Florida State University - Alumni and Athletes

Alumni and Athletes

The Florida State University has more than 280,000 alumni worldwide FSU has almost thirty College and University Presidents who are alumni. This institution has produced eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives, numerous U.S. Senators, numerous U.S. Ambassadors, three Governors, and over twenty Generals & Admirals for the United States Military. Florida State University graduates have served at the head of such diverse and important institutions as the United States Treasury, the Federal Trade Commission, the National Hurricane Center, Pfizer, Raytheon, University of Michigan, the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Military Academy, the State University System of Florida, and Washington University in St. Louis. In addition, FSU graduates have held leadership positions at the National Academy of Science, the United Nations, the United States Department of Defense, the New York Yankees, the Detroit Lions, the Los Angeles Raiders, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Orlando Magic, Bank of America, Scottrade, Sandia Laboratories, NOAA, Columbia University, Omnicom Group, Outback Steak House, and General Electric to name just a few.

Major corporations run by graduates include Flower Foods, the Federal Reserve Bank, Texaco, Deloitte & Touche, Welch's, and the National Cancer Institute. Major regulatory bodies such as the General Services Administration, the Federal Reserve Bank and the American Council on Education have had Florida State University alumni at the helm in recent years.

Among the most notable individuals who have attended or graduated from the Florida State University are musicians Ellen Taaffe Zwillich, Marcus Roberts, Jim Morrison, Scott Stapp, and Mark Tremonti, actors Burt Reynolds, Paul Gleason and Robert Urich, fitness guru Richard Simmons, senators Mel Martinez and Kay Hagan, actresses Cheryl Hines and Traylor Howard, authors Sharon Lechter and Dorothy Allison, generals Frank Hagenbeck and Kenneth Minihan, Maryland governor Parris Glendening and Florida governors Charlie Crist and Reubin Askew, ecologist Thomas Ray, astronauts Norman Thagard and Winston Scott, reporters Stephanie Abrams and Jamie Dukes, directors Colleen Clinkenbeard and Greg Marcks, cartoonists Bud Grace and Doug Marlette, congressmen Jason Altmire and Allen Boyd, Vietnamese dissident Doan Viet Hoat, sportscaster Lee Corso, novelist Gwyn Hyman Rubio, judges Susan Black and Ricky Polston, scientists Sylvia Earle and Eric J. Barron, administrator and former POW Orson Swindle, inventor Robert Holton, lawyer Bruce Jacob, mayors Teresa Jacobs, Art Agnos and John Marks, congressional chiefs of staff Benjamin McKay and B. Dan Berger, WWE superstars Michelle McCool and Ron Simmons, Television Director Chip Chalmers, Television Writer/Producer Steven L. Sears, playwright and television writer/producer Alan Ball, British politician Mo Mowlam, and Col. William Wood, the highest ranking United States military casualty in Iraq combat.

As a major competitor in college athletics, the Florida State University has many notable student athletes, coaches and staff members. Many of the most notable members are listed in FSU's Hall of Fame and represent all major collegiate sports. Currently, 75 FSU alumni compete in professional basketball, football, baseball and golf. In addition, FSU has produced two Heisman Trophy winners in Chris Weinke and Charlie Ward. Other notable Florida State University alumni include golfers Jeff Sluman, and major champions Hubert Green, and 2008 Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger.