Clemson University

Clemson University, located in Clemson, South Carolina, was founded in 1889, a legacy of Thomas Green Clemson, who willed his Fort Hill plantation home, its surrounding farmlands and forest, and other property to the State of South Carolina to establish a technical and scientific institution for South Carolina. Clemson opened its doors to 446 students as a military college in 1893. Today, approximately 17,000 students attend the institution, with 64 percent of these students from South Carolina and the remaining 36 percent hailing from 49 other states and 70 nations.

Notable Alumni

Politics

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• Strom Thurmond, former U.S. Senator
• James F. Byrnes, former U.S. Secretary of State
• Harvey Gantt, former mayor of Charlotte, NC and first African-American graduate of Clemson University
• David Beasley, South Carolina governor (1995-1999)
• Bob Peeler, South Carolina lieutenant governor (1995-2003)
• Joseph Blake Mundy, Famous Political Activist

Business

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• Robert Brooks, founder and president of Atlanta-based Hooters of America, Inc, The Brooks Center for the Performing Arts is named for him.
• Mack Fleming, owner/operator of only commercial tea plantation in the United States
• George H. Ross, executive vice president and senior counsel of the Trump Organization. He is perhaps best known as one of Donald Trump's two advisors on the NBC reality television program The Apprentice

Academia

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• James F. Dickey, Pulitzer Prize winning author

Athletics

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• Gigi Fernandez, former women's tennis player
• Brentson Buckner, NFL defensive tackle
• Trevor Pryce, NFL defensive lineman
• Chester McGlockton, former NFL defensive lineman, 4-time probowler (1994-97)
• Brian Dawkins,Philadelphia Eagles defensive back, 3-time probowler (1999, 2001-02)
• Jeff Davis, former NFL Linebacker, NCAA first-team All-American (1981)
• Dwight Clark, former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
• Perry Tuttle, former NFL wider receiver, NCAA first-team All-American (1981)
• Charlie Waters, former Dallas Cowboys cornerback
• Terry Kinard, former NFL defensive back, 1988 probowler, 2-time NCAA first-team All-American
• Keith Adams, Philadephia Eagles linebacker, 2-time NCAA first-team All-American (1999-2000)
• Donnel Woolford, former NFL defenisive back, probowler 1993, 2-time NCAA first-team All-American (1987-88)
• William "Refrigerator" Perry, former NFL defensive lineman 3-time NCAA All-American (1982-1984)
• Michael Dean Perry, former NFL defenisve lineman, 6-time pro-bowler (89-91, 93-94, 96), NCAA first-team All-American (1987)
• Levon Kirkland, former NFL linebacler, 2-time probowler (1996-97), 1991 NCAA first-team All-American
• Ed McDaniel, former NFL linebacker, probowler (1998), 1991 NCAA first-team All-American
• Chris Gardocki, NFL punter
• David Treadwell, former NFL placekicker, 1987 first-team All-American
• Donald Igwebuike, former NFL placekicker
• Obed Ariri, former NFL plackicker, NCAA first-team All-American (1980)
• Kevin Mack, former Cleveland Browns running back, 2-time probowler (1985,87)
• Terry Allen (football), former NFL runningback, #20 All-time leading rusher in NFL history
• Terrence Flagler, former NFL runningback, first team All-American (1986)
• Kenny Flowers, former NFL runningback
• Antwan Edwards, New England Patriots cornerback/safety
• Rod Gardner, Carolina Panthers wide receiver
• Wayne "Tree" Rollins, former NBA player and executive, NBA All-defense team 1984(first-team)
• Horace Grant, former NBA forward All-Star (1994)
• Elden Campbell, Detroit Pistons forward/center
• Dale Davis, Detroit Pistons forward/center, All-star (2000)
• Sharone Wright, former NBA forward/center
• Greg Buckner, former NBA guard
• Larry Nance, former NBA guard, 3-time NBA all-star (1985,89,93), first winner of NBA "slam dunk" competition (1984), NBA All-defense team 1989 (1st-team)
• Chris Whitney, former NBA guard
• Randolph Mahaffey former NBA guard, All star (1968)
• Kris Benson, New York Mets starting pitcher
• Matthew LeCroy, Minnesota Twins infielder
• Khalil Greene, San Diego Padres shortstop
• Jimmy Key, former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher
• Jonathan Byrd, PGA TOUR golfer
• Shawn Crawford, 2004 Olympic gold and silver medalist in track and field
• Oguchi Onyewu, Standard Liege (Belgium) and US National Team soccer player, defender

Other

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• Jane Robelot, news anchor
• Nancy O'Dell, former Miss South Carolina and host of "Access Hollywood"
• Chris Luca, Winner of Amazing Race 2
• Aaron Buerge, "The Bachelor," Season 2
• James Michael Tyler, Gunther on "Friends"
• Scott Lazar, first person to free-climb Venezuela's Angel Falls
• Shawn Weatherly, Miss Universe, 1980-81
• Fiona Hutchison, One Life to Live actress