(Steve Ells, Founder of Chipotle // Photo via Fortune)
9. Theodore Harold Maiman
Theodore Harold Maimam was Born on July 11th, 1927 in Los Angles California. His family moved to Denver, Colorado after his father, Abe, an electronic engineer, was offered a job. After graduating high school, Maiman joined the Navy in the radar and communications training program. After the Navy, Maiman earned a Bachelor of Science and Engineering Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He completed his graduate studies at Stanford University. Once he completed his graduate studies, he began working at Hughes Atomic Physics Department in Culver City, California. In May 1960, Maimam demonstrated the first laser. While others spent millions on laser research expenditures, Maiman cost Hughes a mere $50,000. His dedication, hard work and innovative thinking shows us what it means to be a Buff.
8. Steve Ells
After attending Boulder High School, Ells went on to receive a Bachelors in Sciences degree at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After studying culinary arts and working in multiple restaurants, Ells founded Chipotle in 1993. Chaplet is the first national restaurant company to cook with absolutely zero genetically modified organisms or GMO, ingredients. The Wall Street Journal proclaimed “Chipotle has arguably become the country’s nots successful fastfood chain.” Chipotle has also received praise as one of the worlds top 20 most sustainable stocks, the most socially responsible company, and has the best management team in the hospitality industry. His socially conscious and highly ethical business ways show how being a Buff can lead to a better future.
7. Tom Hornbein
Hornbein earned a degree in arts and sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He went on to be part of the first expedition to climb the west side of Mount Everest. His expedition led to the development of the first effective breathing mask used to climb in high altitudes.
6. David Kennedy
Kennedy graduated with a fine arts degree in 1962. From there he went on to be a co-founder of Widen+Kennedy Ad Agency. His Agency went on to obtain major clients including Nike and is responsible for the famous Nike “Just Do It” ad campaign.
5. Jeremy Bloom
As a national skiing champion at 14, and world champion at age 19, Bloom was a very talented athlete. He began his career at CU after accepting a full scholarship to play football. The three-time World Champion, two-time Olympian, eleven-time World Cup gold medalist, and member of the United States Skiing Hall of Fame, was also named an All-American football player for CU. He set many records including a 96-yard touchdown reception, the longest in school history. After a battle with the NCAA regarding the 2006 Winter Olympics, Bloom’s college football career was cut short. Later that same year, Bloom was drafted to the Philadelphia Eagles and later drafted to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dec. 2007. Although he did not graduate from CU he left a large impact on what it means to be a Buff.
4. Jack Swigert
Another CU football player, John Leonard “Jack” Swigert, received a B.S. In Mechanical Engineering in 1953. After graduation Swigert joined the U.S. Air Force. He went on to become NASA’s first unmarried astronaut. As a member of the Apollo 13 moon mission, Swigert was the astronaut who spoke the famously dramatic words, “Houston, we’ve had a problem here”. That mission led to Swigert receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
3. Dalton Trumbo
Another man who did not graduate from CU, but his two years spent at the university were spent studying journalism and working for the Boulder Daily Camera. After leaving CU Trumbo moved to California to write professionally. He went on to become an award winning author and screenplay writer. He was blacklisted from the film industry from 1974 until the early 60s because of his communist interests and ties. His works Roman Holiday and The Brave One, written under pseudonym Robert Rich, received Academy Awards that were credited to Turbo in much later years. It's notable to recognize that JFK crossed picket lines to view his movie, Spartacus. The movie based on his life is opening soon starring Breaking Bad actor, Bryan Cranston.
2. Kalpana Chawla
Chawla received her Doctorate of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering from CU in 1988. After graduation she began her work for NASA. Chawla logged 30 days, 14 hours and 54 minutes in space over two separate missions. Chawla was assigned to flight crew STS-107, more commonly known as flight mission Columbia. On February 1, 2003, she and her flight crew upon Columbia died during entry just 16 minutes prior to scheduled landing. Her bravery and heroism makes me proud to call myself a Buff.
1. Robert Redford
Robert Redford came to CU in 1955 on a baseball scholarship. While at CU, he joined the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, studied Journalism and worked at The Sink restaurant. Redford left CU after just a year and a half. Redford is credited for founding the Sundance Film Festival in 1981. Redford is also the receiver of two Academy Awards, one for the first film he ever directed, Ordinary People, and another for Lifetime Achievement. His son, Jamie and two daughters, Shauna and Amy, all attended the CU.
There you have it, folks. If this doesn't make you want to attend CU, I don't know what will!
