Notable Austin Peay Alumni

Austin Peay alumni have gained success in many fields, including business, art, science, entertainment and athletics. Here are just a few.

Academics 

• Wayne H. Pace (’68), Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Time Warner.
• Phil Sanford (‘78), Former Chair of the Board and CEO of The Krystal Co.
• Dr. J. Lannett Edwards (’89), did postdoctoral research in cloning under Dr. Ian Wilmut, who became famous for cloning Dolly the sheep.
• David Hackworth (’64), the late author and Army colonel, served as an in-the-field reporter for "Newsweek" and, because of his intelligence and expertise, was a regular guest on MSNBC’s "Hardball with Chris Matthews."
• Dr. Monte A. Gates (’89), Boston, is conducting research on the brain’s circuits at Harvard Medical Center, Division of Neuroscience.
• Dr. Peggy Meszaros (’62), provost and senior vice president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University—highest ranking female administrator in Virginia Tech’s history.
• The Hon. Mary C. Noble (’71,’75), Lexington, Ky., is the first woman to hold the position as chief judge of the Fayette Circuit Court in the court’s 200-year history.
• Peter Minetos (’89), president of Diversified Computer Solutions, thecomputer troubleshooters for the Broadcast Center of the 1994 World Cup and the 1996 Olympic Games.
• Paula Wall (’76), author of "My Love is Free But the Rest of Me Don’t Come Cheap" and "If I were a Man, I’d Marry Me." Her syndicated column "Off the Wall" is printed in newspapers across the nation. Its success won her the 1996 "Best Humor Columnist" title by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.
• Valerie Moore (’71), underwater dive expert and writer, was the technologies director, co-expedition leader and documentarian for film director James Cameron for his film "Titanic." Moore collaborated with the crew of the Russian ship Keldysh as well as the Hollywood film crew.
• Bob Harper, fitness trainer on NBC's "The Biggest Loser," Harper has become one of the most credible and sought-after motivational experts on television.

Athletics

• Bonnie Sloan (‘73), the first Austin Peay Governor to play in the National Football League and the first deaf player to play in the NFL.
• Percy Howard (‘75), former APSU basketball player, played wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys (1975). He caught a 34-yard TD pass in Super Bowl X for his only career NFL catch.
• Jeff Gooch (‘96), NFL player for Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions (1996-2004)
• Charles "Bubba" Wells (‘97), former NBA player with Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns (1997-1998)
• Trenton Hassell (‘01), former NBA player with Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets
• George Sherrill (‘99), former relief pitcher for Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles. Sherrill was the first APSU hurler named to the MLB All-Star team (2008).
• Jamie "Cat" Walker (‘92), former relief pitcher for Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.
• Jimmy Stewart (‘61), former player for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros from 1963-73. He became the first APSU alum to play both in a Division League championship series and the World Series (1970, Reds).
• Michael Swift ('97), formerly played cornerback in the NFL for San Diego (1997), Carolina (1999) and Jacksonville (2000).
• A.J. Ellis (‘03), former catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, and the Padres. He is currently a Special Assistant to the General Manager, in the front office of the San Diego Padres Shawn Kelley (’05), current relief pitcher for TX Rangers. Former pitcher for Seattle Mariners, NY Yankees, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals and Oakland A’s.