10 Top Famous And Infamous Arizona Alumni

10 Top Most Famous and Infamous Arizona Alumni

Since 1885, both the University of Arizona and Arizona State have graduated hundreds of thousands of students — many of which have gone on to lead successful lives utilizing their education and experience. From the two largest schools in the state, alumni include those involved in wide range of professions from members of Congress, to Hall of Fame sports figures, to Hollywood producers.  Of those which we researched, these are what we found to be the 10 Top Most Famous and Infamous Arizona School Alumni:

David Spade – Arizona State
10.	A television and film comedian, David Spade graduated from Arizona State University in 1986 with a degree in business and would later go onto to Saturday Night Live and Just Shoot Me! He would be most known for his sketches with Chris Farley and went on to appear in several other movies and television shows throughout his successful Hollywood career after leaving SNL.
Barry Bonds – Arizona State
9.	Arguably the most famous former Sun Devil MLB player, Barry Bonds played baseball for Arizona Statein the mid-80s and was later drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986. Bonds has been voted to the All-Star game 14 times, was recipient of the Slugger Award 12 times, and hit the most home runs in a season (73).A lefty with power, Bonds holds the record for the most home runs hit in a career (762), in a season (73), and On-base percentage in a single season (.609) .However, despite his talent, in the early 2000’s he would become the infamous poster boy for the steroid scandal that plagued the game, as known as the BALCO scandal. Bonds has since been convicted of perjury and faces jail time for his use of steroids and cover-up that ensued.
Terry Goddard – Arizona State
8.	Phoenix mayor from 1983 to 1990, Terry Goddard graduated from Arizona State Universityin 1976 with a degree in law, after his graduation from Harvard.Serving as Attorney General for Arizona from 2002 to 2011, Terry focused much of this attention on internet crime, immigration and was a strong opponent to the polygamist Jeff Warren.Ultimately leading to his arrest, Goddard’s strong stance on the issue became his stamp on the office until controversy of illegal “blackmail” activity arose in 2011.
Al Michaels – Arizona State
7.	An American sportscaster, Al Michaels graduated from Arizona State Universitywith a degree in radio and television, minoring in journalism.One of the most prominent in sports history, this New York Native’s resume includes everything from Monday Night Football commentary with John Madden, the 1980 “Miracle on Ice”game against the Russian Olympic team, and game 3 of the 1989 World Series that was halted due to the massive San Francisco earthquake.A legend in all aspects of broadcasting, Al Michael’s career spans nearly three decades of television and radio. An instantly recognizable voice, he has been an influential force in anyone seeking success in the entertainment business.
Jerry Bruckheimer – University of Arizona
6.	A famed producer and director in Hollywood, Jerry Bruckheimer graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in psychology. He would later begin producing films in the 1970’s, and he later developed into one of the most successful producers of all time – with an overall net worth of 13 billionin revenue over the course of his career.In the past 30 years, his resume has included such films and television shows such as Armageddon, Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Beverley Hills Cope, CSI, Cold Case, and the Amazing Race. His success is undoubtedly mainstream.
Bob Dole – University of Arizona
5.	A politician and attorney, Bob Dole graduated from the University of Arizona’s Washburn University School of Law in 1952 and would later go on to be the governor of his home state of Kansas.In addition, he ran as Gerald Ford’s vice presidential candidate in the 1976 election and later won the GOP nomination in 1996. However, he would later lose to Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton.Throughout his political career in the Senate, he was named Chairman of the National Republican Committee in 1971, leader of the Agricultural Committee in 1975 and Chairman of the Financial Committee in 1981. Despite his loss in the presidency, he still has lasting affect on the country’s political sphere.
Stewart Udall – University of Arizona
4.	An American politician, Stewart Udall was born January 31st, 1920 in St. Johns, Arizona. A Democratic congressman, Udall represented Arizona for three terms and later as Secretary of the Interior for both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.Graduate of the University of Arizona, Udall was highly influential in Arizona’s economic and social growth in the 1960’s, as Secretary of the Interior, and he was responsible for passing numerous environmental bills which helped build the national park system.Udall helped oversee the addition of 56 natural wildlife refugees, four national parks, six national monuments and 20 national historic sites including California’s Redwood Forest.  In addition, he initiated several Water Quality and Clean Water Restoration Acts/Amendments, and the National Trail System of 1968.
Carl Hayden – Arizona State
3.	An American politician, Carl Haydenwas the first Senator to serve seven terms and had a lasting influence on numerous irrigation, highway, power and reclamation acts in the early century.Born October 2nd, 1877 in Hayden’s Ferry, Arizona Territory (renamed Tempe in 1878), Carl Hayden attended Arizona Normal School (now Arizona State University), and later went to study economics and law at Stanford University.From the 1920’s to the 1960’s, he was responsible for much of the southwest’s growth, including the Hayden Cartwright Act for highway funding, the Arizona vs. California water rights case, and eventually the Central Arizona Project in 1968.
Barry Goldwater – University of Arizona
2.	A Phoenix native, Barry Goldwaterserved five terms in 1950’s and 1960’s, and later won the Republican nomination for the 1964 presidential election.Known as “Mr. Conservative,” he has been credited for much of the American conservative rejuvenation in the 1950’s, and what would later be coined the Libertarian partyof the 1970’s.However, despite his long resume of publicly supported policies, he ultimately lost the presidential election to Lyndon Johnson, and was attributed to his opposition to the monumental Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Pat Tillman – Arizona State
1.	A decorated Army Ranger, Pat Tillman played football at both Arizona State University and for the Arizona Cardinalsuntil his unfortunate death on April 22nd, 2004 in Afghanistan.Drafted in 1998 to the Arizona Cardinals, he would later give up his position in the NFL to serve his country in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001 and serve in the Army.  On his final of many tours in Afghanistan, he was killed by what at the time was decided as enemy fire.However, as evidence emerged in the coming months, it was later determined he was killed by friendly fire, and there had been a widespread cover up of the story. From millionaire NFL Linebacker to decorated Army Ranger, Pat Tillman is recognized every year with “Pats Run,” commemorating the honorable life he lived and his sacrifice to our country.

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