What do Richard Anderson, Samuel DiPiazza, and Tilman J. Fertitta all have in common? Aside from the fact that they are all CEO's of billion dollar companies (kudos to you if you knew any of them by name), they all attended the University of Houston! Though it may seem like any ordinary university, UH has its fair share of notable alumni. Here are a few people you may or may not know that attended this great university.
1. Jim Parsons
Jim Parsons is one of the most well-known alumni of UH. He's known for his role as Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, for which he has won Emmy and Golden Globe awards. If you're interested, he talks very fondly about growing up in Houston here.
2. Chamillionaire
Best known for his song "Ridin," Chamillionaire also attended UH. He has seemingly disappeared off the face of the planet but people of all ages know the song and have parodied it to no end, so at least his legacy will live on.
3. Dennis Quaid
4. Mary Kay Ash
5. Lil Wayne
Does he even need an introduction? Lil Wayne is an almost universally recognized rapper that has won 4 Grammys and 10 BET awards, along with countless others. He attended university for only a brief time in 2005 but hey...#stillcounts
6. Hakeem Olajuwan
Hakeem "The Dream" is a 7-foot tall former basketball player that was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He helped the Rockets win consecutive championships 2 years in a row, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and was the only player in NBA history to win the Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and NBA MVP awards in the same season. He is one of the most humble yet brilliant players I've ever seen and I'm proud to call him an alumni of our university.
7. David A. Williams
Though you may not know him by name, Williams is the CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This is an innovative and selfless non-profit that grants wishes to sick children whose loved ones may otherwise not have the means or time to make them come true themselves.
8. Alice Sebold
Alice Sebold is the author of The Lovely Bones, a book that remained on the NY Times Bestseller list for over a year. The movie adaptation was released to critical acclaim and received Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG, and Academy Award nominations.
9. Paul Wall
There must be something in the Houston air because Paul Wall is yet another rapper who attended the University of Houston. He collaborated with the previously mentioned Chamillionaire and was even nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Performance as a Duo/Group.
10. Elizabeth Warren
Warren had a long journey before politics, which you can read about here, but she became the first woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts. She served as Assistant to the President and Advisor to the Secretary of Treasury, to name a few of the many roles she has assumed.
11. Shannon Miller
Shannon Miller is the most decorated gymnast (male and female) in U.S. history. She earned a total of 16 combined World Championships and Olympic Medals in 5 years. She has been inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame, US Olympic Hall of Fame, International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, AND the Women's International Sports Hall of Fame!
As you can see, the alumni of the University of Houston have gone on to excel in all paths and areas of life. We've had politicians, athletes, entertainers, businessmen/women; there are many other great leaders I didn't even mention because the list is seemingly never-ending. Although some of these people did not graduate or only attended for a short period of time, many have spoken about how much they loved it and how going to college at UH shaped their future. Their legacies are truly a thing to be proud of and I can't wait to see how the list keeps growing with all the great things the new graduates from UH are out there pursuing.
#GoCoogs !
