Cooley High School - Notable Alumni

Notable Alumni

A partial list of distinguished Cooley graduates includes highly respected names from the world of sports and entertainment.

• Miss Margaret Ayers (1932), became Cooley's first State Champion, at the 1930 Michigan Secondary Schools Declamation Tournament

• Stan Newsted, Bob Hamel and Ed Miller (1933), selected to the Detroit News All-Metropolitan Football Team for 1932

• Bob Scott (1935), City Champion and top-ranked Michigan performer in the discus throw during 1935

• Britton Lux (1940), DPSSAL Champion & MHSAA Athlete of the Year; five-seconds from US high school record (one-mile run)

• Richard Watson (1946), as a Wayne State University fencer, Watson was the sport's first four-time NCAA All-American, 1947–1950.

• Joe Ginsberg (1945), former MLB player (Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets)

• Bill Roman, (1947), former MLB player (Detroit Tigers)

• Mike Ilitch (1947), Former CHS shortstop who created the Little Caesar's Pizza empire; Mike owns the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings.

• Bob Langas (1948), played collegiate football at Wayne State; played professionally with the 1954 Baltimore Colts.

• Ross Tuttle (1948) was Detroit city league champion and the state's top-ranked high jumper (1.87 meters) in 1948.

• Larry LaVercombe (1954), his DPSSAL basketball single-game scoring record of 53 points stood for nine seasons

• Milt Pappas (1957), former MLB pitcher; won 209 games during 17 seasons with Cincinnati, Baltimore and the Chicago Cubs

• Milan Stitt (1959), Celebrated playwright, screenwriter and drama professor; best known for his play, The Runner Stumbles

• James P. Hoffa (1959), All-City & All-State football player; lawyer; former President of International Teamsters Union

• Barbara Tarbuck (1959), Professional television and cinematic actress; most recently General Hospital and Walking Tall.

• Bill Jennison (1963), DPSSAL & MHSAA Champion swimmer; former National High School Record Holder, 100-yard butterfly

• Yvonne Drummond (1964), 4th at 1961 and 1962 U.S. Junior Skating Finals; 1st place at 1963 Eastern Great Lakes Championships

• Penellipi (Penny) Liuzzo (1964), daughter of slain civil rights activist, Viola Liuzzo

• John Pheney (1964) All-City swimmer and captain of Cooley's DPSSAL championship teams in 1963 and 1964.

• Joanne Scarborough (1966), represented Cooley at 1966 AAU-USA swimming finals; placed 4th in 200-meter breaststroke

• Rich Fisher (1968), longtime Detroit Television News Anchorman with WXYZ, WJBK, and WKBD.

• Sandra Blount (1969), MHSAA Track & Field Athlete of the Year (1968); set state record in 400 meter dash at 1968 AAU-USA Championships

• Rodolfo M. Foster (1969), (aka La Palabra), Afro-Cuban jazz musician/composer/impresario; contributor to the Salsa romántica genre

• S. Epatha Merkerson (1970), renowned Emmy & Golden Globe Award winning actress; star of NBC-TV series, Law & Order

• Nick Ellis (1972), MHSAA Track & Field Athlete of the Year; 1972 MHSAA & Golden West Meet Champion (men's two-mile run)

• Larry Fogle (1972), MHSAA Basketball Player of the Year; still holds DPSSAL single-game record of 73 points (vs. Cody High)

• Keith Tinsley (1983), played college football at the University of Pittsburgh; played professionally with the 1987 Cleveland Browns

• Ted Harris (1984), MHSAA State Champion (men's high jump)

• John Washington Jr, Willie Jones, Richard Gregory, Derrick Harris (1988), MHSAA State Champion (men's 4x400m relay)

• Derrick Harris (1988), MHSAA State Champion (men's 400 meter dash)

• Dawn Adams (1988), MHSAA State Champion (women's 300 meter hurdles)

• Michael Talley (1989), Detroit Free Press - Mr. Basketball - 1989; led Cooley to consecutive MHSAA titles in 1987, '88 & '89

• Marco West (1991), MHSAA State Champion (men's 400 meter dash)

• David Norman (1992), MHSAA State Champion (men's 800 meters)

• Lionel Boston (1994), MHSAA State Champion (men's shot put)

• Shree Jones (1994), MHSAA State Champion (women's 200 meter dash)

• Sylvester Dotson (1996), selected to the 1996 Magic's Roundball Classic All-American Team

• Dion Norman (1998), CEO of internet TV Station Norman Entertainment Network'/>

• Willie Green (1999), professional basketball player with the Philadelphia 76ers

• Demetrius Addison (2008), MHSAA silver medalist (men's 110 meter high-hurdles)