Valpo's Most Famous Alumus/a, By Sport

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Obviously, Bryce. (MBB)

And (apparently less obviously than it should be) Legendary Lloyd McClendon. (baseball)

Maybe Zobeck since he's in the League. (futbol)

Real football has a few guys who might lay claim to it (though I would think there's one easy choice).

Who else?  Who would you nominate for the most famous/outstanding alumnus or alumna in each sport at Valpo?

Ground rules:
--I use "alumnus/alumna" loosely in the sense that as long as they played here, not "they possess a sheepskin saying Valparaiso on it"
--This is "famous" in the "athletic achievements" sense, not "oh there was that one guy who played football and founded eBay" or something.

[vu72]

Fuzzy Thurston '56   Football


Gene Bartow '76H  Coaching

Patty Shook  '65 Boic   Golf   (1964 NCAA Champion)

[VULB#62]

Steve Cook '66 MT&F - HH record holder and two-time All-American.  Runner up Steve Bartholomew '08 Hammer

Agree on Fuzzy for FB.  Runner up - Gary Puetz

Homer Drew MBB Coach -- Gene Bartow Runner up.

MCC - Leroy Schramm '66

MCC Coach - Darrell Zimmerman

[historyman]

Talk show host--Michael Essany

I'm sure he still dreams of taking over for Letterman, Leno, or even Conan. The guy started his show in his home in Shorewood Forest and he is yet to give up the dream. Kudos for his efforts.

http://www.michaelessany.com/

Through it all, Michael has remained a regular contributor and columnist for some of the largest and most respected business, financial, marketing, and entertainment publications and blogs in the world.  In September 2012, he was tapped to host Chicago's first original late night talk show airing weeknights at 10:30 pm on WJYS, reaching millions of viewers across the Midwest.

[valpotx]

Emory Bauer is Valpo famous, not sure about outside of that

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Talk show host

i was going to say, not a sport, but then...given the state of the 'genre'...

Plus the fact that most don't know what the first letter of ESPN stands for...and the lines are a bit blurred.

Nah.  Still not a sport.

[vu72]

Steve Cook '66 MT&F - HH record holder and two-time All-American.  Runner up Steve Bartholomew '08 Hammer

Agree on Fuzzy for FB.  Runner up - Gary Puetz

Homer Drew MBB Coach -- Gene Bartow Runner up.

MCC - Leroy Schramm '66

MCC Coach - Darrell Zimmerman

Well, if we are talking "Valpo famous" I agree.  If we are talking national famous. Then Gene wins easily.  Coached at UCLA and Illinois in addition to getting Valpo back to the NCAAs. Then there is the matter of coaching Memphis to the title game and building the entire program at Alabama Birmingham.  It really isn't close.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Yeah, "valpo famous" is like being "engineer hot".

We're talkin' national here.

[covufan]

Jim Wacker - football and coaching

[bbtds]

I know LAA doesn't like that we talk about non-athletes on this thread but the most influential Valpo student on the world was Lowell Thomas. He was the voice on news reels during the time of WWII. He was the Walter Cronkite, Diane Sawyer or Wolf Blitzer of his day. The man introduced Adolf Hitler to the world by reporting on his political moves in movie theaters across the world.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

OK then Beulah Bondi JoBe Cerny David Ruprecht blah blah blah.

[usc4valpo]

Meteorologist  - Ginger Zee

[LaPorteAveApostle]

obligatory

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-06-20/features/ct-trav-0620-ginger-zee-20100620_1_e-mails-ginger-zee-weather

[valpotx]

She used to hang out with us FR and SO year, and gave some good back rubs lol.

[classof2014]

Legendary Lloyd McClendon. (baseball)

The man who stole first base... literally

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Marlous Nieuwveen (WBB).

Not even looking that up--how close am I?

[usc4valpo]

Eugene Parker, top sports agent and law school graduate, graduate assistant basketball coach from 1980-82

[LaPorteAveApostle]

Not even looking that up--how close am I?

Spot on!  well done.

http://www.marlousnieuwveen.nl/

[covufan]

Cheryl Silich (spelling?): mudwrestling and American Gladiators.

[covufan]

Cheryl Silich (spelling?): mudwrestling and American Gladiators.

http://www.cherylannsilich.com/products/american-gladiators.html

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/cheryl-ann-silich/41/188/895

[valpotx]

Adam Amin is announcing the Cincinnati vs. Houston game on ESPNEWS if anyone wants to listen to him.