Notable Alumni of Tennessee State University

Harold Ford, Sr. 1945–

Tennessee congressman who served 11 terms

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1967

Also attended: Howard University, John A Gupton College

Child: Harold Ford Jr. (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Pennsylvania)

Kwame Asafu Adjei 1950–

Ghanaian member of parliament

Master of Science · Agricultural economics

'Mamoshebi Kabi 1936–1999

Lesotho politician, among first women elected to National Assembly

Mark Funkhouser 1949–

Former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri

Also attended: University of Missouri--Kansas City, Thiel College, West Virginia University

Cleopatra Tucker 1943–

New Jersey General Assembly member

Also attended: Miles College

Spouse: Donald Kofi Tucker (Goddard College)

Barbara Cooper 1929–2022

Tennessee state representative

Veronica L. Turner 1950–

Member of the Maryland House of Delegates

Also attended: Prince George's Community College

Juanita Abernathy 1929–2019

Civil rights activist

Also attended: Selma University

Spouse: Ralph Abernathy (Alabama State University, Clark Atlanta University)

Child: Donzaleigh Abernathy (Emerson College)

Lloyd W. Newton 1942–

Air Force four-star general, first Black Thunderbirds pilot

Also attended: George Washington University, Harvard University, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Brenda Gilmore 1968–

Former Tennessee state senator

Also attended: Vanderbilt University

Curtis Lynn Collier 1949–

Senior US district judge in Eastern Tennessee

Also attended: Duke University

La Tonya Johnson 1972–

Wisconsin state senator

Daniel Brown 1945–

First African American mayor of Knoxville

Thelma Harper 1940–2021

First Black woman state senator in Tennessee

Willie Stevenson Glanton 1922–2017

Iowa lawyer and Democratic politician

Jason Powell 1978–

Tennessee state representative

Fatim Badjie 1983–

Gambian entrepreneur and communications expert

Clarice Phelps 1981–

Nuclear chemist who helped discover tennessine

Bachelor of Science · Chemistry · Class of 2003

Also attended: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, The University of Texas at Austin

Dorothy J. Phillips 1945–

Chemist and 2025 American Chemical Society president

Also attended: University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, Vanderbilt University

Levi Watkins 1944–2015

Heart surgeon and civil rights activist

Also attended: Vanderbilt University

Oprah Winfrey 1954–

Media mogul and talk show host

Also attended: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Maurice White 1941–2016

Founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire

Moses Gunn 1929–1993

Actor and Obie Award-winning stage performer

Also attended: University of Kansas

Rufus Thomas 1917–2001

Memphis R&B, funk and soul singer

Frank McRae 1944–2021

Film and television actor, former pro football player

Jimmy Blanton 1918–1942

Jazz double bassist

Hank Crawford 1934–2009

Alto saxophonist, pianist and arranger

Cleveland Eaton 1939–2020

Jazz double bassist and producer

Robert Knight 1945–2017

Singer known for "Everlasting Love"

Carl Rowan 1925–2000

Journalist, columnist and government official

Also attended: Washburn University, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Oberlin College

Arthur Doyle 1944–2014

Free jazz saxophonist

Ben Tucker 1930–2013

Jazz double-bassist and composer

Xernona Clayton 1930–

Civil rights leader and broadcasting executive

Also attended: University of Chicago

Spouse: Paul L. Brady (University of Kansas, Washburn University)

Leon Thomas 1937–1999

Jazz and blues vocalist

George Darko 1951–2024

Ghanaian highlife musician

Les Spann 1932–1989

Jazz guitarist and flautist

Ruth Inge Hardison 1914–2016

Sculptor known for Negro Giants in History busts

Also attended: Vassar College

James Hurt 1967–

Jazz pianist and composer

Wilma Rudolph 1940–1994

Sprinter and Olympic champion

Ralph Boston 1939–2023

Three-time Olympic medalist long jumper

Wyomia Tyus 1945–

Sprinter, first to retain Olympic 100 m title

Edith McGuire 1944–

Former sprinter

Madeline Manning 1948–

Former runner and Olympic champion

Also attended: Oral Roberts University

Chandra Cheeseborough 1959–

Sprinter, two golds and a silver at 1984 Olympics

Barbara Jones 1937–

Sprinter and Olympic relay gold medalist

Robert Covington 1990–

Former NBA player, 2018 All-Defensive First Team

Lucinda Williams 1937–

Sprinter, 1960 Olympic 4x100m relay gold medalist

Anthony Mason 1966–2015

NBA basketball player

Child: Anthony Mason Jr. (St John's University (NY))

Child: Antoine Mason (Niagara University)

Willye White 1939–2007

Five-time Olympic long jumper and sprinter

Isabelle Daniels 1937–2017

Sprinter on Tennessee State's AAU champion relay team

Mae Faggs 1932–2000

Sprinter

Martha Hudson 1939–

Sprinter, 1960 Olympic 4x100m relay gold medalist

Kathy McMillan 1957–

Retired American long jumper

Patrick Miller 1992–

American professional basketball player

Margaret Matthews 1935–

Sprinter and long jumper, 1956 Olympian

Child: Barry Wilburn (University of Mississippi)

Lloyd Neal 1950–

Former NBA player for Portland Trail Blazers

Gerald Robinson 1989–

Professional basketball player

Iris Davis 1950–2021

Sprinter, 1971 Pan American Games 100m champion

Michael Kearney 1984–

Child prodigy known for young-graduate world records

Also attended: University of South Alabama, Spring Hill College, Santa Rosa Junior College

Gilbert Mason 1928–2006

American physician

Also attended: Howard University