Auburn University Notable Alumni
Discover the notable alumni of Auburn University. The list includes people like Lionel Richie, Charles Barkley, Bo Jackson, Tim Cook & Meghan McCarthy. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as singers, film & theater personalities, miscellaneous, sportspersons and musicians etc.
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Birthdate: June 20, 1949
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Tuskegee, Alabama, United States
Lionel Richie is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and composer whose work with the band Commodores and his solo career established him as a successful balladeer of the 1980s. Having sold more than 90 million records, Lionel Richie is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. Also a philanthropist, Richie helped raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
2
Charles Barkley(American Former Professional Basketball Player and TV Analyst)
Birthdate: February 20, 1963
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Leeds, Alabama, United States
American professional basketball player Charles Barkley was a prolific scorer and played for Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rocket teams of the National Basketball Association. He was part of the US men’s team that won the gold medal in 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic Games. He was also controversial and was known for his confrontational attitude and physical aggression.
3
Tim Cook(Chief Executive Officer of 'Apple Inc.')
Birthdate: November 1, 1960
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, United States
Since taking over as the CEO of Apple, Inc. in 2011, till 2020, Tim Cook has, through his dedication, doubled its profits. He was the first Fortune 500 CEO to “come out” as gay, in 2014. A devoted philanthropist, Tim intends to donate most of his stocks to charity.
4
Sunisa Lee
(American Artistic Gymnast Who is 2020 Olympic All-Around Champion)
Birthdate: March 9, 2003
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
Apart from being the first Hmong-American to participate in the Olympics, Sunisa Lee has also won a gold, a team silver, and a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She was also the 2019 world champion. Named to Time 100 in 2021, she was pepper-sprayed in a racist attack in Los Angeles.
5
Frank Thomas
(Baseball player)
Birthdate: May 27, 1968
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Columbus, Georgia, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
6
Octavia Spencer
(The First Black Actress to Have Received two Successive Nominations at the Oscars)
Birthdate: May 25, 1970
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Octavia Spencer is an American actress, producer, and author. Widely regarded as one of the best actresses of her generation, Spencer has received several prestigious awards, such as a Golden Globe Award, Academy Award, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Octavia Spencer is the first black actress to have received two successive nominations at the Oscars.
7
Bo Jackson(Former Baseball & Football Player, the Only Professional Athlete in History to be Named an 'All-Star' in Both)
Birthdate: November 30, 1962
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bessemer, Alabama, United States
Former professional baseball and football player Bo Jackson has the distinction of being the only professional athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both the sports. Considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, he pursued his other interests following his retirement from sports in the 1990s. He has acted in a few TV shows, playing minor characters.
8
Jimmy Wales(Internet Entrepreneur, Webmaster and Co-Founder of the Online Encyclopedia ‘Wikipedia’)
Birthdate: August 7, 1966
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Huntsville, Alabama, United States
Internet entrepreneur Jimmy Wales is widely known as the co-founder of the not-for-profit online encyclopedia Wikipedia, though he has claimed to be its sole founder. Wikipedia had its roots in Nupedia, a free encyclopedia that was funded by Wales’s portal Bomis. Wales also co-founded Wikia, or Fandom, a web-hosting service.
Birthdate: December 8, 1985
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Pensacola, Florida, United States
10
Malik Willis
(American football player)
Birthdate: May 25, 1999
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
11
Lloyd Austin
(Military personnel)
Birthdate: August 8, 1953
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Mobile
12
Kevin Greene
(American Football player)
Birthdate: July 31, 1962
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Schenectady, New York, United States
Died: December 21, 2020
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
13
Apollo Crews
(Nigerian-American Professional Wrestler)
Birthdate: August 22, 1987
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sacramento, California, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
14
Eugene Sledge
(Biologist, Soldier, Academic, University teacher, Writer)
Birthdate: November 4, 1923
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Mobile
Died: March 3, 2001
Eugene Sledge was a US Marine, author, and university professor. He is remembered for chronicling his Second World War combat experiences in a memoir titled With the Old Breed, which was used as source material for a television documentary miniseries titled The War. The memoir also inspired the 2010 HBO miniseries, The Pacific, where Sledge was played by Joseph Mazzello.
15
Jarrett Stidham
(American Football player)
Birthdate: August 8, 1996
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Corbin, Kentucky, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
16
Ken Mattingly
(American Astronaut and One of the 24 People to Have Flown to the Moon)
Birthdate: March 17, 1936
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Ken Mattingly is a retired aviator, test pilot, aeronautical engineer, astronaut, and rear admiral in the US Navy. He was part of Apollo-16 and is one of 24 astronauts to have flown to the Moon. Mattingly is the recipient of numerous awards, including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. In 1983, he was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame.
17
Toni Tennille
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: May 8, 1940
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
18
Rowdy Gaines
(American Former Competitive Swimmer and Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist)
Birthdate: February 17, 1959
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Winter Haven, Florida, United States
Rowdy Gaines is an American swimming analyst for NBC and retired competitive swimmer. Gaines won three gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He also won five gold medals at the FINA World Championships before becoming an analyst; he has covered swimming events at the Olympics since 1992. Rowdy Gaines is a member of the US Olympic Hall of Fame.
19
Richard Marcinko
(Navy officer)
Birthdate: November 21, 1940
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Lansford, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: December 25, 2021
Birthdate: February 3, 1960
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Columbus, Georgia, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
Birthdate: April 24, 1989
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
22
Victoria Jackson
(American Actress and Comedian)
Birthdate: August 2, 1959
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Miami, Florida, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
23
Taylor Hicks
(Musician, Singer, Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: October 7, 1976
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Miramar
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
24
Kimberly Page
(American Former Professional Wrestling Personality)
Birthdate: January 1, 1970
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
25
Rob Bironas
(American football player - Placekicker)
Birthdate: January 29, 1978
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died: September 29, 2014
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
Birthdate: September 12, 1970
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
27
Bobby Goldsboro
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: January 18, 1941
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Marianna, Florida, United States
28
Holland Smith
(General in the United States Marine Corps During World War II)
Birthdate: April 20, 1882
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Hatchechubbee, Alabama, United States
Died: January 12, 1967
29
Sharife Cooper
(Basketball player)
Birthdate: June 11, 2001
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
30
Kirsty Coventry
(Zimbabwean Politician and Professional Swimmer)
Birthdate: September 16, 1983
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Harare, Zimbabwe
Kirsty Coventry is a Zimbabwean politician and professional swimmer. She is the current Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation in Zimbabwe. A former Olympic swimmer, Kirsty Coventry is best known for winning a gold medal each at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics in Athens and Beijing respectively. Kirsty Coventry is one of the most decorated Olympians from Africa.
Birthdate: September 12, 1973
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York City, U.S.
Birthdate: April 21, 1982
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Gadsden, Alabama, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
33
Isaac Okoro
(Basketball player)
Birthdate: January 26, 2001
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
34
Kerryon Johnson
(American football player)
Birthdate: June 30, 1997
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Huntsville, Alabama, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
35
Davion Mitchell
(Basketball player)
Birthdate: September 5, 1998
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hinesville, Georgia, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
36
Brandon Jacobs
(American football player)
Birthdate: July 6, 1982
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Napoleonville, Louisiana, United States
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
37
Laure Manaudou
(French Olympic, World and European Champion Swimmer)
Birthdate: October 9, 1986
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Villeurbanne, France
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
38
Kate Higgins
(Actor, Singer, Jazz musician, Pianist)
Birthdate: August 16, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Charlottesville
39
Cody Parkey
(American football player)
Birthdate: February 19, 1992
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Jupiter, Florida, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
40
Jason Campbell
(American football player)
Birthdate: December 31, 1981
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Laurel, Mississippi, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
41
Vince Dooley
(Basketball player, American football player)
Birthdate: September 4, 1932
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, United States
42
Jason Dufner
(Professional Golfer & Winner of 2013 PGA Championship)
Birthdate: March 24, 1977
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Jason Dufner is an American golfer who has won five PGA Tour events, including one major championship, so far in his career. Dufner, who was ranked in the top 10 for 50 weeks, has also represented the U.S. national team on a couple of occasions, including the 2012 Ryder Cup. In 2013, he helped his team win the Presidents Cup.
43
Sammie Coates
(American football player)
Birthdate: March 31, 1993
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Leroy, Alabama, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
44
Dee Ford
(American football player)
Birthdate: March 19, 1991
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Odenville, Alabama, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
45
Greg Robinson
(American football player)
Birthdate: October 21, 1992
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
46
Takeo Spikes
(Former American football linebacker)
Birthdate: December 17, 1976
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Augusta, Georgia, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
47
Bo Nix
(American football player)
Birthdate: February 25, 2000
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Pinson, Alabama, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
48
Peyton Barber
(American Football player)
Birthdate: June 27, 1994
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Alpharetta, Georgia, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
49
Heath Evans
(American football player)
Birthdate: December 30, 1978
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
50
Tim Hudson
(Baseball player)
Birthdate: July 14, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Columbus, Georgia, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
Auburn University or AU is a private research university based out of Auburn, Alabama. Being one of the handpicked universities in the United States to be deemed as land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant research centers, the university has come a long way since its inception in 1856. Covering a massive 1841 acres, the campus is home to the wonderful student body comprising of over 28,290 students who have the opportunity to pursue over 140 majors in undergraduate, graduate and professional courses. The state’s first public land-grant university, Auburn University enjoys a wide international presence, with over 800 international students and 800 AU students pursuing their education abroad through study abroad programs. Auburn University also gives its students a chance to flourish within its campus by offering the opportunity to be a part of more than 300 clubs and organizations. Auburn University offers programs in various areas of study such as Architecture, Liberal Arts, Education, Nursing, Engineering, and Business and so on. With an impressive list of alumni’s who’ve gone on to achieve great heights in their professional careers, Auburn University is the place where various legends had their humble beginnings. Some of the famous celebrities who went to Auburn University are Tim Cook, Octavia Spencer, Jimmy Wales and Cam Newton. Here’s a list of famous personalities who once attended Auburn University.