JOE GILLIAM

Joe Gilliam was one of the first African American quarterbacks to start a regular season game in the NFL. 
While his chance to start came at a time when teammate and quarterback Terry Bradshaw was on strike,
Gilliam capitalized on the opportunity by leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 30-0 victory over Baltimore. 
His college career record of 39 wins, three losses, two Division II national championships and being named
National Black College Player of Year are testaments to his talents.  Back

OPRAH WINFREY

A 1986 graduate of Tennessee State University, Oprah Winfrey, the multi media mogul, has garnered international appeal
for her talk show. As the first Black woman billionaire in world history, Winfrey has overtaken EBay CEO, Meg Whitman,
as the richest self-made woman in America. Back

JIMMY BLANTON

An accomplished string bass player, Jimmy Blanton was discovered and signed with the famed
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington Big Band Orchestra. Blanton is noted best for his bass solos in
Duke Ellington’s “Ko Ko”, “Jack the Bear” and “Concerto for Coutie.” Back

TINA TYUS-SHAW

Niece of three time Olympic Gold Medalist, Wyomia Tyus, and fellow Tennessee State University alumnus,
Tina Tyus-Shaw continued the legacy of greatness. Chosen to carry the Olympic Torch through Savannah, Georgia,
Tyus-Shaw is the television news anchor and journalist for WSAV-TV in Savannah. Back

GENERAL LLOYD “FIG” NEWTON, RETIRED

Earning a bachelors of science degree in aviation education in 1966, Lloyd “Fig” Newton
would later serve as the commander for Air Education and Training Command, headquartered
at Randolph Air Force Base. Over the course of his career, the four star General Newton flew
269 combat missions in North and South Vietnam; and has logged more than 4,000 flying hours
in the F4, F-15, F-16 and the F-117 stealth fighter. Back

ELAINE CATO

A 1990 graduate of Tennessee State University, Elaine Cato secured national support for the invention
of the Backless Brassier in 2008. Her product invention, now available in the public marketplace, received
the second runner-up prize on ABC’s “American Inventor.” Back

AMOS OTIS

Amos Otis, a 1965 graduate of Tennessee State University, began his career with the humble idea of flying airplanes,
realizing later his true talents were engineering and environmental services. Otis is now the president and CEO of
SoBran, Inc., an engineering and environmental services company based out of Virginia. Back

JO ANN NORTH

A 1977 graduate of Tennessee State University, Jo Ann North recently retired from her post as Davidson
County Property Assessor, where she served since 1992. Having been honored as the Assessor of the Year,
North is also recognized as the first woman elected as an At-Large member of the Metropolitan Council of
Nashville, Davidson County. Back

MOSES GUNN

A 1959 graduate of Tennessee State University, Moses Gunn is the renown actor who in 1977 received an Emmy
nomination for his appearance as tribal chieftain Kintango in the ground-breaking miniseries Roots. Gunn is also
noted as the founder of the Negro Ensemble and received several Obie Awards for his off-Broadway work. Back

MICHELLE ROBINSON WILKINS

Michelle Robinson Wilkins is a 2000 graduate of Tennessee State University and a former Miss TSU. Coupled with
her beauty Wilkins, known as Myshel Wilkins in the music industry, is a strong musical talent having performed
with Tamia, Kelly Price and American Idol Mandisa Hudley. She has recorded an album entitled “Its Time.” Back

KEVIN WILLIAMS

Kevin Williams a 1983 graduate of Tennessee State University is the current vice president and general manager of service and parts operations at General Motors North America. Armed with his bachelor’s degree, Williams notes, “Tennessee State prepared me for the reality of corporate life.” One of his many career accomplishments includes becoming the youngest African American vice president of General Motors Quality in North America. Back

CHANDRA CHEESEBOROUGH

At the early age of 16, Chandra Cheeseborough broke onto the world scene of track and field by winning two
gold medals at the 1975 Pan American Games. Cheeseborough developed her skills at Tennessee State University
and continued her legacy at the 1984 Games when she became the first woman to win gold medals in both relays,
which were held less than an hour apart. Cheeseborough is continuing the great track and field legacy of Tennessee
State University as the current coach for women’s track. Back

RALPH BOSTON

Ralph Boston, the long jump Olympic Gold Medalist in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, is a notable
Tennessee State University alumnus. A 1962 graduate, Boston also won a silver medal for the long jump
in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and a bronze medal in the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. Back

EDITH McGUIRE DUVALL

A 1964 graduate of Tennessee State University, Edith McGuire Duvall competed with fellow teammates Wyomia Tyus
and Wilma Rudolph on the famed Tennessee State Tigerbelles Track Team. In the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo,
she competed against fellow teammate Tyus in the 100 meter, and won two gold medals; one gold for the
4 x 100 meter relay team and the second in her favorite event, the 200 meter. Back

DR. LEVI WATKINS

A 1966 graduate of Tennessee State University, cardiac surgeon Dr. Levi Watkins is known for the creation
and the implantation of the Automatic Implantable Defibrillator (AID). The AID detects irregular heart rhythm
and shocks the heart back to life. Back

THE HONORABLE THELMA HARPER

Thelma Harper graduated from Tennessee State University in 1978. Since 1991, Harper has served as Senator
for the 19th District in the Tennessee General Assembly. Her political career has led to the position of delegate
for the 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992 Democratic National Conventions. Back

ED TEMPLE

A 1950 graduate of Tennessee State University, Edward Stanley Temple, who served as head women's track coach
at Tennessee State University from 1953 to 1994, led over forty athletes to Olympic competition, bringing home a
total of 23 Olympic medals (13 gold, six silver, and four bronze). His teams also won 34 national team titles and 30
Pan-American Games medals. As the women's coach, Temple laid a foundation for growth in women's athletics,
a boom that continues to this day. Back

WILMA RUDOLPH

Wilma Rudolph won three gold medals in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, becoming the first American
woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics. A Black Athlete Hall of Famer, Wilma Rudolph’s childhood
was plagued with polio, scarlet fever and pneumonia; and, for a few years she lost the use of one leg.
She achieved Olympic greatness and worldwide acclaim as a Tennessee State University Tigerbelle,
where she received a full scholarship and ultimately received her degree in elementary education. Back

AMBASSADOR DR. BOBBY JONES

"What Dick Clark is to rock 'n' roll and Don Cornelius is to soul, Bobby Jones is to gospel music," declared
Washington Post writer Mike Joyce in 1995. Bobby Jones graduated from Tennessee State University in 1959,
and beginning in 1980 produced Bobby Jones Gospel Hour, which airs weekly on the Black Entertainment Television
(BET) cable network. Along with his credits in the gospel music industry, Jones was named Dominica
Ambassador At-Large in 2006. Back

XERNONA CLAYTON

President and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation and creator of The Trumpet Awards, a 1952 graduate of
Tennessee State University, Xernona Clayton is a media icon. The retired vice-president of urban affairs at
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS) in Atlanta, GA, Clayton is the originator of the extremely popular
"Moments in History," one-minute broadcasts on African Americans that were televised daily during Black History Month. Back