Fordson High School - Notable Alumni

Notable Alumni

• Michael Adray, philanthropist, founder of Adray Appliance, inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.
• Abdul Alzindani, class of 1996; 1995 National High School Cross Country Champion, NCAA All-American in 1999 and 3 time All-ACC while at North Carolina State University.
• Tom Anastos, Montreal Canadiens hockey player, head coach at Michigan State University, former hockey coach at University of Michigan–Dearborn, and former commissioner of the CCHA
• Dr. Alex Anckonie III, earned a Doctorate for Nuclear Physics and Doctorate Engineering; developed nuclear submarines and served for the US Navy on the USS Pargo, USS Pollack, USS Ethan Allan and USS Nautilus; became professor of economics at George Washington University and Georgetown University.
• Dr. Rachel Ankeny, Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney
• Dr. Robert Aranosian, Director of Emergency Services, Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital; was team physician for Detroit Pistons
• Ed Bagdon, guard and linebacker for Chicago Cardinals and Washington Redskins. At Michigan State University, he received the 1949 Outland Trophy for being the nation's top lineman.
• Leo C. Beebe, CEO of K-Tron International from 1985 until 1992
• Dr. Harry Begian, former director of bands at Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and University of Illinois; also was director of Purdue University's symphonic band. ; was inducted into the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors in 1994.
• Cornelius Peter Berbec, Second Lieutenant who was an interpreter at a 1969 conference between U.S. President Richard Nixon and Romanian President Nicolae Ceauşescu at the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania.
• Michael Berry, first Muslim lawyer in Michigan and longtime chairman of the Wayne County Road Commission. A terminal is also named after him at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
• Dave Marcon class of 1985 Pitched professional baseball for the, ,, from 1990 to 1995. Handled the batting practice from 1999 to 2006 for the .
• Gregory Bill, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge
• William K. Brehm, class of 1947; Former Chairman of SRA International; was also Assistant Secretary of Defense under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford and found of the Brehm Center for Diabetes Research at The University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, MI
• Steve Burke, former Purdue University quarterback.
• Rick Byrnes, first person in world to drive a production-based hydrogen fuel-cell race car over 200 mph (320 km/h), clocking in at 207.297 mph (333.612 km/h).
• Chuck Davey, Michigan State University boxer, United States Olympic boxer, and boxing commissioner for the state of Michigan.
• William Dear, Hollywood director, most notably of Angels in the Outfield and Harry and the Hendersons.
• Dr. Judith Benyi Diffenderfer, one of the physicians who died on Corporate Airlines Flight 5966
• Jim Dunbar, radio program director, talk show host, and news anchor; was elected to the National Radio Hall of Fame for his work with KGO in 1999. He is also portrayed in the 2007 film Zodiac.
• Charlene Mekled Elder, first Muslim female of the United States to hold a judicial position. She was appointed to the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court in 2006.
• Chad Everett film and TV actor, who appeared in more than forty films and television series, including Medical Center (1969-1976)
• Marv Fodar, Cincinnati Reds baseball player
• Dr. Thomas Forsthoefel, current chair of the religious studies department at Mercyhurst College
• Gary Paul Gates, Author, most significantly co-authored with Dan Rather on "The Palace Guard"
• Russ Gibb, concert promoter, most notably of MC5 and Iggy Pop
• Dr. Aubrey Gorbman, zoologist who chaired the zoology department at the University of Washington; served as President of the American Society of Zoologists in 1976.
• Kenneth "Naif" Goutimy, International Recording Artist.
• Robert P. Griffin, former US Senator, former Michigan Supreme Court associate justice.
• Michael A. Guido, class of 1972; Mayor of Dearborn from 1986–2006; was United States Conference of Mayors President in 2006.
• Ralph Guy, Jr., Senior Judge of Sixth United States Circuit Court of Appeals; appointed by President Ronald Reagan
• Joe Hamood, Houston Mavericks basketball player
• Michael Iaquaniello, Michigan State Quarterback, Miami Dolphins Quarterback
• Marian Bayoff Ilitch, Founder and Owner of Little Caesars Pizza and Motor City Casino; inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
• Art James, Television game show host; hosted Blank Check and The Magnificent Marble Machine and also voiced for a dozen game shows including Family Feud.
• Andrea Joyce, former CBS Sports Broadcaster ; current NBC Sports Broadcaster who has covered the 2006 Winter Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics
• John C. Kornblum American Diplomat, Ambassador to Germany, responsible for Ronald Reagan's historic speech in Berlin 1987.
• John Lesinski, Jr. former Congressman for Michigan (D, 1951–1965)
• Linda Line, former Vice President of NBC Daytime Programming
• Adele Mara, American actress, most famous for her role in Sands of Iwo Jima
• Dr. Gregory Z. Mavian, Neurosurgeon; Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Dr. Andrew Mazzara, former President of Henry Ford Community College, current board chairman of Laptop Design USA
• Charles "Kid" McCoy, world champion boxer
• Joe Nagi, first Michigander to swim English Channel
• Diane A. Nafranowicz, Director of the Lawyers' Club, University of Michigan, 1979 -
• Dr. Paul Pearsall, lecturer and author of sixteen international best-selling books, professor at the University of Hawaii and Wayne State University; received the American Psychological Association's Rush Gold Medal for scientific and clinical excellence.
• Gino Polidori, Michigan's current 15th District Representative
• James Prochaska, Director of University of Rhode Island’s Cancer Prevention Research Center; professor of clinical and health psychology; first psychologist to win a Medal of Honor for Clinical Research from the American Cancer Society;one of the Top Five Most Cited Authors in Psychology from the American Psychological Society
• Janice Prochaska, president and CEO of Pro-Change Behavior Systems,
• Walter Reuther, President of United Auto Workers (UAW) from 1946–1970, President of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) from 1952–1955; named to Time's 100 most influential people of the 20th century; I-696 freeway in Michigan and a library at Wayne State University are named after him.
• Dan Mekled, radio personality and master mixer on Power 96 FM (WHYT 96.3 FM) Detroit, Michigan
• Tom Saidock, defensive tackle at Michigan State University; played professionally as a defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles (1957), New York Titans (1960–61), and Buffalo Bills (1962)
• Robert Saleh, Current Defensive Assistant with the Seattle Seahawks, Former Assistant Linebacker Coach for Houston Texans; former Defensive Assistant for Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, and University of Georgia. He also started at tight end for four seasons at Northern Michigan University.
• Mike Rey, President of the Mustang Owners Club of Southeastern Michigan.
• Tarick Salmaci, boxer, also featured on reality TV show The Contender
• Martin Shakar, actor in Saturday Night Fever, played Tom's (John Travolta) brother
• Dr. Jonathan Shannon, Anthropologist and Associate Professor at CUNY
• Eddie Slovik, only American soldier to be executed for desertion since the American Civil War; was executed during World War II
• Alex Smail, played football for the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers
• Jim Snyder, played baseball for the Minnesota Twins from 1961-1964. He also managed the Seattle Mariners in 1988.
• Virginia A. Sobotka, former 19th District Judge for State of Michigan.
• Al Turfe, professor of mathematics at University of Michigan–Dearborn and Lawrence Technological University
• Minnie Tvaska, broke record for years competed in the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships with 62 consecutive annual participations.
• Tom Utsman, Deputy Director of Kennedy Space Center and Director of Shuttle Operations
• Dr. Frank Robert Westie, authored best-selling novel Ash Wednesday '45; was a professor of sociology at Indiana University for 33 years.
• Dr. Jerome Wiesner, President of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 1971–1980 and science advisor to United States Presidents, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson
• Richard Wygonik, current 19th District Judge for State of Michigan
• Mohamed Nasser, Lead Engineer in General Motors (2004)