100 Notable alumni of
Washington State University
Updated:
Washington State University is 277th in the world, 117th in North America, and 110th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 100 notable alumni from Washington 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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Dolph Lundgren
- Occupations
- bodybuilderengineerjudokamodelchemist
- Biography
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Hans "Dolph" Lundgren is a Swedish actor, filmmaker, and martial artist. He gained recognition for portraying the Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in his breakthrough role in Rocky IV (1985), a role he reprised in Creed II (2018).
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Klay Thompson
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Klay Alexander Thompson is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played his first 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, where Thompson was part of the "Splash Brothers." He is widely regarded as one of the best three-point shooters of all time. Thompson is a four-time NBA champion, a five-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA Third Team honoree, and was once named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He has also won gold medals with the United States national team on their 2014 World Cup team and 2016 Olympic team.
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Paul Allen
- Occupations
- film producerrecord producerco-foundertelevision producerphilanthropist
- Biography
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Paul Gardner Allen was an American businessman, computer programmer, and investor. He co-founded Microsoft Corporation with his childhood friend Bill Gates in 1975, which was followed by the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s. Allen was also known for discovering the wrecks of various famous warships, like the IJN Musashi and USS Indianapolis, and was ranked as one of the richest people in American history by Forbes, with an estimated net worth of $20.3 billion at the time of his death in October 2018.
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LaVar Ball
- Occupations
- basketball playerAmerican football playerentrepreneur
- Biography
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LaVar Christopher Ball is an American businessman. He is the co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the sports apparel company Big Baller Brand and founder of the now defunct Junior Basketball Association (JBA). He is the father of two professional basketball players: Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Lonzo Ball and Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball. LiAngelo, his second oldest son, is signed with Def Jam as a hip hop recording artist.
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Timothy Leary
- Occupations
- actorpsychologistwriter
- Biography
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Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and author known for his strong advocacy of psychedelic drugs. Evaluations of Leary are polarized, ranging from "bold oracle" to "publicity hound". According to poet Allen Ginsberg, he was "a hero of American consciousness", while writer Tom Robbins called him a "brave neuronaut". President Richard Nixon disagreed, calling Leary "the most dangerous man in America". During the 1960s and 1970s, at the height of the counterculture movement, Leary was arrested 36 times.
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Drew Bledsoe
- Occupations
- winegrowerAmerican football player
- Biography
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Drew McQueen Bledsoe is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars, receiving second-team All-American honors and winning Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 1992. Bledsoe was selected first overall in the 1993 NFL draft by the Patriots, where he spent his first nine seasons. As the Patriots' starting quarterback, Bledsoe ended a seven-year postseason drought and led them to four playoff appearances, two division titles, and one Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XXXI. He was also named to three Pro Bowls and became the youngest quarterback to receive the honor in 1995.
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Patrick Rothfuss
- Enrolled in Washington State University
- Graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- novelistteacherwriter
- Biography
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Patrick James Rothfuss is an American author. He is best known for his highly acclaimed series The Kingkiller Chronicle, beginning with Rothfuss' debut novel, The Name of the Wind (2007), which won several awards, and continuing in the sequel, The Wise Man's Fear (2011), which topped The New York Times Best Seller list.
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Gardner Minshew
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Gardner Flint Minshew II is an American professional football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He began his college football career with the Northwest Mississippi Rangers, winning the NJCAA National Football Championship, and played his next two years for the East Carolina Pirates. Minshew used his final year of eligibility with the Washington State Cougars, setting the Pac-12 Conference season records for passing yards and completions and winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
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Ryan Leaf
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Ryan David Leaf is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for four seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the San Diego Chargers and the Dallas Cowboys between 1998 and 2001, and also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks.
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Steve Gleason
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Stephen Michael Gleason is an American former professional football player who played as a safety with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars. Originally signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000, he played for the Saints through the 2006 season. As a free agent in 2008, Gleason retired from the NFL after eight seasons.
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Bianca Kajlich
- Occupations
- television actorfilm actor
- Biography
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Bianca Kajlich is an American actress. Kajlich has had starring and supporting roles in television and film including the role of Jennifer on the CBS comedy Rules of Engagement (2007–2013). Kajlich also starred as final girl Sara Moyer in the horror film Halloween: Resurrection (2002), Leslie Burton on the NBC sitcom Undateable (2014–2016), and Christina Henry on the 5th season of the Prime Video original series Bosch.
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Edward R. Murrow
- Occupations
- journalist
- Biography
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Edward Roscoe Murrow was an American broadcast journalist and war correspondent.
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Patty Murray
- Enrolled in Washington State University
- In 1972 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in physical education
- Occupations
- politicianteacherinstructorlobbyistvolunteer
- Biography
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Patricia Lynn Murray is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from Washington, a seat she has held since 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, she held the position of president pro tempore of the Senate from 2023 to 2025. Murray served in the Washington State Senate from 1989 to 1993. She was Washington's first female U.S. senator and is the first woman in American history to hold the position of president pro tempore. Murray is also the youngest senator to occupy the office of president pro tempore in more than five decades.
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Aron Baynes
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Aron John Baynes is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Washington State University before starting his professional career in Europe. In 2013, he joined the San Antonio Spurs, and a year later, won an NBA championship with the Spurs. He has also played with the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors. In the National Basketball League (NBL), he played for the Brisbane Bullets between 2022 and 2024. Baynes also played for the Australian national team.
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Mark Driscoll
- Occupations
- writerpastor
- Biography
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Mark A. Driscoll is an American evangelical pastor and author. He is the senior and founding pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, which was established in 2016.
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Dennis Crosby
- Occupations
- singeractortelevision actor
- Biography
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Dennis Michael Crosby was an American singer and occasional actor, the son of singer and actor Bing Crosby and his first wife Dixie Lee, and twin brother of Phillip Crosby. He was the father of Star Trek TNG actress Denise Crosby, who was named after him.
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Sherman Alexie
- Occupations
- poetscreenwriterwriterchildren's writernovelist
- Biography
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Sherman Joseph Alexie Jr. is a Spokane novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, and filmmaker. His writings draw on his experiences as an Indigenous American with ancestry from several tribes. Alexie grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation and now lives in Seattle, Washington.
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Mark Rypien
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Mark Robert Rypien is a Canadian-born former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL draft. He was named Super Bowl MVP, doing so in Super Bowl XXVI with the Redskins. He also played for several other NFL teams. His nephew Brett plays in the NFL as a quarterback.
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Josh Hawkinson
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Joshua Haakon Hawkinson is an American-born Japanese professional basketball player for Sun Rockers Shibuya of the B.League. He played college basketball for the Washington State Cougars, where he finished his career as the school's all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles.
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John Olerud
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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John Garrett Olerud Jr. is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1989 through 2005, most prominently as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays team that won two consecutive World Series championships in 1992 and 1993. He also played for the New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox.
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Ed Viesturs
- Occupations
- mountaineer
- Biography
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Edmund "Ed" Viesturs is an American high-altitude mountaineer, corporate speaker, and well known author in the mountain climbing community. He was the first American to climb all 14 of the eight-thousander mountains, and the 5th person to do so without supplemental oxygen. In 2023, Guinness World Records reclassified the first person to summit the true summits of all 8000ers and awarded Viesturs the record of the first ascent of all 14 peaks. This claim has been strongly disputed.
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Jamie Kern
- Occupations
- television actorbeauty pageant contestantreality television participant
- Biography
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Jamie Kern Lima is an American entrepreneur, investor, and media personality. She co-founded IT Cosmetics, which she sold to L'Oréal for $1.2 billion, in 2016, becoming the first female chief executive officer of a L'Oréal brand. Kern Lima has been included on the Forbes' list of "America's Richest Self-Made Women," since 2017.
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Lowell Lo
- Occupations
- actorcomposersongwriterenvironmentalistmusician
- Biography
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Lowell Lo Kwun Ting is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter, actor and film composer. He wrote the film scores to many Hong Kong films, and in particular, the theme music of the Hong Kong Film Awards. He is now also an environmental activist.
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Malachi Flynn
- Enrolled in Washington State University
- Studied in 2016-2018
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Malachi Emmanuel Flynn is an American-born naturalized Turkish professional basketball player for Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroCup. He played college basketball for the Washington State Cougars and the San Diego State Aztecs. He was selected 29th by the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft.
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Luke Falk
- Enrolled in Washington State University
- Studied in 2013
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Lucas Andrew Falk is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars, and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
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Bernard Lagat
- Occupations
- long-distance runnerathletics competitormiddle-distance runner
- Biography
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Bernard Kipchirchir Lagat is a Kenyan-American former middle and long-distance runner.
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Ron Cey
- Occupations
- baseball playerfilm actor
- Biography
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Ronald Charles Cey, nicknamed "the Penguin," is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman from 1971 through 1987, most notably as an integral member of the Los Angeles Dodgers teams that won four National League pennants and one World Series championship. A six-time All-Star, Cey was named the World Series MVP after leading the Dodgers to victory during the 1981 World Series. He ended his career playing for the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics. Cey was nicknamed "The Penguin" for his slow waddling running gait by his college coach, Chuck "Bobo" Brayton.
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Chris Ivory
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Christopher Lee Ivory is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars and Tiffin Dragons and was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2010. In 2013, Ivory was traded to the New York Jets, where he saw an expanded role, eventually becoming the team's primary running back by 2014 and being named to the Pro Bowl in 2015. He then spent the next three seasons as a backup with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.
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Jason Hanson
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Jason Douglas Hanson is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker who spent his entire 21-year career with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football with the Washington State Cougars, he was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft with the 56th overall pick. Hanson holds the NFL record for the most seasons played with one team and also holds multiple kicking and scoring records. Due to his longevity and statistical success, even on many non-playoff teams, Hanson is often cited as one of the most-loved players in Detroit Lions franchise history.
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Peter Snell
- Occupations
- athletics competitormiddle-distance runner
- Biography
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Sir Peter George Snell KNZM OBE was a New Zealand middle-distance runner. He won three Olympic gold medals, and is the only man since 1920 to have won the 800 and 1500 metres at the same Olympics, in 1964.
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Ronald J. Shurer
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
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Ronald Joseph Shurer II was a United States Army Special Forces staff sergeant and medic. As a senior medical sergeant during the Battle of Shok Valley in April 2008, he and his team were attacked by an enemy force of more than 200 fighters. Shurer fought for more than an hour to reach part of his unit, killing several insurgents along the way. He was initially awarded a Silver Star for this action, but in 2016 The Pentagon upgraded this recognition to a Medal of Honor. He received the latter honor in a White House ceremony on October 1, 2018.
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Dan Newhouse
- Enrolled in Washington State University
- In 1977 graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- farmerpolitician
- Biography
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Daniel Milton Newhouse is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Washington's 4th congressional district. The district covers much of the central third of the state, including Yakima and the Tri-Cities. Before his election to Congress, Newhouse served as director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture and as a member of the Washington House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party.
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Frankie Luvu
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Frankie Luvu is an American Samoan professional football linebacker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars before signing with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Luvu has also played for the Carolina Panthers and earned second-team All-Pro honors with the Commanders in 2024.
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Mike Utley
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Michael Gerard Utley is an American former professional football player who was a guard for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars, earning first-team All-American honors in 1988. Utley was selected in the third round of the 1989 NFL draft. He played for Detroit from 1989 until 1991, when he was paralyzed during a game.
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Louie Hinchliffe
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
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Louie Hinchliffe is a British sprinter. On 7 June 2024, he won the 2024 NCAA Championships 100 metres title with a time of 9.95 seconds for the University of Houston Cougars. That month, he also won the 100m title at the British Athletics Championships. Selected for his first Olympic Games later that month, Hinchliffe was part of the Great Britain team that won bronze in the men's 4 x 100 metre relay in Paris 2024. In 2025, Hinchliffe signed a partnership with ASICS.
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Deone Bucannon
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Deone Ariel Bucannon is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars. Originally drafted as a safety, Bucannon transitioned to play a hybrid safety-linebacker role in the Cardinals's 3–4 defense.
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Marcus Trufant
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Marcus Lavon Trufant is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars, and was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks 11th overall in the 2003 NFL draft.
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Taylor Rochestie
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Taylor Campbell Rochestie is an American-born naturalized Montenegrin former professional basketball player. He represented the senior Montenegrin national team internationally. He also holds an Israeli citizenship. Standing at a height of 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), he played at the point guard position. Rochestie won the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy in 2015.
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Tom Niedenfuer
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Thomas Edward Niedenfuer is an American former professional baseball right-handed pitcher. Exclusively a reliever during his ten-year career, he played his first six-plus seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers, then finished out with the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and St. Louis Cardinals.
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Matt Hague
- Occupations
- baseball playerbaseball coach
- Biography
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Matthew Donald Hague is an American professional baseball first baseman and coach. He is the hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB).
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Christopher Waller
- Enrolled in Washington State University
- In 1985 graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- economist
- Biography
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Christopher J. Waller is an American economist who has been a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors since 2020. A nominee of President Donald Trump, he was confirmed by the Senate in December 2020 to serve through January 2030.
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Jack Elway
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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John Albert Elway Sr. was an American football player and coach. He was the head coach at California State University, Northridge from 1976 to 1978, at San Jose State University from 1979 to 1983, and at Stanford University from 1984 to 1989, compiling a career college football record of 80–60–4. Elway also served as the head coach for the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League of American Football (WLAF) from 1991 to 1992, tallying a mark of 10–10. He was the father of John Elway, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback.
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Jaylen Wells
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Jaylen Wells is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Sonoma State Seawolves and the Washington State Cougars.
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Adam Braidwood
- Occupations
- mixed martial arts fighter
- Biography
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Adam Braidwood is a Canadian professional boxer, actor, martial artist and retired professional football defensive end.
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Gene Conley
- Occupations
- basketball playerbaseball player
- Biography
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Donald Eugene Conley was an American professional baseball and basketball player. He pitched for four teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1952 to 1963. Conley also played as a forward in the 1952–53 season and from 1958 to 1964 for two teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is the 2nd person (Otto Graham) to win championships in two of the four major American sports: one with the Milwaukee Braves in the 1957 World Series and three with the Boston Celtics from 1959 to 1961.
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Brock Motum
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Brock William Motum is an Australian professional basketball player for Toyama Grouses of the Japanese B.League. He is a 6-foot-10-inch (2.08 m) power forward-centre and has played for the Australian national basketball team.
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Patrick F. McManus
- Occupations
- columnistwriterhumorist
- Biography
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Patrick Francis McManus was an American educator and humor writer, who primarily wrote about the outdoors. A humor columnist and editor for Outdoor Life from 1983 to 2009, and Field & Stream from 1977 to 1982, as well as other magazines, his columns and stories have been collected in several books, beginning with A Fine and Pleasant Misery (1978) up through The Good Samaritan Strikes Again (1992) and The Horse in My Garage and Other Stories (2012).
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Tod Andrews
- Occupations
- television actorstage actoractorfilm actor
- Biography
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Tod Andrews was an American stage, screen, and television actor.
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Henry Rono
- Occupations
- long-distance runnerathletics competitor
- Biography
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Henry Rono was a Kenyan track and field athlete who specialised in various long-distance running events. Although he never competed at the Olympics, Rono is remembered as one of the most prolific collegiate competitors in the history of track in the United States, as well as being the former record holder for the 3000 metres steeplechase for over a decade. Rono also set the world record for the 5000 metres twice: once in 1978, then again in 1981.
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Rich Cho
- Occupations
- general manager
- Biography
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Richard Cho is an American basketball executive who currently serves as the Vice President of Basketball Strategy of the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. Prior to the Grizzlies, Cho was the general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers and the Charlotte Hornets, and the assistant general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Cho was the first Asian-American general manager in NBA history.
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Mike Lowry
- Occupations
- preface authorpolitician
- Biography
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Michael Edward Lowry was an American politician who served as the 20th governor of Washington from 1993 to 1997. His political career ended when his deputy press secretary, Susanne Albright, made accusations of sexual misconduct against him. A member of the Democratic Party, Lowry served as a United States representative from Washington's 7th congressional district from 1979 to 1989, and unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 1983 and 1988.
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James Donaldson
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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James Lee Donaldson III is a British-American former professional basketball player who grew up in California and played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association and several leagues across Europe. Born in Heacham, England, Donaldson played high school basketball for Luther Burbank High School in California before enrolling at Washington State University to play for the Cougars.
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Larry Lujack
- Occupations
- disc jockey
- Biography
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Larry Lujack, also called Superjock, Lawrence of Chicago, Charming and Delightful Ol' Uncle Lar, and King of the Corn Belt, was a Top 40 music radio disc jockey who was well known for his world-weary sarcastic style. Some of his more popular routines included Klunk Letter of the Day, the darkly humorous Animal Stories with sidekick Tommy Edwards as Little Tommy, and the Cheap Trashy Show Biz Report.
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Michael Baumgartner
- Enrolled in Washington State University
- In 1999 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Michael James Baumgartner is an American politician and former diplomat currently serving as the U.S. representative from Washington's 5th congressional district, a post he has held since 2025. Baumgartner, a Republican, previously served as the 28th Spokane County treasurer and as a member of the Washington State Senate, representing the 6th district from 2011 to 2019 and was his party's nominee in the 2012 election for the United States Senate, unsuccessfully challenging Democratic incumbent Maria Cantwell.
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Jack Thompson
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Jack Byron Thompson, nicknamed "the Throwin' Samoan", is an American Samoan former professional football quarterback. Thompson played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons, four with the Cincinnati Bengals and two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars. He was selected by the Bengals in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft with the third overall pick.
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Chad Little
- Occupations
- lawyerracing driver
- Biography
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Charles Glen Little Jr. is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He holds a degree in marketing from Washington State University and a J.D. degree from Gonzaga University. While attending Washington State University, he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity.
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Anthony Gordon
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Anthony Gordon is an American former football quarterback. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars and went undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft. He was a member of the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and Denver Broncos organizations during his three seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
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Mark Hendrickson
- Occupations
- basketball playerbaseball player
- Biography
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Mark Allan Hendrickson is an American former baseball and basketball player. Hendrickson was a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) and played power forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He is one of just 13 athletes to play in both MLB and the NBA, and the most recent to do so. He is a former pitching coach for the Aberdeen IronBirds.
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Josh Akognon
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Joshua Emmanuel Akognon is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Washington State Cougars and Cal State Fullerton Titans. Standing at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), he played at the point guard position.
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Husain Abdullah
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Husain Ibn Muhammed Abdullah is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2008 and also played for the Kansas City Chiefs. He retired from the NFL after seven seasons due to multiple concussions sustained during his career and concern for his future health. Abdullah played college football for the Washington State Cougars. He is the younger brother of former NFL safety Hamza Abdullah.
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Pete Rademacher
- Occupations
- American football playerboxer
- Biography
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Thomas Peter Rademacher was an American heavyweight boxer. As an amateur, he was a gold medalist at the 1956 Olympics. Rademacher became the only person to challenge for the world heavyweight championship in his first professional bout when he faced Floyd Patterson in Seattle on August 22, 1957. He compiled a 15-7-1 record over 23 professional bouts.
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Denny Rehberg
- Enrolled in Washington State University
- In 1977 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- husbandry workerpolitician
- Biography
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Dennis Ray Rehberg is an American rancher, cattle and cashmere farmer, and retired Republican politician. He served as the lieutenant governor of Montana from 1991 to 1997 and as the U.S. representative for Montana's at-large congressional district from 2001 to 2013. Rehberg was the Republican nominee for the United States Senate in 1996 and 2012, losing to Democratic incumbents Max Baucus 50% to 45% and Jon Tester 49% to 45%, respectively. He subsequently became a co-chairman at Mercury, a Washington D.C. lobbying firm. In 2024, Rehberg ran for Congress in Montana's 2nd congressional district, but was defeated in the Republican primary.
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Jean Hegland
- Occupations
- novelist
- Biography
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Jean Hegland is an American novelist.
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C. J. Elleby
- Enrolled in Washington State University
- Studied sociology
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Charles James Elleby is an American professional basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva B.C. of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He played college basketball for the Washington State Cougars, and was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
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George Reed
- Occupations
- Canadian football playerAmerican football player
- Biography
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George Robert Reed CM SOM was an American college football and Canadian Football League (CFL) player. Reed, along with Mike Pringle and Johnny Bright, is one of the players most often mentioned as being the greatest running back in CFL history. In November 2006, Reed was voted the second greatest CFL player ever in CFL's Top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.
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Art Gilmore
- Occupations
- announceractorvoice actor
- Biography
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Arthur Wells Gilmore was an American actor and announcer heard on radio and television programs, children's records, movies, trailers, radio commercials, and documentary films. He also appeared in several television series and a few feature films.
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Mel Hein
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Melvin Jack Hein, nicknamed "Old Indestructible", was an American professional football player. In the era of one-platoon football, he played as a center (then a position on both offense and defense) and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 as part of the first class of inductees. He was also named to the National Football League (NFL) 75th, and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
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Shalom Luani
- Occupations
- association football playerAmerican football player
- Biography
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Shalom Luani is a former American football safety. He has also represented American Samoa in soccer, having scored against Tonga in American Samoa's first-ever win in FIFA-sanctioned play. Luani, who played as a forward, scored twice for American Samoa in November 2011, making him (at the time) the country's joint–top goalscorer of all time with fellow forward Ramin Ott.
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Jayden de Laura
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Jayden de Laura is an American football quarterback for the Vegas Knight Hawks of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars football team before transferring to the Arizona Wildcats football team in 2022.
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Kathy Brock
- Occupations
- journalist
- Biography
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Kathy Brock is an American former news anchor at WLS-TV, Chicago's ABC affiliate. She was a co-anchor of the station's 6 pm and 10 pm news broadcasts alongside Alan Krashesky.
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George Nethercutt
- Enrolled in Washington State University
- In 1967 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- clerklawyerpolitician
- Biography
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George Rector Nethercutt Jr. was an American lawyer, author, and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he rose to national attention upon his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, when he defeated Tom Foley, the speaker of the house, in Washington's 5th congressional district. Nethercutt served five terms and left the House in 2004, when he mounted an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate.
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Kyle Weaver
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Kyle Donovan Weaver is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Washington State University, and was drafted 38th overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2008 NBA draft. Weaver, a 6-foot-6-inch (1.98 m) shooting guard-small forward, was born in Beloit, Wisconsin. His father, LaMont Weaver, played collegiate basketball at the University of Wisconsin.
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Aaron Sele
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Aaron Helmer Sele is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) right-handed pitcher. Sele debuted with the Boston Red Sox in 1993. He was traded to the Texas Rangers after the 1997 season and was named to the All-Star team in 1998. He signed as a free agent with the Seattle Mariners in 2000 and became an All-Star for the second and final time that season. He later pitched for the Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets before retiring after the 2007 season. Sele won 15 or more games in four consecutive seasons from 1998 to 2001. His 69 wins in those four years led the American League, but during that stretch he had no wins and 6 losses in the postseason, the most losses for an MLB pitcher without a postseason win.
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Paul Wulff
- Occupations
- American football coachAmerican football player
- Biography
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Paul Louis Wulff is an American football coach and former player who most recently served as the head football coach at California Polytechnic State University from 2022 until 2025. Wulff previously served as the head coach at Eastern Washington University from 2000 to 2007 and at Washington State University from 2008 to 2011. As a student-athlete, he played on the offensive line at Washington State during the late 1980s, earning honorable mention All-American honors following his senior season in 1989.
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Jeff Tuel
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Jeffrey Victor Tuel is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and spent most of 2013 and 2014 as the Bills' third-string quarterback. He was also a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Philip Abelson
- Occupations
- physicistchemistgeochemistwriterpublisher
- Biography
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Philip Hauge Abelson was an American physicist, scientific editor and science writer. Trained as a nuclear physicist, he co-discovered the element neptunium, worked on isotope separation in the Manhattan Project, and wrote the first study of nuclear marine propulsion for submarines. He later worked on a broad range of scientific topics and related public policy, including organic geochemistry, paleobiology and energy policy.
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Eric Holmback
- Occupations
- actorprofessional wrestler
- Biography
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Eric Holmback was an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Yukon Eric.
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Ian Hamilton
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Ian Francis Hamilton is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, and New York Yankees. Hamilton played college baseball for the Washington State Cougars, and was selected by the White Sox in the 11th round of the 2016 MLB draft.
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Rick Campbell
- Occupations
- head coach
- Biography
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Rick Campbell is an American-Canadian professional football coach. He was most recently the special teams coordinator for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was the Calgary Stampeders' defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2013 and was also an assistant coach with the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He then served as the head coach for the Redblacks for six seasons and for the BC Lions for four seasons. He is a three-time Grey Cup champion, once as the special teams coordinator with the Eskimos in 2003, again with the Eskimos as the defensive coordinator in 2005, and once as the head coach of the Redblacks in 2016. He attended Washington State University.
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Marquess Wilson
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Marquess Willis Wilson is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars and was selected by the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) in the seventh round in the 2013 NFL draft.
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Xavier Thames
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Xavier Raynard Thames is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Washington State Cougars and San Diego State Aztecs.
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Bill Moos
- Occupations
- athlete
- Biography
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William H. Moos is an American former college athletics administrator and college football player. He served as the athletic director at the University of Montana from 1990 to 1995, the University of Oregon from 1995 to 2007, Washington State University from 2010 to 2018, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 2017 to 2021. Moos played college football at Washington State from 1969 to 1972.
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Dana Simpson
- Occupations
- visual artistcomics artistcartoonist
- Biography
-
Dana Claire Simpson is an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the comic Phoebe and her Unicorn, as well as the long-running webcomic Ozy and Millie. Other works created by Simpson include the political commentary cartoon I Drew This and the alternate reality drama comic Raine Dog.
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Adam Conley
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Adam Michael Conley is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins from 2015 to 2019 and the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021.
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Thomas Kelati
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Thomas Kelati is an American former professional basketball player of Eritrean heritage. In 2010, he gained Polish citizenship through his wife and is eligible to play on the Poland national basketball team in international competition. He is a 1.96 metres (6 ft 5 in) tall and played both shooting guard and small forward.
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Rushan Abbas
- Occupations
- human rights defender
- Biography
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Rushan Abbas is an Uyghur American activist and advocate from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. She is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Campaign for Uyghurs and was elected the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of World Uyghur Congress on October 26th, 2024.
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Ikenna Iroegbu
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Ikenna Ugochukwu Iroegbu is an American-Nigerian basketball player for Openjobmetis Varese of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). Iroegbu played college basketball for Washington State University and is a member of the Nigerian national team.
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Robert Franks
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
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Robert Christopher Franks Jr. is an American professional basketball player for Ibaraki Robots of the B.League. He played college basketball for the Washington State Cougars.
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Brandon Gibson
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Brandon Lewis Gibson is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins.
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Chris Reykdal
- Enrolled in Washington State University
- In 1994 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in social studies and education theory
- Occupations
- educatorpolitician
- Biography
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Christopher Paul Simon Reykdal is an American educator and politician serving as the 15th Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction since 2017. Previously, he served as a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 22nd district for three terms.
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Brad Greenberg
- Occupations
- basketball playerbasketball coach
- Biography
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Brad Howard Greenberg is an American basketball coach.
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Danny Frisella
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
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Daniel Vincent Frisella was an American Major League Baseball pitcher whose career was cut short when he was killed in a dune buggy accident on New Year's Day in 1977.
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Rian Lindell
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Rian David Lindell is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars.
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Erik Coleman
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Erik James Coleman is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL draft and also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars.
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Don Newman
- Occupations
- basketball playerCanadian football playerAmerican football playerbasketball coach
- Biography
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Donald David Newman was an American professional athlete in basketball and Canadian football. Following his playing career, he was the head basketball coach at Arizona State for the 1997–98 season, and Sacramento State from 1992 to 1997. He also was an assistant coach in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs, and Washington Wizards.
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Brian Hooker
- Occupations
- researcherengineeranti-vaccine activist
- Biography
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Brian S. Hooker is a biologist and chemist who was department chair and Professor Emeritus of Biology at Simpson University. He is known for promoting the false claim that vaccines cause autism.
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Eleazar de Carvalho
- Occupations
- composerconductormusic educatoruniversity teacher
- Biography
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Eleazar de Carvalho was a Brazilian conductor and composer.
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John M. Fabian
- Occupations
- military officeraircraft pilotastronaut
- Biography
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John McCreary Fabian is a former NASA astronaut and Air Force officer who flew two Space Shuttle missions and worked on the development of the Shuttle's robotic arm. He later led the Air Force's space operations.
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Daniel Ekuale
- Occupations
- American football player
- Biography
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Tanielu "Daniel" Ekuale is an American Samoan professional American football nose tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars.
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Michael Reilly
- Occupations
- gridiron football playerAmerican football playerCanadian football player
- Biography
-
Michael Reilly, previously known as Mike Reilly, is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for 11 seasons. He was the starting quarterback for the Edmonton Eskimos when they won the 103rd Grey Cup and was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player. He was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football for the Central Washington Wildcats. He was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2017. Reilly was also a member of the BC Lions of the CFL and the NFL's Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
