List of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alumni

This list of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alumni includes graduates, non-graduate former students, and current students of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T), a public, coeducational, high research activity, land-grant university, located in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States.

An early image of A&T Alumni, with President James B. Dudley (center), at their 1915 reunion

North Carolina A&T is one of 16 public universities that constitute the University of North Carolina System, and one of the first public universities in the United States.[1] Founded in 1891 as the "Agricultural and Mechanical college for the Colored Race," N.C. A&T was the first land grant college for people of color in the state of North Carolina.[2] Over the 100 plus years of the university's existence, the academic scope expanded to encompass other disciplines. The North Carolina General Assembly redefined N.C. A&T as a regional university and through legislation made it a member of the University of North Carolina System in 1971.[2]

As of 2014, North Carolina A&T has about 40,000 living alumni.[3]

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Alumni

Education

Harold L. Martin

Alumni	Class year	Notability	Reference(s)
James A. Hefner	1961 (B.S.),	Economist; seventh President of Jackson State University; sixth President of Tennessee State University	[4][5]
Melvin N. Johnson	1968 (B.S.)	Economist; seventh President of Tennessee State University (2005–2011)	[6]
Harold L. Martin	(B.S.) (M.S.)	Engineer; Twelfth Chancellor of Winston-Salem State University; twelfth Chancellor of North Carolina A&T; First and only alumnus to serve as Chancellor of the University.	[7]

Science and Technology

Ronald Mcnair

Alumni	Class year	Notability	Reference(s)
Ronald McNair	1971 (B.S.),	Physicist and NASA astronaut; died during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-51-L	[8]

Civics

Alma Adams

Edolphus Towns

Jesse Jackson Jr.

John A. Houston

Alumni	Class year	Notability	Reference(s)
Alma Adams	1969 (B.S.) 1972 (M.S.)	Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives; 58th District	[9]
Edolphus Towns	1956 (B.S.)	Retired politician who represented the state of New York in the United States House of Representatives (1983–2013)	[10]
Henry Frye	1953 (B.S.)	First African American Justice and Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court; first African American member of the North Carolina General Assembly	[10][11]
Jake Wheatley	1956 (B.S.)	Democratic politician representing the state of Pennsylvania; 19th District	[10]
Jesse Jackson Jr.	1987 (B.S.)	Former politician who represented Illinois's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives (1995–2012)	[12]
John A. Houston	1974 (B.S.)	Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of California	[13]
Johnnie B. Rawlinson	1974 (B.A.)	Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit	[14]
Quincy Murphy	1974 (B.S.)	Businessman and Democratic politician who served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives; 127th district (2002–2013)	[15]
Patrick Cannon	1991 (B.S.)	Former Democratic Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina	[16][17]
Poon Chi-fai	(B.S.) no year given	Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and Kwun Tong District Board	[18]

Civil rights

Jesse Jackson

Franklin McCain

Joseph McNeil

David Richmond

Alumni	Class year	Notability	Reference(s)
David Richmond	(attended) 1990 (PhD)[Notes 1]	Civil rights activist and member of the Greensboro Four/A&T Four; staged a sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter in downtown Greensboro on February 1, 1960	[19][20]
Franklin McCain	1963 (B.S.)	Civil rights activist and member of the Greensboro Four/A&T Four; staged a sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter in downtown Greensboro on February 1, 1960	[19][21]
Jesse Jackson Sr.	1964 (B.S.)	Civil rights activist; Baptist minister; candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination (1984 and 1988); shadow U.S. Senator for the District of Columbia (1991–1997); founder of the organizations that merged to form Rainbow/Push Coalition	[22]
Jibreel Khazan	1963 (B.S.)	(born Ezell A. Blair, Jr.) Civil rights activist and member of the Greensboro Four/A&T Four; staged a sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter in downtown Greensboro on February 1, 1960	[23]
Jonathan Jackson	1987 (B.S.)	Business professor, entrepreneur, social justice advocate, national spokesman for the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition	[24]
Joseph McNeil	1963 (B.S.)	Civil rights activist and member of the Greensboro Four/A&T Four; staged a sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counter in downtown Greensboro on February 1, 1960	[19]
Randolph Blackwell	(no year indicated)	Civil rights activist; Emphasized economic development for poor African Americans; Former program director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; Former director of Southern Rural Action.	[25]
Walter P. Carter	(no year indicated)	Civil rights activist and a central figure in Baltimore's civil rights movement, organizing demonstrations against discrimination throughout Maryland	[26]

Corporate and business

Alumni	Class year	Notability	Reference(s)
Janice Bryant Howroyd	(no year indicated) (B.A.)	Entrepreneur; founder and CEO of ACT-1 Group, the largest minority woman-owned employment agency in the US	[27]
Joe Dudley	1962 (B.S.)	Businessman and hair care entrepreneur; founder, president and CEO of Dudley Products Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of hair and skin care products for the African American community	[28]

Arts and entertainment

Taraji P. Henson

Terrence J

Alumni	Class year	Notability	Reference(s)
Lou Donaldson	(no year indicated)	Jazz alto saxophonist; 2012 inductee to the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame	[29]
Sybil Lynch	1985 (B.A.)	R&B & pop singer–songwriter; gained notable success during the mid–1980s into the mid–1990s.	[30]
Taraji P. Henson	Transferred to Howard University	Actress	[31]
Terrence J	2004 (B.A.)	Actor and television personality; host of BET's 106 & Park; co-anchor of E! News	[32]
Warren Ballentine	(no year indicated)	Motivational speaker, attorney, political activist, and radio talk show host	[33]

Military

Clara Leach Adams-Ender

Alumni	Class year	Notability	Reference(s)
Clara Leach Adams-Ender	1961 (B.S.)	Former Chief of the United States Army Nurse Corps (1987–1991); first woman to receive her master's degree in military arts and sciences from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; first African-American nurse corps officer to graduate from the United States Army War College	[34]

Athletics

Al Attles

Bob Beamon

Alumni	Class year	Notability	Reference(s)
Tom Alston	(No Year Indicated)	Former Major League Baseball first baseman; first African-American player for the St. Louis Cardinals	[35]
Al Attles	1960 (B.A.)/(B.S.)	Retired NBA player; one of the first African-American coaches in the NBA when he was named player-coach of the Golden State Warriors during the 1969–70 season	[28][36]
Bob Beamon	(Transferred to University of Texas at El Paso)	Former Olympic athlete; known for setting a 22-year world record in the long jump at the 1968 Summer Olympics	[37]
Christopher Belcher	2018	World class International Sprinter, broke 10-second barrier in 100 meters.	[38]
Dwaine Board	1979	Former NFL player and coach; played for the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints (1979–1988); four-time Super Bowl champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII and XXIX)	[39]
Tarik Cohen	2017	NFL player for the Chicago Bears
Curtis Deloatch	2003	Former NFL player; played with the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Carolina Panthers	[40]
Connell Maynor	1995	Head Coach of the Hampton Pirates	[41]
Elvin Bethea	(no year indicated)	2003 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee; played with the NFL's Houston Oilers; first N.C. A&T alum elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame	[42]
Jessie Britt	(no year indicated)	Former NFL player for the Pittsburgh Steelers	[43]
Joseph Bunn	(Transferred to Old Dominion University)	Professional basketball player	[44]
Joe Binion	1984	Retired NBA player; played for the Portland Trail Blazers	[45]
Al Holland	No Year Indicated	Retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher; 1983 National League Relief Pitcher of the Year and 1984 MLB All Star	[46]
Brandon Parker	2018	NFL player for the Oakland Raiders
George Ragsdale	1975	Former professional football player with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; current college football coach	[47]
George Small	1979 (B.S.)	College football coach at Florida A&M University; coached N.C. A&T to 2003 MEAC football championship	[48]
Hugh Evans	(no year indicated)	Former NBA referee (1972–2001); currently assistant supervisor of officials in the NBA front office	[49]
J.D. Smith	1955	Former NFL player; played with the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Dallas Cowboys; fifth all-time on the 49ers' career rushing yardage list (4,370 yards)	[50]
Jamal Jones	2003	Former NFL player; played with the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints	[51]
Mamie Johnson	no year indicated	Former professional baseball player; one of three women, and the first female pitcher, to play in the Negro Leagues.	[52]
Maurice Hicks	2002	Former NFL player; played with the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings	[53]
Maurice Smith	1999	Retired NFL player; played with the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers	[54]
Mel Phillips	(no year indicated)	Former NFL player, now coach; played his entire 12-year NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers; assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins (1985–present)	[55]
Rodney Rowe	2018	World class International Sprinter for the United States	[56]
Tevester Anderson	1971 (M.S.)	Retired college basketball coach; former men's head coach at Jackson State University and Murray State University	[57]
Warren Davis	(no year given)	Former ABA and NBA player	[58]

Miscellaneous

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed

Alumni	Class year	Notability	Reference(s)
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed	1986 (B.S.)	Senior leader of Al-Qaeda, "principal architect" of the September 11 attacks	[59][60]

Notes

1. David Richmond was posthumously awarded an honorary doctorate of humanities degree at his funeral services on December 12, 1990.

• Al Attles Graduated from N.C. A&T with both a B.A. in History and a B.S. in Physical Education.
• Franklin McCain received bachelor's degrees in both biology and chemistry from A&T in 1964.

References

1. University of North Carolina – A Brief History
2. "A&T History". Library.ncat.edu. F.D. Bluford Library-NC A&T State University. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
3. "Rankings and Recognition". ncat.edu. North Carolina A&T.
4. "History of The University" (PDF). Jackson State University. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
5. "Hefner to Retire From Tennessee State University". Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. CMA. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
6. "Melvin N. Johnson". Tennessee State University. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
7. "A&T History". library.ncat.edu. F.D. Bluford Library (NC A&T). Retrieved July 13, 2017.
8. "Ronald E. McNair Bio". jsc.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
9. Beckwith, Ryan Teague. "Alma Adams". Raleigh News & Observer. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
10. "Ed Towns' Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
11. "Henry E. Frye". Civil Rights Greensboro. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
12. "Congressman Jesse L. Jackson Jr". Archived from the original on April 16, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
13. "History of the Federal Judiciary". Biographical Directory of Federal Judges. Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
14. "Profile of Judge Johnnie B. Rawlinson". Appellate Counsellor. Calvin House. July 22, 2000. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
15. "Quincy Murphy's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
16. "About Mayor Cannon". City of Charlotte website. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
17. "Charlotte mayor accused of bribery, extortion". CNN. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
18. "Database on Legislative Council Members". Legislative Council of Hong Kong website. Legislative Council Commission. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
19. "February One Bios". Februaryonedocumentary.com. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
20. "David Richmond". Civil Rights Greensboro. UNC-Greensboro. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
21. "Franklin McCain, one of 'the Greensboro Four,' dies". Winston-Salem Journal. January 10, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
22. Joyce Purnick and Michael Oreskes (November 29, 1987). "Jesse Jackson Aims for the Mainstream". The New York Times. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
23. "Jibreel Khazan". februaryonedocumentary.com. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
24. "Son of Jesse Jackson resigned..." Orlando Sentinel. June 1, 1989. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
25. Campbell, Colin (May 23, 1981). "RANDOLPH T. BLACKWELL, A LEADER IN HELPING POOR BLACKS IN SOUTH". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
26. Brooks, Erik F. (2011). Historically Black Colleges and Universities: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO,LLC. p. 234.
27. "JANICE BRYANT HOWROYD". NMSDC. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
28. "North Carolina A&T- Alumni & Post Grads". Retrieved March 25, 2014.
29. "Jazzman, Aggie alum Lou Donaldson honored". Aggie Research Blog. N.C. A&T. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
30. Stephens, Cinde. "CELEBRATING WITH SYBIL\ UP-AND-COMING POP SINGER'S A FAMILIAR FACE TO LOCAL FOLKS". Greensboro News & Record. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
31. "Taraji Henson Biography". The Biography Channel website. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
32. Coleman, Chrisena. "The Hottest 'Nerd' on TV: Star from Queens Seen by Millions Around the World", Daily News|location=New York, 15 April 2008.
33. "William Barber, Head of State NAACP, To Address NCCU Grads". NCCU News. North Carolina Central University. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
34. "Clara Adams-Enders Papers". The Betty H. Carter Women Veterans Historical Project. University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
35. "Tom Alston Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
36. Johnson, Roy S. "ATTLES COACHES IN A PERSONAL WAY", The New York Times, January 28, 1982. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
37. "Historic Profiles: Bob Beamon". http://isctrack.com. Integrated Speed Concepts. Retrieved April 30, 2015. External link in |website= (help)
38. "NC A&T Belcher a possible contender for the Olympics | Serving the African American Community in Richmond, VA". Richmond Free Press. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
39. "Dwaine Board Bio". National Football League. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
40. "Curtis Deloatch Bio". National Football League.
41. "Connell Maynor Bio". wssurams.com. Winston-Salem State University Athletics. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
42. "Elvin Bethea". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
43. "Jessie Britt". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
44. Thomas R. Garrett; Clay Shampoe (2007). Old Dominion University Men's Basketball – Images of Sports (Illustrated ed.). Arcadia Publishing. p. 87. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
45. "Joe Binion NBA & ABA Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
46. "Al Holland Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
47. "George Ragsdale NFL Football Statistics". Profootballreference.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
48. "George Small Bio". FAMU Athletics. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
49. "Evans closes out officiating career". USA Today. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
50. "J.D. Smith Bio". National Football League. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
51. "Jamal Jones Bio". National Football League. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
52. Walker, Rhiannon (December 20, 2017). "Remembering Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson The first woman to pitch in the Negro Leagues dies at 82". The Undefeated. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
53. "Maurice Hicks Bio". National Football League. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
54. "Maurice Smith Bio". National Football League. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
55. "Mel Phillips Bio". National Football League. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
56. "USA Track & Field | Rodney Rowe". usatf.org. USATF. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
57. Player Bio: Tevester Anderson – JACKSON STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
58. "Warren Davis NBA & ABA Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
59. Susan Candiotti; Maria Ressa; Justine Redman; Henry Schuster CNN (December 19, 2002). "Suspected 9/11 mastermind graduated from U.S. university". CNN. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
60. Dina Temple-Raston (November 18, 2009). "Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's Isolated U.S. College Days". NPR. Retrieved April 20, 2017.