It’s inevitable that some of Manatee’s countless alumni are successful, and recognized nationally, or, in some cases, internationally. The most notable span from reality show sous chefs and best-selling authors to famous musicians and football giants.

 

Tommie Frazier

 

Frazier grew up in Bradenton and attended Manatee, where he was quarterback on the varsity football team. In 1992, having graduated from Manatee, Frazier became the backup to the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ quarterback Mike Grant. After an early season loss to Washington, he was able to take over at starting quarterback. He won his first start and went on to win several more. That year he threw only one interception.Frazier went on to have three more successful years with the Cornhuskers, though he played less his third year due to a blood clot in his left leg. He was back in 1995 to lead the Cornhuskers and dominate college football.Frazier was recruited by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, but, after being hospitalized with pneumonia, he soon decided to give up his football career to pursue other paths.Frazier later became an assistant coach at Baylor University, assistant director of athletic development at Nebraska and head coach at Doane College in Nebraska. He won two national championships and four Big Eight Conference championships. He had the record for the longest touchdown run in a bowl game as well as several Nebraska team records. Frazier received two consecutive Orange Bowl MVPs, one Fiesta Bowl MVP, the 1995 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and was named the 1996 Top NCAA QB. He was an All-American, won ESPY’s College Football Play of the Year for his scramble in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl with Nebraska, and was part of the Nebraska 1995 team that was voted the best college football team in history on ESPN.com. (Picture from bleacherreport.com)

 

Kathleen Flinn

 

Kathleen Flinn is a journalist, restaurant reviewer and online producer. Her best-selling book, “The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry,” was the non-fiction account of her experiences in Le Cordon Bleu, the famed Paris culinary school. The film rights to this book were bought by 20th Century Fox, but a movie is not yet in the works. She is currently touring the country, giving cooking classes and attending book signings for her newest book, “The Kitchen Counter Cooking School.” (Picture from kathleenflinn.com)Jamie GregorichJamie grew up on Anna Maria Island. While she attended Manatee, she waited tables at Peach’s on Cortez. After graduation, she decided to attend MTI for the culinary program. Gregorich got a job at Euphemia Haye, a well-known restaurant on Longboat Key, where she eventually became head sous chef.She auditioned and was picked to compete on season nine of the reality show “Hell’s Kitchen,” which aired this past summer.She now teaches at MTI, as well as keeping her job as sous chef at Euphemia Haye. On July 21, she threw out the first pitch at a Marauders game. (Picture from Bradenton Herald website)

 

Robbie Stevenson

 

Stevenson was born and raised in Bradenton and played on the varsity football team when he attended Manatee. He wanted to be quarterback, but the team was in need of a kicker, and the former soccer player was the perfect choice. He was named an All-American by USA Today and held the Manatee record for longest field goal until Nov. 4, when senior Nick Tankersley beat the record. Stevenson went on to the University of Florida, where he was starting kicker as a freshman. He helped the Gators win several championships, but eventually came back to Bradenton, where he is currently a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

 

Travis Clark, Hunter Thomsen, Andrew Thomsen and Danny Duncan

 

The Manatee graduates’ band, formed in 2005 and named We The Kings, gained popularity in 2007 after posting its music on the social networking website Purevolume. Soon they were signed to S-curve Records, through which they put out their self-titled, first album. In 2008, the band appeared on “The Early Show,” “Jimmy Kimmel,” “MTV’s Spring Break” and “Friday Premiere.” That same year, We The Kings was nominated for the MTV Video Award for Best New Artist and won the Rock on Request Best Pop/Punk Band Award. They released their second studio album, “Smile Kid,” in 2009. The band teamed up with Demi Lovato for the single “We’ll Be A Dream,” which was nominated for a Teen Choice Award: Choice Hook Up. In 2010, the band appeared on MTV’s game show, “Silent Library.”This year, they released their newest album, “Sunshine State of Mind.” The band was also invited to a Manatee County Commission meeting, where commissioners officially named Oct. 11, 2011, We The Kings Day. In 2012, We The Kings will be touring with the band Simple Plan across Europe.

 

Ace Sanders

 

Though Ace is the most recent graduate on this list, having graduated in 2010, it seems promising that he will be one of our most notable alumni. He was a starting wide receiver for Manatee and ranked 151st the nation and 14th in the state his senior year. Coach Joe Kinnan wrote for Sanders’ MaxPreps profile, “He seems to be able to do it all ... He is a very disciplined route runner with good body control who can adjust to poorly thrown balls and has proven he can gain yardage after the catch.”Ace attended the University of South Carolina, and played in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

 

Maggie Potter

 

Manatee High SchoolActivities: She’s involved in Mam’Selles, Foreign Language Club, Macohi, Junior Class Board, Senate, Student Council, Swim Team and Key Club.On journalism: She thinks journalism is important because it gets important news and opinions to the people.

 

Roger Pettee

 

(MHS Class of 1961) played for Atlanta Falcons

 

Robert Edward "Eddie" Culpepper

 

MCHS Class of 1951 is a former defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played two seasons with the Chicago Cardinals before moving with the team to St. Louis, Missouri before the 1960 NFL season. Culpepper was later selected in the 1961 NFL Expansion Draft by the Minnesota Vikings and would play with the team during the 1961 NFL season. He would play his final two professional seasons with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League.

 

Walter William "Bill" Anderson

 

- MCHS Class of 1954 is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at the University of Tennessee. He was drafted in the third round of the 1958 NFL Draft.Bill retired from football in 1963 and joined the Tennessee staff as an assistant coach. Bill put his retirement plans on hold and signed with the Green Bay Packers in 1965. He played 24 games with Green Bay from 1965–1966 and averaged 11.9 yards per catch. The comeback was a good thing for Bill as he earned a Super Bowl ring when the Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl I on January 15, 1967. For 31 seasons Anderson served as a color analyst on radio broadcasts of Tennessee football games, teaming with play-by-play announcer John Ward to form the longest-running broadcast partnership in college football.

 

Henry Lawrence

 

MHS Class of 1970 is a former professional American football player. A two-time Pro Bowler, he played in the National Football League for 13 seasons as an offensive tackle with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.[1] He played in Super Bowl XI and was a starter in Super Bowl XV and Super Bowl XVIII for the Raiders earning three Super Bowl Championship Rings. Henry is the recipient of the Jesse Owens Achievement Award for his athletic excellence.

 

Upton Tyrone Williams, A.K.A. Tyrone Williams

 

(born May 31, 1973 in Bradenton, Florida) is a retired American football cornerback in the National Football League. He played with the Green Bay Packers from 1996 to 2002, the Atlanta Falcons in 2003 and the Dallas Cowboys in 2004. He played college football at the University of Nebraska. He started for the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII.

 

Bob Beall

 

MHS Class of 1961 who is Chairman of Beall's Dept. Stores. Bealls is a United States retail corporation of over 500 stores founded in 1915 in Bradenton, Florida. Bealls consists of two chains, Bealls Department Stores and Bealls Outlet Stores, with Bealls Inc'. serving as the parent corporation.

 

HURRICANES WITH SUPER BOWL RINGS:

 

Bill Anderson, Green Bay Packers, Super Bowl I

Henry Lawrence, LA/Oakland Raiders, Super Bowl XI, Super Bowl XV, Super Bowl XVIII

Alvoid Mays, Washington Redskins, Super Bowl XXVI

Tyrone Williams, Green Bay Packers, Super Bowl XXXI

 

HURRICANES WHO WERE STARTERS ON COLLEGE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS:

 

1983: Mike Moore, offensive lineman, national champion Miami Hurricanes

1993: Patrick McNeil, offensive lineman, national champion Florida State Seminoles

1994 & 1995: Tommie Frazier, quarterback, national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers, Tyrone Williams, defensive back, national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers

1996: Rob Stevenson, punter, national champion Florida Gators

1997: Shevin Wiggins, wingback, national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers

1998: Bernard Gooden, offensive lineman, national champion Tennessee Volunteers

According to the Green Bay Packers official website, Tyrone Williams is the only NFL player ever to start on two collegiate national championship teams and a Super Bowl Champion in three consecutive years (Nebraska, 1994, 1995 and Green Bay 1996).