley is an American football coach and former player who is currently serving as the head coach at Nation Ford High School in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Bentley played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, the Utah Utes, and the South Alabama Jaguars.
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Robert F. Furchgott
- Occupations
- pharmacologistuniversity teacherbiochemistchemistpharmacist
- Biography
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Robert Francis Furchgott was an American Nobel Prize winning biochemist who contributed to the discovery of nitric oxide as a transient cellular signal in mammalian systems.
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Lonnie Chisenhall
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Lonnie David Chisenhall is an American former professional baseball third baseman and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians. He made his MLB debut with the Indians in June 2011 while playing third base. Chisenhall transitioned to right field later in his career.
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Stephen K. Benjamin
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Stephen Keith Benjamin is an American politician and lawyer who served as the Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement under President Joe Biden from April 1, 2023 to January 20, 2025. Benjamin previously as Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina from July 1, 2010 to January 4, 2022 becoming the city’s first African American mayor. He has also held leadership roles in several national organizations, including serving as President of both the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the African American Mayors Association.
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Robby Wells
- Occupations
- politicianAmerican football player
- Biography
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Robert Andrew Crawford Wells is an American politician and former college football coach. He was the head football coach at Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
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Bill Oberst, Jr
- Occupations
- television actorvoice actorstage actoractor
- Biography
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William Oberst Jr. is an American stage, film and television actor. Known for his work in horror and cult films, his career includes projects in film, television and one-man-show theater performances. He first received recognition for his portrayals of icon and humorist Lewis Grizzard as performed in theatrical tours across the Southern United States, and played the 'Facebook Stalker' in the 2011 online interactive video film and Facebook app Take This Lollipop and its 2020 sequel.
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André Bauer
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Rudolph Andreas "André" Bauer is an American businessman and politician who was the 87th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 2003 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. Bauer was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives (1996–1999) and a member of the South Carolina State Senate (1999–2003). In 2016, he became a CNN political analyst, supporting the presidential campaign of Donald Trump. CNN dismissed Bauer in February 2019.
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Lewis Charles Levin
- Occupations
- lawyerjournalisteditorpolitician
- Biography
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Lewis Charles Levin was an American politician, newspaper editor and anti-Catholic social activist. He was one of the founders of the American Party in 1842 and served as a member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district from 1845 to 1851. Levin was the second person of Jewish descent elected to the United States Congress after David Levy Yulee.
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Rachel Hunt
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Rachel Henderson Hunt is an American politician serving as the 36th lieutenant governor of North Carolina since 2025 under Governor Josh Stein. A Democrat, Hunt previously was a member of the North Carolina State Senate, having been elected in November 2022 to represent the 42nd district, based in Mecklenburg County. Previously, she served two terms in the North Carolina House, twice defeating Republican Bill Brawley.
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Justice Cunningham
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Justice Cunningham is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. In the 2013 NFL draft, he was the 254th and last player to be drafted, making Cunningham the year's Mr. Irrelevant. Cunningham was the second consecutive Mr. Irrelevant for the Indianapolis Colts, who chose Chandler Harnish as the last pick of 2012 NFL draft.
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A.J. Lawson
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Anthony Randolph "A.J." Lawson is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
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Olin D. Johnston
- Enrolled in the University of South Carolina - Columbia
- In 1923 graduated with postgraduate degree
- In 1924 graduated with law
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Olin DeWitt Talmadge Johnston was an American politician from the US state of South Carolina. He served as the 98th governor of South Carolina, from 1935 to 1939 and again from 1943 to 1945. He represented the state in the United States Senate from 1945 until his death from pneumonia in Columbia, South Carolina in 1965. He has become infamously remembered for denying clemency to George Stinney, a 14 year-old African American boy who was wrongfully sentenced to death in 1944 after a trial that lasted for one single day, a conviction overturned 70 years later.
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Giuliana Olmos
- Occupations
- tennis player
- Biography
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Giuliana Marion Olmos Dick is an Austrian-born Mexican professional tennis player. Olmos, a graduate of USC, has a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 6, achieved on 10 April 2023. She has won seven doubles titles on the WTA Tour. With her partner Desirae Krawczyk, she became the first Mexican player in the Open era to reach a WTA Tour final, at the 2018 Monterrey Open. In 2019, she became the first Mexican player to win a title on WTA Tour, taking the doubles crown at the Nottingham Open. In 2020, she became the first Mexican woman to win the Mexican Open, also with Krawczyk. And at last in 2022, she became the first Mexican woman to enter the top 10 in the WTA rankings in either singles or doubles. She has a best singles ranking of world No. 343, achieved on 4 March 2019, and has won four singles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit.
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Jim Hodges
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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James Hovis Hodges is an American businessman, attorney, and politician who served as the 114th governor of South Carolina from 1999 to 2003. A former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, Hodges is the most recent Democrat to serve as the state's governor.
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Heath Hembree
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Richard Heath Hembree, nicknamed Heater, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Listed at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and 220 pounds (100 kg), Hembree throws and bats right-handed. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2013 and has also played for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Rays.
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Dandridge McRae
- Occupations
- military leader
- Biography
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Dandridge McRae was an American lawyer, court official, and Inspector General of Arkansas State Troops, as well as a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He served in several key battles that helped secure Arkansas for the Confederacy, prolonging the war in the Western Theater.
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Frederick Hart
- Occupations
- sculptor
- Biography
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Frederick Elliott Hart was an American sculptor. The creator of hundreds of public monuments, private commissions, portraits, and other works of art, Hart is most famous for Ex Nihilo, a part of his Creation Sculptures at Washington National Cathedral, and The Three Servicemen (also known as The Three Soldiers), at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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Clint Mathis
- Occupations
- association football playerassociation football coach
- Biography
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Clint Mathis is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward or midfielder. He appeared at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring one goal. He also played in Major League Soccer for the MetroStars, where he scored five goals during a game in August 2000, a league record.
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K. J. Hill
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Reanard O’Keith "K. J." Hill Jr. is an American professional football coach for South Florida Bulls. He is a former wide receiver. He played high school football at North Little Rock High School in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He played college football at Ohio State. He is the second all-time leading receiver for the Buckeyes with 201 career receptions.
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James M. Richardson
- Occupations
- military officer
- Biography
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James M. Richardson is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who last served as Deputy Commanding General for Combat Development of the United States Army Futures Command from 2018 to 2022, as well as the Acting Commander of Futures Command from 2021 to 2022. He was commissioned in 1983, through ROTC at the University of South Carolina. He is married to General Laura J. Richardson.
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James Bonham
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
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James Butler Bonham was a 19th-century American soldier who died at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. He was a second cousin of William B. Travis and was a messenger of the Battle of the Alamo. His younger brother, Milledge Luke Bonham, was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army in the American Civil War, and served as Governor of South Carolina from 1862 to 1864.
