Angelo State University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Angelo State University (ASU) has fostered a diverse array of accomplished individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields. From athletics and the military to business, academia, and the arts, ASU alumni have left an indelible mark on the world. This article explores the remarkable achievements and stories of some of ASU's most notable graduates and former students.
Academic Pioneers and Influencers
ASU has produced numerous alumni who have excelled in academia, research, and education. These individuals have not only contributed to their respective fields but have also inspired future generations of scholars and professionals.
Dr. Arnoldo De León: A 1970 ASU history graduate, Dr. De León returned to his alma mater in 1973 and reshaped contemporary understanding of Texas history, particularly as it relates to Mexican Americans. Now ASU’s C.J. “Red” Davidson Professor of History, De León is the author of 15 critically acclaimed books and editor of 11 more on Texas and Hispanic history.
Dr. Angela Valenzuela: As one of only a handful of Hispanic women to achieve the rank of professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Angela Valenzuela is shaping the way the nation thinks about education and meeting the needs of a new multicultural generation of students. Her book, Mexican Youth and the Politics of Caring, earned the American Educational Research Association Outstanding Book Award. She holds a 1981 bachelor’s degree from ASU, as well as a master’s degree from UT-Austin.
Rajesh P. N. Rao: Born in India in 1970, Rajesh P. N. Rao is a distinguished computer scientist, neuroscientist, and academic. He currently serves as the Director of the NSF Center for Neurotechnology (CNT) and holds the Cherng Jia and Elizabeth Yun Hwang Professorship in Computer Science and Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Read also: ASU Baseball History
Trailblazers in Business and Leadership
Angelo State University has a strong tradition of producing successful business leaders and entrepreneurs. These alumni have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and business acumen in their respective industries.
Mike Millegan: A Verizon employee for more than a quarter of a century, Mike Millegan is senior vice president and general manager for Verizon’s Midwest Region. In the wake of the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center, Millegan was dispatched to Ground Zero and helped direct Verizon’s effort to re-establish telecommunications in Lower Manhattan and in Washington, D.C. A member of ASU’s 1978 NAIA national championship football team, Millegan received both his bachelor’s degree and his M.B.A. from Angelo State University.
Shayne Brown: Class of 1996, B.B.A. in Marketing. Shayne Brown worked multiple jobs to put himself through Angelo State.
Darcy Weishuhn: Class of 2013. Angelo State alumna Darcy Weishuhn credits her time at ASU, not only, for her good memories and friendships, but for introducing her to a career in banking and agriculture. Now, she strives to help ASU students find their way to success like she was able to.
Achievers in Athletics
Angelo State University has a rich athletic history, and its alumni have achieved remarkable success in various sports. From professional athletes to coaches and sports administrators, ASU graduates have made significant contributions to the world of athletics.
Read also: ASU Job Opportunities
Norm Cash: Norman Dalton Cash was an American Major League Baseball first baseman who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. A power hitter, his 377 career home runs were the fourth most by an American League left-handed hitter when he retired, behind Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig; his 373 home runs with the Tigers is tied for second in franchise history with Miguel Cabrera, behind Al Kaline (399). He also led the AL in assists three times and fielding percentage twice; he ranked among the all-time leaders in assists (4th with 1,317) and double plays (10th with 1,347) upon his retirement, and was fifth in AL history in games at first base (1,943). He was known to fans and teammates during his playing days as "Stormin' Norman."
Clayton Weishuhn: Clayton Charles Weishuhn was an American professional football player who played linebacker for five seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers from 1982 to 1987. He had earlier played college football at Angelo State University. He established the Patriots' single-season record of 229 tackles in 1983, and still held the record at the time of his death in April 2022.
Colby Carthel: Colby Don Carthel is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, a position he has held since December 2018. Carthel served as the head football coach at Texas A&M University-Commerce from 2013 to 2018, leading the 2017 Texas A&M-Commerce Lions football team to an NCAA Division II Football Championship title. Prior to his time as head coach, he was the defensive coordinator under his father, Don Carthel, at West Texas A&M University, from 2006 to 2012. Carthel played football at Angelo State University, where he was an all-conference linebacker.
Robert Parker: Robert Lynn Parker was a college track and field coach for the throwing events at Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at El Paso. He coached several NCAA champions, but was most recognized for coaching the world record holder in the shot put, Randy Barnes. Parker enrolled in Angelo State University and studied there from 1982 to 1984.
Katie Jo Light: Class of 2016, B.S. in Biology. San Antonio native Katie Jo Light has done it all, from star volleyball player to an attending physician, and made it look easy in the process.
Read also: Funding Your Education at Angelo State
Daisy Osakue: Born in Italy in 1996, Daisy Oyemwenosa Osakue is an Italian discus thrower who came 5th at the 2018 European Athletics Championships. She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Discus throw.
Zachary Robert Stewart: Zachary Robert Stewart is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, and Boston Red Sox, and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos.
Omari Gudul: Omari Gudul is a Congolese professional basketball player who last played for Spójnia Stargard of the PLK. Standing at 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), Gudul usually plays as power forward or center.
Lucy A. Glen Sefcik: sprint and hurdles coach for the Saudi Arabian Olympic team; head track coach at Wayland Baptist University,.
Notable Figures in Arts and Media
Angelo State University has also nurtured talented individuals who have made their mark in the arts and media. These alumni have excelled as actors, musicians, journalists, and media professionals.
Luci Christian: Louisa Michelle "Luci" Christian is an American voice actress and ADR script writer. She has provided many voices for English versions of Japanese anime series and films. She enrolled in Angelo State University and graduated with bachelor's degree in theatre.
Bill Erwin: William Lindsey Erwin was an American film, stage and television actor with over 250 television and film credits. A veteran character actor, he is widely known for his 1993 Emmy Award-nominated performance on Seinfeld, portraying the embittered, irascible retiree Sid Fields. He also made notable appearances on shows such as I Love Lucy and Star Trek: The Next Generation. In cinema, his most recognized role is that of Arthur Biehl, a kindly bellman at the Grand Hotel, in Somewhere in Time (1980).
Sohini Alam: Sohini Alam is a British singer of Bangladeshi descent who sings in the bands Khiyo, Lokkhi Terra, and GRRRL. She has performed internationally on stage, radio, and television and worked on music for dance, theatre, and film. Alam is a founding member of the arts company Komola Collective and co-music director of the documentary film Rising Silence. After providing vocals for dancer/choreographer Akram Khan's DESH, she spent three years touring internationally with his show Until the Lions.
Rena Pederson: Rena Pederson, director of communications for the American College of Education, helps establish American colleges worldwide. She was editorial page editor at The Dallas Morning News for 16 years during which time she was named one of the “Most Powerful Women in Texas” by Texas Monthly. She has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and recipient of multiple Headliner Awards. She served nine years on the prestigious Pulitzer Prize Board.
Renay San Miguel: Longtime television journalist Renay San Miguel is the host/managing editor of Spark360, a company that provides paid content via network news-style stories for small/medium-sized businesses, which are then distributed via web video portals and social media platforms. He is also the owner of Primo Media, LLC and works as a reporter/columnist for ECT News Network. He also serves as host/reporter for the “Talkin’ Tech” segment every Thursday/Friday on Northwest Cable News, Seattle cable channel 2; and as a fill-in anchor, KING5 News (NBC affiliate), in Seattle. Previously, San Miguel had spent 22 years as a broadcast journalist, most recently with CNN Headline News where he was a reporter and weekend anchor. He had also worked at CBS News and WFAA-TV in Dallas.
Arnold Garcia Jr.: Arnold Garcia Jr. used his bachelor’s degree in history and government to launch a successful journalism career, beginning at the San Angelo Standard-Times and continuing today at the Austin American-Statesman, where he is editorial page editor. At the American-Statesman he covered the courthouse, state agencies, Texas prison system and school district before becoming assistant city editor, assignments editor, metro editor and political columnist.
Satcha Pretto: A 2001 ASU communications graduate, Satcha Pretto is recognized throughout the western hemisphere as co-anchor of Univision’s “Primer Impacto” Weekend Edition. A native of Honduras, she came to ASU on a Carr Scholarship in 1998. After graduation, she worked at stations in the Midland-Odessa market before moving to the Dallas Univision affiliate KUVN. Satcha’s third career jump landed her at the Univision Network Headquarters in Miami where she has been since 2006.
Public Servants and Military Heroes
Angelo State University has a strong commitment to public service, and its alumni have served their communities and country in various capacities. These individuals have demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and courage in their roles as public servants and military personnel.
Matthew O. Williams: Matthew O. Williams is a sergeant major in the United States Army. He received the Medal of Honor (upgraded from a Silver Star) on October 30, 2019, for his actions on April 6, 2008, as a member of Operational Detachment Alpha 3336, Special Operations Task Force 11, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan in the Battle of Shok Valley.
J. T. Rutherford: J T Rutherford, was an American lawyer and World War II veteran who served as a Democratic United States Congressional Representative for 4 terms from 1955 to 1963. He previously served as a state legislator from the state of Texas.
David Lindsey: David L. Lindsey is a politician in the American state of Florida. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1967 to 1970, representing the 41st district.
Glenn Revell: Class of 2016, M.Ed. military personnel.
Other Notable Alumni
Robert Williamson III: Robert Williamson III graduated from Angelo State in 1994 with a dual bachelor’s of business administration in finance and real estate. After working as a restaurateur, a real estate developer, and a business consultant, Williamson turned to his true passion, poker. Today as a professional poker player, he has won five gold bracelets in poker competitions.
Rupert Boneham: contestant on reality TV shows Survivor: Pearl Islands, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, Survivor: Blood vs.
Houston Harte: founder of Harte-Hanks; consultant to President Lyndon B.
Morris Overstreet: judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; judge for Potter County Court at Law No.
Spike Dykes: retired as the winningest coach in Texas Tech University football history with an overall record of 82-67-1. A three-time Southwest Conference Coach of the Year, Dykes became the first recipient of Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year Honors in the league’s 1996 inaugural season. During his 13-year Texas Tech career, he sparked the Red Raiders to seven bowl berths, including their only Cotton Bowl berth as a SWC member.
Walter Juliff: Former Dallas Cowboys Scout Joins ASU Foundation Board Walter Juliff, who recently retired after a 50-year coaching and scouting career, has joined the Board of Trustees for the Angelo State University Foundation, a public, nonprofit organization established to provide financial assistance to ASU, primarily through gifts and earnings on endowed funds.
Mickey Long: Former TTUS Regent Joins ASU Foundation Board Mickey Long, the first Angelo State alumnus to serve on the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, has joined the Board of Trustees for the Angelo State University Foundation, a public, nonprofit organization established to provide financial assistance to ASU, primarily through gifts and earnings on endowed funds.
Paige Smith: Class of 2020, B.B.A. in Accounting, Master of Professional Accountancy (M.P.Ac.) From alumna to team manager and adjunct professor, Paige Smith’s passion for giving back and pouring into those around her knows no bounds.
Brian Carroll: The discipline that alumnus Brian Carroll learned at Angelo State brought him to the moment of crossing the finish line at the 2024 Boston Marathon. Originally from Irving, Carroll was unfamiliar with Angelo State. Then, in his senior year of high school, his cross country coach connected him with James Reid, then ASU’s head track and field/cross country coach.
Dr. Michael Patyrak: Class of 2002, B.S. in Biology. The Dallas Cowboys have been a huge presence in Dr. Michael Patyrak’s life since before he was even old enough to realize it.
Angelo State University: A History of Growth and Achievement
Angelo State University has a rich history dating back to its establishment in the 1920s. Originally founded as San Angelo College, the institution has grown and evolved over the years to become a comprehensive university offering a wide range of academic programs and opportunities.
Early Years: After an unsuccessful 1923 bid to be selected as the home of Texas Technological College, the residents of San Angelo decided they would create their own college, even if they had to pay for it themselves. When classes began, 112 students enrolled with city students paying $75 tuition and out-of-town students $115. In May 1929, six students walked across the stage in the institution’s first commencement exercise.
The Great Depression and World War II: Barely had the college opened its doors than the Stock Market collapsed in 1929 and plunged the country into the Great Depression throughout the 1930s. SAC survived the downturn of the Depression and the World War II years with an eye toward the future.
Move to New Campus: Having outgrown its downtown campus, the college looked to move to its current location, though tax monies were inadequate to make the change to a new campus. The residents of San Angelo stepped in and raised $300,000 to help make the transition.
Growth and Integration: By the 1950s, SAC was growing on its new campus on West Avenue N, thanks to the GI Bill® and a growing emphasis on education. During the 1950s, SAC was a pioneer in racial relations, admitting its first black students a year before Brown vs. Board of Education and in 1955 graduating its first black student, Mary Frances Simpson, the outstanding graduate that year. SAC also broke the color barrier in Texas intercollegiate football in 1953 when Ben Kelly, who later that academic year would be named class favorite, started for the Rams.
Transition to University Status: The 1960s were a time of change as San Angelo College evolved into a four-year, state-supported university, fulfilling the dreams of local residents all the way back to the 1920s. Gov. John Connally in 1963 signed legislation making SAC a state institution and a part of what became the Texas State University System.
Continued Growth and Expansion: During the 1970s, the ASU campus flourished as the Baby Boomers arrived in full force. Intercollegiate athletics for women began in 1975. Upon his death in 1978, long-time ASU supporter Robert G. Carr established a foundation funded by his mineral and royalty interests from oil-producing properties in 16 West Texas counties. His wife, Nona Carr, would add her interest in those properties to the foundation upon her death nine years later. The Robert G. and Nona K. Carr Foundation, established to provide scholarships for “needy and worthy” students, would have a profound impact on Angelo State. The first scholarships were awarded in 1981.
National Recognition and Modernization: News and World Report as one of the nation’s up-and-coming universities. In the decade between 1996 and 2006, ASU enjoyed its second-biggest building boom, leaving the university with one of the most modern campuses in the state.
Move to Texas Tech University System: Local residents once again demonstrated their support and interest in the institution when they petitioned legislators in 2007 to move Angelo State University from the Texas State University System to the Texas Tech University System. With legislative approval and the governor’s signature, that move became effective on Sept. 1, 2007, three months to the day after Dr. Joseph C.
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