Daily Universe Staff

From academia to athletics, from broadcasting to business, BYU has produced some of the most successful people in the world.

You probably know about the bigger names: Steve Young, Mitt Romney, and that Jeopardy guy. But there are others we’re pretty sure you haven’t heard of.

So here’s a list (compiled without any real methodology whatsoever) of the 14 most successful people you didn’t know went to BYU:

Dan Truman currently plays the keyboard for the award-winning country music group Diamond Rio. Truman studied classical piano at BYU and was a member of the Young Ambassadors in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Truman is now co-chair of the Young Ambassador Alumni chapter.

Truman was selected in 1983 to write and arrange an all-original score to Ray Bradbury’s “And The Moon Be Still Bright” for a PBS radio telecast, and as part of the broadcast, he directed a 30-piece orchestra. He has written several songs for Diamond Rio, including “Norma Jean Riley” and “Saw Mill Road.”

Gotham City District Attorney Harvey Dent is a BYU alumnus. Or more correctly, Aaron Eckhart, who portrayed Dent in the 2008 blockbuster “The Dark Knight,” is a former Cougar.

The actor, who earned notoriety for his roles in a variety of films, including “Thank You for Smoking” and “Erin Brockovich,” graduated from BYU in 1994 with a bachelor’s in film. He rose to acting prominence in the late 1990s through his work with writer/director and fellow BYU grad Neil LaBute in a series of well-received independent films.

Despite frequent battles with faculty members over the content of the plays he and LaBute would perform during their time on campus, Eckhart remembers his time at BYU fondly.

“I had a great time there,” he said in a 2006 interview with NPR. “I really hold my upbringing, I cherish it. I have nothing bad to say [about BYU.]”

Gary Crittenden graduated from the Marriott School of Management in 1976, before earning his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1979.

Since then, he has worked as a consultant for Bain and Company and has served as chief financial officer for Sears Roebuck & Company, Monsanto Company, and American Express. In 2007, he was hired as CFO for Citigroup inc., and is now the chairman of Citi Holdings.

While working at American Express in 2001, he spoke at the Marriott School convocation and encouraged students to set high standards and push for success.

“Use the skills you have developed at BYU,” he said. “This is a great university. If you have applied yourself, the education you have gained here is as good as any in the world. BYU graduates are among the most talented people who work at American Express. Be confident in what you know.”

Philo T. Farnsworth attended BYU in 1922 until the death of his father, which forced him to withdraw.

Although he is not solely responsible for the invention of the television, he invented and improved many of the designs that made TV possible, including designing the basic principles of an “image dissector” at age 14.

In 1967 Farnsworth returned to BYU to continue researching fusion, and was awarded an honorary doctorate degree.

By the time of his death in 1971, Farnsworth held 300 patents and invented the first electron microscope, and was involved with the invention of radar and peacetime uses of atomic energy.

He was named as one of the 10 best mathematicians of all time by Scientific American Magazine.

Jane Clayson Johnson graduated in 1990 and is well known as an anchor for both ABC’s Good Morning America and CBS’ Early Morning show. She has reported on subjects ranging from the O.J. Simpson trial to the Sept. 11 attacks.

Johnson said she used her time at BYU to grow as a reporter — even if it was a little painful.

“I just remember thinking that I was never good enough and I always wanted to be better in some way,” she said in a lecture at BYU in 2007. “I remember saying to my professors, ‘Be honest, be brutal, if you have to, just tell me what I need to do to be better.’”

Trina Bates Boice graduated in 1985 and is a bestselling author of books for women that are designed to promote creativity in family and church activities. Some of her titles include, “Easy Enrichment Ideas: Thinking Outside the Green Gelatin Box,” “Sabbath Solutions” and “Bright Ideas for Young Women Leaders.”

Boice’s experience at BYU helped motivate her to develop into the author she always dreamed about becoming.

“I remember that first English class I took as a freshman at BYU and the feeling that I could do more and be more with my words,” she told The Daily Universe.  “It seemed that wherever I went on campus I could find some hidden gem that inspired me.  There was a never-ending supply of motivating devotionals, visiting speakers at special receptions, and an opportunity to meet people who had big dreams and were achieving them.”

Harvey Fletcher, who graduated in 1907, was a prominent physicist who invented the hearing aid. During his lifetime, he served as the director of research at Bell Laboratories, and he was the founding dean of the College of Engineering at BYU.

Physics was not always easy for Fletcher, wrote Fletcher’s brother Stephen in his memoirs.

“He was shocked when he received a failing grade in his first course in physics,” Stephen wrote. “In retrospect he felt he had not taken the course seriously enough and repeated it, this time earning an A plus, the highest grade in the class. Years later his students were delighted and comforted when he told them that he had failed his first physics course.”

Brian Crane graduated in 1973 with a bachelor’s in art before starting his nationally syndicated comic strip “Pickles.” Crane was born Jan. 3, 1949 in Twin Falls, Idaho, but grew up in the San Francisco Bay area.

After graduating from BYU, Crane worked in publishing and advertising as a designer, art director and illustrator for 17 years before the debut of “Pickles.” In 1990, the comic strip was first launched by The Washington Post Writers Group. Soon after its launch, Crane retired from his job as an art director for an ad agency in Nevada so he could devote his time to his comic strip.

During his years creating “Pickles” Crane has received numerous awards and recognition. In 1995 and 2001, the comic was nominated for “Best Comic Strip” of the year by the National Cartoonists Society, and in 2002 it won the title. “Pickles” has topped comic polls across the country for many years and is published in over 500 newspapers around the world.

Crane now lives with his wife Diana in Sparks, Nev. They have seven children and seven grandchildren.

Before playing the role of Kyle McCarty on CBS’s “Judging Amy,” Kevin Rahm was once a pre-law student at BYU, who eventually changed his major to drama. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rahm served a mission in France and Switzerland between 1990 and 1992.

In 1994 Rahm received the Irene Ryan Award for Best College Actor before dropping out to pursue an acting career in Hollywood.

Rahm is best known for his role on “Judging Amy,” but has also made appearances on television shows such as “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “Desperate Housewives.” He also guest starred on “Friends” as Monica’s sous-chef.

Rep. Jeff Flake is one of many Cougars currently serving in Congress. A Republican representing Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District, Flake graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s in international relations and a master’s in political science.

Known as one of the most conservative members of the House, Flake is a member of the Liberty Caucus, a group of libertarian-leaning congressmen that also includes former presidential candidate and Texas Rep. Ron Paul. He routinely advocates for reduced federal spending and virulently opposes government waste, including congressional earmarks.

Flake is an active member of the LDS Church from Snowflake, Ariz., which was partially named for his grandfather, Mormon pioneer Bill Flake. He met his wife, Cheryl, during his time at BYU and the couple now has five children.

During his tenure at BYU in the late-1960s, Johnny Miller ruled the collegiate golf world. He was named to the NCAA’s All-American team in each of his four years at the school before turning pro following his graduation in 1969.

Miller played professionally for many years, winning 25 PGA Tour events and ascending to No. 2 in the world rankings behind Jack Nicklaus in the mid-1970s. He captured two major championships during his career, the 1973 U.S. Open and the 1976 British Open.

Since retiring, Miller has worked as lead analyst for NBC Sports’ golf coverage and also designed the Thanksgiving Point Golf Course in Lehi. He and his wife, Linda, have six children and split their time between homes in Utah and Napa, Calif.

Accomplished animator Don Bluth has worked on classic animated favorites such as “Robin Hood” and “Anastasia.” While earning an English degree from BYU, Bluth worked for Disney during the summers on movies such as “Sleeping Beauty.”

By 1988, the independent animation studio Bluth co-founded in early 1979 became the largest animation studio in Europe. He helped produce the movie “The Land Before Time” with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas and broke the all-time opening weekend box office record for an animated film.

Andy Reid, coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, got his coaching start at BYU.

After being baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1979 he attended BYU and played on the football team as a tackle from 1979-81.

He received his first coaching job as a graduate assistant to LaVell Edwards in 1982. During the next eight years he bounced around the college ranks till he became the tight ends coach for the Green Bay Packers.

While at BYU he earned his bachelor’s in physical education and a master’s in professional leadership in physical education and athletics.

He aspired to become a sports writer, and even wrote a column for the Provo Daily Herald.

“I wrote one of these cutesy deals, trying to write like Jim (Murray, a Los Angeles Times sports columnist),” Reid said in an article on the Eagles’ Web site. “The editors took it easy on me. I enjoyed writing. I still do. I keep a journal to this day. It’s a great release.”

Kyle Whittingham, coach of the University of Utah football team, graduated from BYU in 1984 with a bachelor’s in educational psychology and received his master’s in professional leadership in 1987.

He started his coaching career at BYU in 1985 as a graduate assistant.

In 2005 when he was offered both the University of Utah and BYU head coaching jobs, he initially accepted the BYU job.

“Then almost immediately he didn’t feel good about it,” his wife Jamie told the Mormon Times. He later decided to take the Utah job instead.

Since then he has led his team to 37 wins and 14 losses. The Utes were ranked No. 2 in the nation in 2008 after a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama.

Kim Brunken, Leah Wasson, Stephanie Terry, Grant Clark, Steve Pierce, Todd McMurtrey and McKay Coppins contributed to this report.



Copyright Brigham Young University 20 May 2009