Notable Alumni

Since it opened in 1915, Oakland Technical High School has produced some of the greatest athletes, academics, artists, entertainers, scientists, social activists, statesmen, and scholars of any high school in the country.

Here is a brief list of notable Oakland Tech alumni:
Photo Not AvailablePervis Atkins, Class of 1953
College football player at New Mexico State University (halfback, flanker, placekicker). Played professionally for the Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins. Member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
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Photo Not AvailableStephen Bechtel Sr., Class of 1918
Son of Warren A. Bechtel, the founder of the Bechtel Corporation, and the president of the company from 1933 through 1960
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Photo Not AvailableRuth Beckford, Class of 1944
Dancer, actress. Operated dance studios. Films include Angels in the Outfield, Midnight Caller, others.
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Photo Not AvailableJohn Brodie, Class of 1953
NFL football quarterback for 17 seasons with San Francisco 49ers. Pro Bowl selection two times, All-Pro selection two times, NFL MVP in 1970. Football and golf analyst for NBC Sports. Professional golfer on Senior PGA Tour. At Stanford, was selected All-America in 1956. Inducted in College Football Hall of Fame in 1986, Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1988, San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame in 2009.
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Photo Not AvailableRobert Byers, Class of 1949
Alameda County Superior Court Judge for 24 years. U.C. Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law 1959. Alameda County Public Defenders Office. Alameda County Municipal Court Judge.
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Photo Not AvailableGabriel Carroll, Class of 2001
Gold and silver medal winner in three International Mathematical Olympics. Harvard University graduate.
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Photo Not AvailableHoward Christie, Class of 1929
Film, TV director and producer. Films include Against All Flags, Away All Boats, several Ma and Pa Kettle, several Abbott and Costello, many others. TV series include Wagon Train, The Virginian, many others.
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Photo Not AvailableJack Delinger, Class of 1946
An American professional bodybuilder. He won the 1949 AAU Mr. America and the 1956 Mr. Universe.
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Photo Not AvailableRon Dellums, Class of 1953
Mayor of Oakland starting 2007. Congressman in U.S. House of Representatives for 27 years. Berkeley City Councilman for four years.
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Photo Not AvailableAlfred Delucchi, Class of 1949
Alameda County Superior Court Judge for 23 years. U.C. Berkeley, Santa Clara University Law School. Alameda County Deputy District Attorney, Alameda County Municipal Court judge. Tech student body president.
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Photo Not AvailableBernie DeViveiros, Class of 1919
Major League baseball infielder for two seasons, with Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers. Played eight seasons in Pacific Coast League with Oakland Oaks, San Francisco Missions, Sacramento Solons.
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Photo Not AvailableTaylor Douthit, Class of 1919
Major League baseball outfielder for 11 seasons, with St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs. Inducted in Cal Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 for baseball and basketball.
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Photo Not AvailableClint Eastwood, Class of 1949
Film actor, producer, director, pianist, composer. Received four Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, five People's Choice Awards. Best known for TV series Rawhide, and for Man With No Name films, Dirty Harry films, Play Misty for Me, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Letters from Iwo Jima, many others. Former mayor of Carmel. Inducted in California Hall of Fame in 2006.
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Photo Not AvailableCurt Flood, Class of 1956
Major League baseball outfielder for 15 seasons, with Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Senators. World Series champion two times. Selected All-Star three times,Won Gold Glove Award seven times. Key figure in sports labor history, challenging the reserve clause in player contracts, eventually leading to its abolishment in favor of free agency.
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Photo Not AvailableLen G. Gabrielson, Class of 1957
Major League baseball outfielder for nine seasons, with Milwaukie Braves, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, California Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers. Tech student body president.
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Photo Not AvailableLen H. Gabrielson, Class of 1932
Major League baseball infielder for one season with Philadelphia Phillies. Pacific Coast League with Oakland Oaks, Seattle Rainiers, Hollywood Stars. Father of Len G. Gabrielson, Oakland Tech Class of 1957.
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Photo Not AvailableJoe Gaines, Class of 1955
Major League baseball outfielder for eight seasons with Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Colt .45s, Houston Astros.
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Photo Not AvailableShawnee & Shawnelle Gibbs, Class of 1997
Award-winning filmmakers and identical twin sisters, creators of Adopted By Aliens website featuring episodic Flash cartoons.
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Photo Not AvailableAlexis Gray-Lawson, Class of 2005
Basketball player for Cal. Selected Pac-10 All-Freshman Team 2006. Selected Pac-10 First Team All-Star three times. Gold medal winner with Team USA in World University Games in Belgrade in 2009.
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Photo Not AvailableDaniel (Bud) Hafey, Class of 1929
Major League baseball outfielder for three seasons with Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies. Pacific Coast League with Sacramento Solons.
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Photo Not AvailableTom Hafey, Class of 1931
Major League baseball pitcher and outfielder for two seasons with New York Giants, St. Louis Browns. Pacific Coast League with Oakland Oaks, San Francisco Missions, other minor league teams.
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Photo Not AvailableWill Hafey, Class of 1938
Pacific Coast League pitcher and outfielder for nine seasons with Oakland Oaks, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Seals, other minor league teams. Was on PCL championship team with Oaks in 1948.
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Photo Not AvailableBernie Hamilton, Class of 1945
Film and TV actor. Best known as Police Captain Dobey in 1970s TV series Starsky and Hutch. Later, producer for music recordings.
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Photo Not AvailableDevanei Hampton, Class of 2005
Basketball player for Cal. Selected Pac-10 All-Freshman Team 2006. Selected Pac-10 Player of the Year 2007. Selected Pac-10 First Team All-Star three times.
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Photo Not AvailableRobert Harris, Class of 1961
Lawyer, activist, business executive. Argued and won a landmark corporate free speech case in the U.S. Supreme Court protecting PG&E's First Amendment rights.
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Photo Not AvailableRickey Henderson, Class of 1976
Major league baseball outfielder for 25 seasons, with Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers. With A's 14 years. Holds Major League records for career stolen bases, stolen bases in single season, career runs scored, career lead-off home runs. World Series champion two times, selected All-Star ten times, won Gold Glove Award, chosen MVP. Inducted in Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. Tech's new nearby baseball field was renamed "Rickey Henderson Field" in October 2009.
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Photo Not AvailableProverb Jacobs, Class of 1954
NFL football offensive and defensive lineman for six seasons with Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, New York Titans. Football and track at Modesto J.C. and Cal. Oakland Laney College teacher and track coach.
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Photo Not AvailableJosh Johnson, Class of 2004
NFL football quarterback for Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting in 2008. At University of San Diego, was Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Year two times.
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Photo Not AvailableTed Lange, Class of 1966
Stage, film, TV actor, director, playwright, screenwriter. Best known as bartender Isaac in TV series Love Boat. Associate Professor at School of Cinema/Television at USC.
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Photo Not AvailableHarry "Cookie" Lavagetto, Class of 1930
Major League baseball infielder for 10 seasons, with Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers. Selected All-Star four times. Managed Washington Senators. Coached New York Mets, San Francisco Giants. Played four seasons in Pacific Coast League with Oakland Oaks, was on PCL championship team in 1948.
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Photo Not AvailableJohn Lawrence, Class of 1953
Professor, natural scientist, author. U.C. Berkeley, B.A. in zoology, PhD. in Entomology. Harvard, professor and Curator of Insects at Museum of Zoology. Australia, research scientist and Curator of Museum of National Insect Collection in Canberra. Author of more than 100 books and articles.
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Photo Not AvailableTerrell Lowery, Class of 1988
Major League baseball outfielder for four seasons, with Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, San Francisco Giants.
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Photo Not AvailableMarshawn Lynch, Class of 2004
NFL football running back for Buffalo Bills starting in 2007. At Cal, in 2006 was First-Team All-American, first-team All-Pac-10, Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year.
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Photo Not AvailableTony Martin, Class of 1930
(Alvin Morris) Actor and traditional pop singer. Best known for films Follow the Fleet, Till the Clouds Roll By, others, and for songs To Each His Own, There's No Tomorrow, I Get Ideas, others. Many guest appearances on radio and TV.
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Photo Not AvailableRod McKuen, Class of 1951
Poet, composer, singer. Many public performances, including New York's Carnegie Hall and many college campuses. Published several bestselling books of his poetry, including Listen to the Warm. Wrote many songs recorded by himself and by many other pop singers. Compositions include songs and soundtracks for films The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and A Boy Named Charlie Brown, others.
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Photo Not AvailableAbbas Milani, Class of 1966
Iranian-American historian, professor, author. Professor of history, Iranian studies and political science at Notre Dame and Stanford. Has published many books and articles on Iranian culture and politics.
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Photo Not AvailableAnita Morgan-Woodley, Class of 1994
Multi-award winning actress, radio producer, playwright, and journalist. Graduated magna cum laude from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Radio & Television, worked for broadcast news organizations including KRON-TV and KMTP-TV in San Francisco, WAGA-TV in Atlanta, and KCBS-AM radio in San Francisco. Currently a producer and on-air contributor to the NPR affiliate in North Carolina. The recipient of numerous awards for journalistic excellence, including an EMMY for Exceptional Coverage on 9/11, Woodley has also earned international accolades for writing and performing two one-woman plays, Mama Juggs which honors her mother and great-grandmother and The Men in Me about the men in her family.
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Photo Not AvailableHarold "Brick" Muller, Class of 1919
NFL football lineman and coach for Los Angeles Buccaneers in 1926 during their only season in the NFL. At Cal, was the first player in the western U.S. to receive All-America honors in 1921 and 1922. Was also a member of the track and field team. Won silver medal in the high jump event in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Belgium. After football, became an orthopedic surgeon. Inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, Cal Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.
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Photo Not AvailableHuey Newton, Class of 1959
Co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party, an organization to promote Black power, civil rights and self-defense.
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Photo Not AvailableRay Norton, Class of 1956
NFL football running back for two seasons with San Francisco 49ers. San Jose State, track. Won two gold medals in 1959 Pan American Games. Set or tied nine track world records in 1958-1960. Competed in 1960 Olympics.
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Photo Not AvailableFrank Oz, Class of 1962
Born Richard Frank Oznowicz, Frank Oz, is one of the foremost Muppet performers and Jim Henson's closest collaborator. Oz and Henson performed some of the Muppets' most famous teams -- Oz was Bert to Henson's Ernie, and Miss Piggy to Henson's Kermit the Frog. On Sesame Street, Oz also performed Grover and Cookie Monster; on The Muppet Show, he performed Fozzie Bear, Animal and Sam the Eagle. He has directed movies such as Little Shop of Horrors and The Stepford Wives.
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Photo Not AvailableNell Irvin Painter, Class of 1959
Professor, historian and author who specializes in late 19th and early 20th century American history. Professor at several prominent universities. Past president of the Organization of American Historians.
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Photo Not AvailableWolfe Perry, Class of 1974
Film and TV actor. Best known for role as a student basketball player in TV series The White Shadow and in film The Soul Man. At Stanford, was a standout basketball player.
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Photo Not Available(Ruth,Anita,Bonnie) Pointer Sisters, Class of 1960s
R&B, soul and rock singers. Recorded many albums and performed many concerts. Won two Grammy Awards.
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Photo Not AvailablePatricia Polacco, Class of 1962
Internationally known author and illustrator of over 50 childrens' books. Many of her stories are set in Oakland and include tributes to her Russian-born grandmother and to her childhood in Rockridge.
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Photo Not AvailableJim Pollard, Class of 1940
NBA basketball player for seven seasons with Minneapolis Lakers. On championship team four times. Selected All-Star four times. Coached for several professional and university teams. At Stanford, was on 1942 NCAA championship team and was selected on All-America team. Inducted in NBA Hall of Fame, Stanford Hall of Fame, Bay Area Hall of Fame.
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Photo Not AvailableJ.W. Porter, Class of 1950
Major League baseball infielder, outfielder, catcher for six seasons with St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, St. Louis Cardinals. Pacific Coast League with Sacramento Solons. Minor league manager in the Montreal Expos organization. Tech senior class president.
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Photo Not AvailableLeon Powe, Class of 2003
NBA basketball player for three seasons with Boston Celtics. On championship team in 2008. Signed with Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009. At Cal, was PAC-10 Freshman of the Year.
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Photo Not AvailableNathan Rubin, Class of 1946
Violinist, concertmaster, professor. With Oakland Symphony for 40 years. Also performed with S.F. Symphony, S.F. Opera, S.F. Ballet. Professor at Mills College, U.C Berkeley and California State University East Bay. Performed in orchestra soundtracks for several Hollywood films. Session musician for recordings by classical, pop, rock, and rhythm & blues artists.
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Photo Not AvailableJack Soo (Goro Suzuki), Class of 1934
Comedian, actor in stage, film, TV. Films include Flower Drum Song, The Oscar, Thoroughly Modern Millie, others. Many appearances in TV shows, best known as Detective Sergeant Nick Yemana in Barney Miller series.
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Photo Not AvailableMichael B. Sutton, Class of 1966
Accomplished songwriter and musician. Two platinum Albums and one gold record. Wrote and produced top ten hits for Smokey Robinson, Cheryl Lynn, Dionne Warwick. Staff writer and producer at Motown Records for 6 years. Current executive producer of Critically acclaimed documentary: Becoming Barack: Evolution of a Leader
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Photo Not AvailableJames Syhabout, Class of 1997
Chef, owner of Commis Restaurant on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland, the first Oakland restaurant to receive a Michelin star.
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Photo Not AvailableRobert Webber, Class of 1941
Stage, film, radio, TV actor. Stage includes No Time for Sergeants, Teahouse of the August Moon, others. Radio includes Starlight Theatre, Suspense, others. Films include 12 Angry Men, The Sandpiper, Harper, The Dirty Dozen, Private Benjamin, many others. TV includes Kraft Television Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Kojak, Ironside, Cannon, McCloud, Rockford Files, many others.
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Photo Not AvailableAl White, Class of 1913
The first double gold medal winner in Olympic diving. In the 1924 Paris Olympics he won gold in the 3-meter springboard and the 10-meter platform. He was a 4-time All-American diver at Stanford University and was undefeated during his collegiate diving career. He later became the City Engineer for Richmond, California and was AAU Diving Commissioner of the Pacific Association. He was elected to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1965.
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Photo Not AvailableArleigh Williams, Class of 1930
At University of California, Berkeley, 1957 to 1976, was Director of Student Activities, Dean of Men, Dean of Students, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. Was previously teacher, coach, dean at high school and college levels. As student at U.C., was varsity football and baseball player. Selected on football All-America team in 1934. Inducted in Cal Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
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