Southern University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni

Southern University and A&M College, an institution steeped in history and tradition, boasts a remarkable array of alumni who have made significant contributions across various fields. With the motto "Excellence defines us. Pride sustains us. Tradition guides us," the university has fostered a culture of achievement, producing graduates who embody the spirit of the Jaguar. This article delves into the lives and accomplishments of some of Southern University's most notable alumni, showcasing their diverse talents and lasting impact.

Arts and Entertainment

Common: Rapper, Actor, and Activist

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, known professionally as Common, is an American rapper, actor, and activist. He has received three Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. At the age of 20, he signed with the independent label Relativity Records to release his debut studio album Can I Borrow a Dollar? (1992) along with its follow-ups, Resurrection (1994) and One Day It'll All Make Sense (1997). He maintained an underground following into the late 1990s, and achieved mainstream success through his work with the Black music collective, Soulquarians.

David Banner: Rapper, Producer, and Actor

Lavell William Crump, better known as David Banner, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. He pursued higher education at Southern University, attending his mother’s alma mater. During his time at Southern, he served as president of the Student Government Association and later received a bachelor’s degree in business. Banner’s career started in the 1990s as half of the rap duo, Crooked Lettaz. In 2003 he signed with SRC Records to continue pursing his solo career. As a rapper, Banner has worked with artists such as Lil Boosie, Static Major, Young Joc, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, and Snoop Dogg. He produced records for major artists including T.I., Remy Ma, Three 6 Mafia, Ludacris, Mary Mary, and Lecrae. In addition to a successful rap career, Banner has made appearances in several television shows and movies, including This Christmas, The Butler, Ride Along, Empire, Saints & Sinners, and The Family Business: New Orleans. In 2006, Banner was awarded a Visionary Award by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators in Jackson, Mississippi, in recognition of his humanitarian work in response to Hurricane Katrina. He has also become an activist, speaking out against racism and injustice in the Black community.

Randy Jackson: Record Executive and Television Personality

Randall Darius Jackson is an American record executive, television presenter and musician, best known as a judge on American Idol from 2002 to 2013. A Baton Rouge native, Jackson has always been a lover of music. He graduated from Southern in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in music. His career began in the 1980s as a session musician playing bass guitar for various jazz, pop, rock, and R&B performers. He has also worked as an executive, spending eight years as vice president of artists and repertoire (A&R) at Columbia Records and four years heading A&R at MCA Records. Jackson joined the panel of judges on American Idol alongside Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. He was a judge on the show from 2002 to 2013.

Van Lathan: Journalist, Producer, and Commentator

Van Lathan Jr. is a journalist, producer, podcaster, and political commentator. Lathan is best known for his work on TMZ as both a senior producer and cohost. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Lathan graduated from Southern University before starting his media career. Lathan began working for TMZ in 2010. One of Lathan’s highlight career moments was his response to Kanye West during an interview in 2018 where West claimed that slavery was a choice. His rebuttal was widely supported by both his coworkers and the masses. After Lathan was let go from TMZ, he began to produce films. He cofounded the production company Six Feet Over with film directors Travon Free and Nicholas Maye. Lathan was the executive producer for the films Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story, Two Distant Strangers, and Once Again (For the Very First Time). Two Distant Strangers would go on to win an award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 93rd Academy Awards and Best Short Film from the African American Film Critics Association. Other projects of Lathan include hosting the series Hip Hop Homicides and currently co-hosting Higher Learning with Rachel Lindsay.

Read also: Affording SNHU

Kidd Jordan: Jazz Saxophonist and Music Educator

Edward "Kidd" Jordan was an American jazz saxophonist and music educator from New Orleans, Louisiana. He taught at Southern University at New Orleans from 1974 to 2006.

Politics and Government

William J. Jefferson: Former U.S. Representative

William Jennings Jefferson is an American former politician from Louisiana whose career ended after his corruption scandal and conviction. House of Representatives for nine terms from 1991 to 2009 as a member of the Democratic Party. He represented Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, which includes much of the greater New Orleans area. He was elected as the state's first black congressman since the end of Reconstruction. In 1969, he graduated from Southern University and A&M College with Bachelor of Arts.

Cleo Fields: Louisiana State Senator

Cleo Fields is an American attorney and politician who serves in the Louisiana Senate. He represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 1997 and ran unsuccessfully for governor of Louisiana in 1995. He serves as a state senator for Louisiana's 14th State Senate district, a position he held twice before. Fields is a member of the Democratic Party. He enrolled in Southern University and A&M College, in 1984 graduated with Bachelor of Arts and in 1987 graduated with Juris Doctor.

Murphy J. Foster Jr.: Former Governor of Louisiana

Murphy James Foster Jr. was an American businessman and politician who served as the 53rd governor of Louisiana from 1996 to 2004. He enrolled in Southern University and A&M College and graduated with Juris Doctor.

Kip Holden: Former Mayor-President of Baton Rouge

Melvin Lee "Kip" Holden, is an American politician who served from 2005 to 2016 as the Democratic Mayor-President of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. The parish includes the state capital of Baton Rouge and smaller suburban cities such as Baker, Central City, and Zachary.

Robert L. Williams: Former Governor of Oklahoma

Robert Lee Williams was an American lawyer, judge, and the third governor of Oklahoma. Williams played a role in the drafting of the Oklahoma Constitution and served as the first Oklahoma Supreme Court chief justice. He also served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. As Governor, Williams oversaw the state's response to the United States Supreme Court's ruling against Jim Crow laws and its involvement in World War I. He instituted the Oklahoma State Board of Affairs, which provided central purchasing services to state agencies. Due to his direct administrative role and concentration of power, Williams counteracted the loss of executive power under Governor Lee Cruce.

Shawn Wilson: Former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development

Shawn D. Wilson is an American politician and transportation official who served as the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development from 2016 to 2023. Wilson unsuccessfully ran for governor of Louisiana in 2023 and came in second place to Republican Jeff Landry in a jungle primary receiving 25.9% of the vote. He enrolled in Southern University and A&M College and graduated with Master of Arts in public administration.

Elbert Guillory: Former Louisiana State Senator

Elbert Lee Guillory is a former member of the Louisiana State Senate. An American Republican, he represented District 24, including his native Opelousas, and several rural precincts, from May 2, 2009, when he won a special election, until January 11, 2016, when his full term to which he was elected in 2011 ended.

Chuck Espy: Mayor of Clarksdale, Mississippi

Henry William "Chuck" Espy III is an American politician. Espy is Mayor of Clarksdale, Mississippi, elected June 2017. He also was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 2000 to 2016.

Eric Skrmetta: Louisiana Public Service Commissioner

Eric Frederick Skrmetta is an American politician who represents District 1 (largely surburban New Orleans, eastern Florida Parishes, and River Parishes) on the Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC), an influential regulatory agency which was the political springboard for former governors Huey Long, Jimmie Davis, and John McKeithen. Skrmetta is a member of the Republican Party.

Read also: Opportunities at Columbia Southern

Michael L. Vaughn: Former Maryland House of Delegates

Michael L. Vaughn is an American politician who represented District 24 as a Democrat in the Maryland House of Delegates beginning in 2003 until his resignation in 2017.

Additional Louisiana House of Representatives Members

Several Southern University alumni have served in the Louisiana House of Representatives, including:

Troy E. Israel
B. Herbert
Dalton W. Honoré
Alphonse J. Jackson, Jr.
Edward C. "Ted" James, II
Robert M. Lowe
Abe E.
Jesse N.
Pinkie C.
Alfred C.
Patrick C.
Joe N.
Randal L. Gaines

Athletics

Lou Brock: Baseball Hall of Famer

Louis Clark Brock was an American professional baseball left fielder. He began his 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the 1961 Chicago Cubs but spent most of it as a left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. An All-Star for six seasons, Brock was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 in his first year of eligibility and was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

Bob Love: NBA Player and Motivational Speaker

Robert Earl Love was an American professional basketball player who spent the prime of his career with the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls. A versatile forward who could shoot with either his left or right hand, Love later worked as the Bulls' director of community affairs and goodwill ambassador. Love was nicknamed "Butterbean", which dates back to his boyhood when he was fond of the legume. He enrolled in Southern University and A&M College and graduated with Bachelor of Science in nutritional science.

Harold Carmichael: NFL Wide Receiver

Lee Harold Carmichael is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (1971-1983) and one year for the Dallas Cowboys (1984). Carmichael was the director of player development and alumni for the Eagles from 1998 to 2014, and a fan engagement liaison from 2014 to 2015.

Aeneas Williams: NFL Hall of Famer

Aeneas Demetrius Williams is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played college football for the Southern Jaguars and was selected in the third round of the 1991 NFL draft by the Phoenix Cardinals, where he spent 10 seasons. During his final four seasons, he was a member of the St. Louis Rams. Williams received eight Pro Bowl selections and three first-team All-Pro honors, as well as being on the second NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Sid Williams: NFL Linebacker and Diplomat

Sidney Williams is an American former diplomat and American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Colts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at Southern University.

Avery Johnson: Basketball Player and Coach

Avery DeWitt Johnson is an American basketball television commentator and former player and coach who most recently served as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team. He is currently an NBA and college basketball analyst for CBS Sports.

Willie Davenport: Olympic Sprinter and Bobsledder

William "Willie" D. Davenport was an American sprint runner. He competed in the 110 m hurdles at the 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal in 1968 and a bronze in 1976, and finishing fourth in 1972. In 1980 he took part in the Winter Olympics as a runner for the American bobsleigh team.

Rod Milburn: Olympic Hurdler

Rodney "Rod" Milburn Jr. was an American athlete who won gold at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich in the 110m hurdles.

José De León: Baseball Player

José Eugenio De León Domenech is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Cincinnati Reds, and Minnesota Twins.

Fred Lewis: Baseball Player

Frederick Deshaun Lewis is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He made his debut on September 1, 2006, with the San Francisco Giants.

Danny Johnson: Football Player

Danny Johnson is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Southern and was signed by Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2018.

Robert Holmes: Football Player

Robert Earl Holmes was an American football running back who played collegiately at Southern University and professionally in the American Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs, and in the National Football League for the Chiefs, the Houston Oilers, and the San Diego Chargers. He was an AFL All-Star in 1969, and played with the Chiefs in their defeat of the Oakland Raiders in the 1969 AFL Championship Game and in their crushing of the NFL's champion Minnesota Vikings in the fourth and final AFL-NFL World Championship Game. He joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League during the 1976 season, playing 5 regular season games and the Western Final.

Arthur Miley: Football Player

Arthur Miley is an American football outside linebacker who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Southern University for the SU Jaguars. In 2014, Miley was named First-team All-SWAC. He has also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and San Antonio Commanders.

David Bolen: Track and Field Athlete and Diplomat

David Benjamin Bolen was an American track and field athlete, Olympian, diplomat and businessman.

Reggie Williams: Baseball Coach

Reginald Dewayne Williams is an American baseball coach and former outfielder, who is the current head baseball coach of the Alcorn State Braves. He played college baseball at Southern from 1979 to 1982 and played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 4 seasons from 1985 to 1988.

Al Beauchamp: Football Player

Alfred Beauchamp is a former professional American football linebacker.

Military Service

Russel L. Honoré: General

Russel L. Honoré is best known for serving as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the Gulf Coast and as the 2nd Infantry Division's commander while stationed in South Korea. He served until his retirement from the Army on January 11, 2008. Honoré is sometimes known as "The Ragin' Cajun". He enrolled in Southern University and A&M College and graduated with Bachelor of Science in vocational agriculture.

Sherian Cadoria: General

Sherian Grace Cadoria is a retired United States Army officer. She became the first African-American woman to achieve general officer rank in the regular United States Army on promotion to brigadier general in 1985. She was the highest ranking black woman in the military at the time of her retirement in 1990. Cadoria is a 1961 graduate of Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma.

Joe N. Ballard: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Joe N. Ballard is a retired U.S. Army officer who fought in the Vietnam War, and who served as Chief of Engineers, the first African-American to serve in this role.

Bunny Greenhouse: Military Whistleblower

Bunnatine H. Greenhouse is a former chief contracting officer Senior Executive Service (Principal Assistant Responsible for Contracting (PARC)) of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. On June 27, 2005, she testified to a Congressional panel, alleging specific instances of waste, fraud, and other abuses and irregularities by Halliburton with regard to its operations in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. She described one of the Halliburton contracts (secret, no-bid contracts awarded to Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR)-a subsidiary of Halliburton) as "the most blatant and improper contract abuse I have witnessed during the course of my professional career".

Other Notable Alumni

Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones: Academic Administrator and Coach

Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones Sr., known as Prez Jones, was an American educator and administrator. He served as the second president of Grambling State University, a historically black university in Grambling, Louisiana, from 1936 until 1977. He also coached the Grambling State Tigers baseball team, and was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Bennie Adams: NBA Referee

Bennie Adams is an American professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association.

Southern University Naval ROTC Alumni

The Southern University Naval ROTC program has produced numerous accomplished individuals. Some of the alumni include:

Bruce M., Francis D., Janice M., Alton J., Nettie R., Gerald D., David L., Edward D., John N., Era M., Robert A., Michael D., Ellis A., Michael R., Stanley A., Paul J., Gary L., Phillip B., Wiley C., Richard D., Charles J., Marilyn J., Robert L., Roderick A., Ronald J., Robert E., Robert J., Allen C., Timothy C., Lea V., Tommy L., Mark J., Loretta G., Jerry W., Byron G., Gary L., Robert L., Sheryl A., Cathy E., Kenneth L., Tony R., Carl S., John F., Daryl J., Paul T., Millicent G., Timothy J., Joseph E., Keith O., Ray C., Joseph L., Grant P., Eddie B., Dexter J., Rickey E., James T., Don R., Gerry L., Quintella D., Hebert G., Victor L., Delores A., Alan D., Gordon A., Cecilia J., Dean E., Wallace E., Dudley C., Ruby S., Millie M., James R., Gerard M., Keith D., Jessie M., Mark L., Michael J., James J., Craig R., David L., Jimmy A., William S., Michael D., Kevin F., Dennis M., Michael A., George M., Carl F., George W., Mr. Steven F., Andrew M., Willie T., Mr. Brett M., Jimmy D., Col. Benny T., Mr. Jameau R., Tarsha V., Elnora E., Samuel L., Brock A., CDR Terry P., Reco L., James W., CDR Michael W., Clarence B., Nerieda C., Holman R., Rodney D., Kimberly W., Lakisha L., Tyrone C., Clifton L., Job J., James T., Kenneth L., Romeo J., Jennifer L., Joshua L., David M., Gabriel J., Andrew R., Cheryl M., Nicholas M., Benjamin M., Timothy P., Benjamin J., Dominick B., John H., Sean P., Richard T., Michaels S., Brandice R., James M., Jermaine L., Michael D., Brandon L., Justin A., Joshua N., Brittany M., Samuel R., John M.

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