Over its 154 years, Ohio State University has produced many notable alumni. Some are famous for their contributions to American history. Others value athletic ability, musical accomplishments, and business acumen.
Before they became famous, these people probably walked the Oval and studied in Thompson Library, just like many other OSU students before them.
Although we recognize that readers may find gaps and omissions, we choose to focus on former Buckeyes who have transcended celebrity and established themselves as notable historical figures. I tried to do so. If you think we missed someone, please let us know on social media.
jesse owens
Jesse Owens was a track and field athlete who gained international attention by winning four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. According to Owens' website, Owens, a black man, took home the medal at a time when Nazism was on the rise in Germany and “denounced Hitler's racial theories.''
Owens also set three world records and tied another at the 1935 Big Ten Track and Field Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is credited with completing “the greatest 45 minutes in sports.” There is also. Owens attended OSU from 1933 to 1936, but he never finished his record. degree.
He was subsequently awarded an honorary doctorate of sports arts in 1972.
Urban Meyer
Urban Meyer is a college and NFL football coach, best known for his six years as head football coach at Ohio State University. During his time there, the Buckeyes went 7-0 against Michigan, won their first NCAA playoff championship, and posted a 54-4 record in Big Ten play. He currently serves as a broadcast analyst for FOX Sports.
He earned a master's degree in sports management from OSU in 1988.
R.L. Stein
R.L. Stine is an author best known for the following books: I get goosebumps A series of horror novels for children. He has also written several other horror series. fear street, and a collection of joke books. His books have sold more than 400 million copies, making him “one of the best-selling authors of all time,” according to his personal website. He graduated from OSU with his bachelor's degree in English in 1965.
jack nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus is a retired professional golfer who is considered by many to be one of the greatest golfers of all time, if not the greatest. According to his agency's website, he has 73 wins on official tours and 118 wins worldwide. He is also the founder of Nicklaus Design, a golf course construction and design company. Nicklaus attended OSU for three and a half years without receiving a degree, but was awarded an honorary degree in 1972.
Richard Lewis
Richard Lewis was a groundbreaking stand-up comedian, writer, and actor known for his nervy, dark comedy style.He also played a recurring character curb your enthusiasm, an HBO comedy show run by Lewis' longtime friend Larry David. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from OSU in 1969.
Lewis, an avid Buckeye fan for decades, died of a heart attack on February 27, 2024.
alan freed
Alan Freed was a radio disc jockey who helped popularize the term “rock and roll.” He began his career at radio stations in Akron, New Castle, and Youngstown, then moved to a radio station in Cleveland. While at WJW-AM, he started a nightly radio show called “Moondog His Rock and Roll House Party”, which eventually became broadcast around the world.
He attended OSU for two quarters before joining the Army in 1941.
bobby knight
Bobby Knight was a college basketball coach best known for coaching the Indiana University Hoosiers for 29 years. He also served as the USA men's basketball coach in his 1984 Olympic Games, which brought them a gold medal. When he retired in 2008, he had over 902 wins and an NCAA championship he had won three times.
He graduated from OSU in 1962.
george steinbrenner
George Steinbrenner was a Cleveland shipping magnate and owner of the New York Yankees for 37 years. Commonly referred to as “The Boss,” he was known for his hands-on management style and frequent firings (and sometimes hiring and re-firing). He is also famously played by Larry David. seinfeld. Steinbrenner graduated from OSU with a master's degree in physical education in 1955.
patricia heaton
Patricia Heaton is an Emmy Award-winning actress and comedian, best known for playing Debra Barone in the movies. everyone loves raymond.She also won an award for her performance on the ABC show middle her food network show patricia heaton party. Heaton graduated from OSU with a bachelor's degree in theater.
Les Wexner
Les Wexner is a businessman and philanthropist who founded L Brands, the international company behind Victoria's Secret, PINK, and Bath & Body Works. In 2021, L Brands spun off his Victoria's Secret brand and became known as Bath & Body Works, Inc.
Wexner served as CEO of L Brands until 2020, when he resigned due to his relationship with investor and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He graduated from OSU in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
Gary Revox
Gary Luvox is a founding member and lead singer of the country band rascal flats. According to LeVox's website, since forming the band in 1999, they have released 17 number one singles and sold more than 23 million albums. He is an OSU graduate.
Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein was an artist and a central figure in the Pop Art movement of the 1960s. Along with other contemporaries like Andy Warhol, Lichtenstein helped usher in a new era of art in the 1960s with his comic book-style paintings. Lichtenstein spent his undergraduate and graduate school years at OSU in the 1940s, and then taught at the university from 1949 until 1951.
Curtis Lemay
Curtis LeMay was an Air Force general who commanded the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and directed incendiary bombing campaigns against Japanese cities during World War II. After the war, he commanded the Berlin Airlift. He graduated from his OSU with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
John Kasich
John Kasich is a politician and author known for serving as the 69th governor of Ohio from 2011 to 2019. Kasich also ran for president in 2000 and 2016. Prior to becoming governor, he represented Ohio's 12th Congressional District in Congress for 18 years.
He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from OSU in 1974.
JD Vance
J.D. Vance is an author, businessman, Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and currently a U.S. senator from Ohio. Until his election in 2022, he was best known for his books. hillbilly elegyoutlined his experiences growing up in Middletown, Ohio.
He graduated from OSU in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in political science and philosophy.
sherrod brown
Sherrod Brown is a politician, author, and currently a U.S. senator from Ohio. He entered politics as a state representative and was elected Ohio Secretary of State in 1982. He then served in the U.S. House of Representatives and was sworn into the Senate in 2007. He was educated at OSU in 1979 and received a master's degree in public administration in 1981.
larry sanger
Larry Sanger is a software developer and philosopher who co-founded Wikipedia in 2001. Before he co-founded the site, he served as editor-in-chief of Nupedia, the predecessor to Wikipedia. He received his Master of Arts degree from OSU in 1995 and his Doctorate of Philosophy degree in 2000.
Honorable mention
Although these celebrities did not receive degrees from OSU, they are connected to the university in some way.
dwight yoakam
Dwight Yoakam is a Grammy Award-winning country musician and actor. his first album, guitars, cadillacs, etc. It became double platinum. Since then, he has released 16 more albums.
He attended OSU from 1975 to 1976, then dropped out to pursue a career in music.
JK Simmons
JK Simmons is an award-winning actor known for playing J. Jonah Jameson in the Sam Raimi films. spiderman for the movie and his supporting role whiplash For this work he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He has also lent his voice to numerous video games and animated shows. portal 2 and invincible.
Although Simmons did not receive a degree from OSU, he is a vocal and prominent Ohio State Buckeyes fan.
Disgraceful Mention: Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial killer and sex offender who murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. He attended OSU for only one quarter in 1978 and then dropped out.
