Alumni

 Ted Alexander, Educator   (11/24/1937 – 7/31/2004)

Ted Alexander attended 36th Street Elementary and graduated from Dorsey High School majoring in science and electronics. He earned his undergraduate and Master’s Degree from Cal State Los Angeles and his Doctorate from the University of Southern California. He then served the Los Angeles Unified School District, its parents and children for forty-four years. He began as a teacher at Wadsworth Elementary School in 1960. Ted Alexander was a nationally recognized educator who helped guide LAUSD through integration beginning in 1977. He had the primary responsibility for the integration program and helped establish the LAUSD Magnet program as part of that effort. He also supervised the Parent Community Service Branch and specially funded programs including Title One and No Child Left Behind. Ted Alexander also established the “Ten Schools” program to concentrate resources and support to some of the most under-served schools in the district, creating a model of how to help schools succeed.

He was President of the Council of Black Administrators and EDUCARE, the USC educational support group. He was an integral part of the Los Angeles 100 Black Men and numerous other community organizations. He received the W.E.B. Dubois Education Award in 2004, recognition from the NAACP and the USC Outstanding Alumni Award.

John Altoon, Artist   (11/5/1925)   1943

John Altoon graduate from Dorsey High School in 1943. He became a highly recognized avant-garde artist and a prominent figure in the L.A. art scene in the 1950s and 1960s. Exhibitions of his work have been held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego, Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, Corcoran Gallery in Washington D.C, Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, The Baxter Museum, Pasadena and the Los Angeles County Museums of Art. He has been exhibited at LACMA and other major museums internationally.

Altoon's work was influenced by the abstract expressionism movement although he is best known for his figurative drawings of the 1960s, He was part of the "Ferus group" of artists known for their association to the Ferus Gallery that operated in Los Angeles in 1957–1966. Altoon, during his Ferus Gallery years, did the Ocean Park series which depicted an area around Venice and Santa Monica beach towns in California.   The series was 18 paintings as well some works he did on paper.

Sparky Anderson, Baseball  (2/22/1934 – 11/4/2014)   1952

George Lee “Sparky” Anderson won two World Series Championships with the Cincinnati Reds, “The Big Red Machine” in 1975 and 1976, and another one with the Detroit Tigers in 1984. In all, he managed the Reds for nine seasons and the Tigers for seventeen. He was the first manager to win World Series in both leagues. He was the American League Manager of the Year in 1984 and 1987, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Franklyn Ajaye, Actor   (5/13/1949)   1967

Franklyn Ajaye graduated from Dorsey High School in the Winter Class of 1967. He became a stand-up comedian, actor and writer. He has released five comedy albums to date: Franklyn Ajaye, Comedian (1973), I'm a Comedian, Seriously (1974), Don't Smoke Dope, Fry Your Hair (1977), Plaid Pants and Psychopaths (1986), and Vagabond Jazz & the Abstract Truth (2004). His film roles include the movie Car Wash, Bridesmaids in 2011 and The Burbs in 1989.

Stephen Jay Bagby, Entertainment, Civic Leader   (4/25/1947)   1965

Stephen Bagby graduated from Dorsey High School in 1965. He began his career as a labor negotiator for SEIU and BEA. He then made his acting debut as a member of the Mighty Carson Art Players on the Tonight Show in 1981. He also made appearances on the Donahue Show as well as being a major fashion model with the Ford Agency in New York City. He then worked in educational publishing and became a community activist as Executive Director of a homeless shelter in Henderson, Nevada. He is the current president of the Dorsey High School Alumni Association, and an active member of the “Motivated Men of Dorsey High,” a cadre of all male community volunteers in support of Dorsey High School young men.

Billy Barnes, Composer, Songwriter     (1/27/1927 – 9/25/12)    1945

William Christopher “Billy” Barnes Jr. was a composer and song writer and has been recognized with six Emmys. He is best known for his theatrical Billy Barnes Revue in 1959, a mixture of comedy and music that was produced both on and off Broadway. Billy Barnes continued to produce additional Revues and wrote comedic sketches for major television variety shows during the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Joe Brown, Judge, Television   (7/5/1947)

Joseph Brown is most recognized as Judge Joe Brown of television courtroom fame. After graduating UCLA law school, Joe Brown became the first African American prosecutor in Memphis, Tennessee. He became recognized by the producers of Judge Judy, when he gained notoriety for his involvement in the appeal of James Earl Ray’s conviction for killing Martin Luther King.   The producers developed a court-room show with Joe Brown presiding in which civil cases were adjudicated. The show ran for fifteen years.

 Terrezene Brown, Track and Field   (9/27/1947)   1965

Terrezene “Terri” Brown graduated from Dorsey High School in 1965. While still in high school she competed in the 1964 Olympics.

Donald Alvin Buford, Baseball (2/2/1937)

Don Buford graduated from Dorsey High School where he played baseball. After graduating from Dorsey he played baseball for the USC Trojans and in 1958 was a member of the USC National Championship team. He then played thirteen seasons of professional baseball mostly with the Chicago White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles. In 1971 he was an All-Star selection and a World Series Champion in 1970. He has been inducted into the USC Hall of Fame, and the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame.

Frank Buncom, Football    (11/2/1939 – 9/14/1969)   1957

Frank Buncom graduated from Dorsey High School in 1957 where he starred in football. He then attended the University of Southern California and then played seven seasons in the American Football League with the San Diego Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals from 1962 to 1968. He was a three-time AFL All-Star in 1964, 1965 and 1967. He is a member of the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame.

John Casado, Graphic Designer   (5/30/1944)

John Casado graduated Dorsey High School and attended UCLA and graduated from the Pasadena Art Center of Design. He is recognized for designing the logos for the first Macintosh computers. He also designed the logos for New Line Cinema and Esprit.   He has also been engaged in the design of numerous record album covers for many artists.

Janet Horowitz Colman, Education   (5/21/1947)   1965

Janet Horwitz Colman graduated Dorsey High School in 1965 and then attended UCLA. She returned to teach at Dorsey High School to teach English in 1970. She later taught at Palisades High School. Janet Horwitz was heavily involved in motion picture history, writing a course entitled Classic Screen History for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She also founded The Hollywood Poster Exchange, a vintage movie poster company. She also is the founder of the Dorsey High School Alumni Association.

Dennis Conley, Military    1959

Dennis Conley graduated Dorsey High School in 1959 and then the U.S. Naval Academy in 1963. He served 36 in the U.S. Navy reaching the rank of Rear Admiral. He served as the commander of the U.S.S. Knox and U.S.S. Holsey. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from the Naval Academy and a Master’s Degree in Personnel Management from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also served on the OPNAV Joint Staff and was Director of Surface Warfare Assignments.

Billy Consolo, Baseball (8/18/1934)     1953

Willliam Angel Consolo graduated from Dorsey High with the Winter Class of 1953. At Dorsey High School he was the All-City Player of the Year in baseball in 1951 and 1952. His teammate was the baseball legend, Sparky Anderson. He then played professional baseball with five different teams for eleven years from 1953 to 1962.

Candace Cooper, Judge, California State Court of Appeals

Candace Cooper was a municipal court judge in 1966 and then Presiding Judge of the District 8 California Court of Appeals. She has been a advocate for diversity and known for her keen people skills. She became Municipal Court Judge at the age of thirty-one, one of the youngest judges in California. She has since been recognized as Superior Court Judge of the Year, Trial Jurist of the Year and numerous other awards.

Cornelius Cooper, Medicine   (10/24/1947)   1965

Dr. Cornelius Cooper graduated from Dorsey High School in 1965. He then attended West Point Military Academy where he was honorably discharged as a conscientious objector. He received his medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine. He has served as a hospital administrator in New York City and is the Medical Commander for the New York City Fire Department.

Kerwin Danley, Baseball   (May 25/1961)   1979

Kerwin Joseph Danley graduated from Dorsey High School in 1979. He then attended San Diego State University becoming a first team All-American in baseball in 1983. He later became a major league baseball umpire from 1992 to 2011. He worked the World Series in 2000-2001, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2008. He also umpired the All-Star game in 2007.

Chili Davis, Baseball   (1/17/1960)

Charles Theodore “Chili” Davis played nineteen years in Major League Baseball mainly for the San Francisco Giants. He was a three-time All-Star and a three-time World Series Champion.

Julian Dixon, U.S. Congressman (August 8, 1934 – 12/8/2000) 1953

Julian Carey Dixon was a California State Assemblyman before being elected to the United States Congress in 1972 where he served twenty-eight years until his death in 2000. As a Congressman, he guided funding for the Los Angeles subway system, he was a consistent advocate for civil rights, and led the boycott of the then South African Apartheid regime.

Eric Dolphy, Jazz Saxophonist   (6/20/1928 – 6/29/1964)   1946

Eric Dolphy was one of the first influential jazz soloists playing the saxophone and bass clarinet, flute and piccolo. He played with the Chico Hamilton Band and Charles Mingus throughout the early 1960’s. He is recognized for his free jazz style as well as post-bop, avant garde jazz and third stream jazz. He also had a significant impact on many jazz musicians that he hired or played with him including Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, Ron Carter and Tony Williams.

Carl Edwin Douglas, Attorney   (5/8/1955)   1973

Carl Douglas graduated from Dorsey High School in 1973.   He began his own law firm in 1998 after serving as a managing attorney in the Johnnie Cochran law offices. He was one of the defense attorneys in the O.J. Simpson case and has been affiliated with many high profile clients including Michael Jackson, Jamie Foxx and Queen Latifah. He has been honored as the Loren Miller Lawyer of the Year in 1994 and 1999. In 2007 he was honored as the Consumer Attorneys’ Association of Los Angeles as “Trial Lawyer of the Year.”

Paul Allen Dozier, Singer and Songwriter     1977

Paul Allen Dozier was a member of the Foshay Junior High School and Dorsey High School bands. He graduated from Dorsey High School in 1977. He is a singer, composer, and songwriter whose genres range from Gospel and Smooth Jazz. He formed several groups during his career including The Brothers in Christ in the 1980’s.

Blossom Bernstein Elfman, Author   (1925)     1943

Blossom Elfman graduated from Dorsey High School in 1943. She was an English teacher and Department Chairperson at Dorsey High School. After teaching she became an author of children’s literature. She has published over 15 books.

Johnathan A. Franklin (10/23/1989)

Johnathan Franklin graduated from Dorsey High School and was named First Team All-City in his senior year. He then attended UCLA, playing four years for the Bruins. He was First Team All-American running back in 2012. He is the all-time UCLA rushing leader. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. In 2014 Jonathan Franklin went to work for the University of Notre Dame as administrator for student welfare and development. He will coordinate outreach programs and workshops for the school's student-athletes.

Paul Goldenberg, Business   (4/22/1928 – 2015)   1946

Paul Goldenberg graduated from Dorsey High School in 1946. After serving in the army he enrolled in a T.V. repair course and then opened a T.V. repair shop called Paul’s T.V. The business grew into one of the largest single store television retailers in the United States. His catchphrase was “I am the King.” He became a major philanthropist after retiring, contributing to the City of Hope and the Los Angeles Jewish Home. He also funded scholarships and trips to Washington D.C. for high school students.

Jerry Goldsmith, Composer  (2/10/1929 – 7/21/2004)  1947

Jerrald King “Jerry” Goldsmith is recognized as one of the most accomplished and influential film and television composers of all time. He began his career at CBS writing scores for weekly radio shows, and in 1959 writing the score for The Twilight Zone, and later Dr. Kildare, Barnaby Jones and The Man from UNCLE. In the sixities he was writing major scores for Hollywood films such as Sand Pebbles, and Planet of the Apes. His compositions included Patton, Star Trek, The Wind and The Lion, Chinatown, Hoosiers and over 250 other films until his death. He received eighteen film score Academy Award nominations but won only once for The Omen. The American Film Institute ranks his scores for Planet of the Apes and Chinatown in their top 25 film scores of all time. He received 5 Emmys for his television scores.

 

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Author, Activist   (10/8/41)

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a journalist, author and activist in Los Angeles. He is the author of numerous books dealing with political and racial issues.   He also hosts a radio program, The Hutchinson Report, in Los Angeles and appears nationally as an expert on social and racial issues in America. A Colored Man's Journey Through 20th Century Segregated America and Betrayed, the Presidential Failure to Protect Black Lives are two of his most well-known books

Robert Irwin, Artist   (9/12/1928)   1946

Robert Irwin graduated from Dorsey High School in the Summer 1946. He then studied at the Otis and Jepson Art Institutes. He is a world-renowned “American Installation Artist.” He has major displays throughout the world including Fractured Light – Partial Scrim – Eye Level at the Museum of Modern Art, New York (1970–1971); Black Line Room Division + Extended Forms at the Whitney Museum, New York (1977); 48 Shadow Planes at the Old Post Office Pavilion, Washington, D.C. (1983); Ascending at the Musee d’ Art Moderne de Ville, Paris, France (1994); and Double Diamond' at the Musée d’Art Contemporain, Lyon, France (1997–1998).

He taught at the Chouinard Art Institute from 1957 to 1958. He is famous for his “hard edge painting” and use of light and space. He does “site specific” art. Irwin's work is held in more than thirty public collections worldwide, including the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo; and the Dia Art Foundation, New York.

Hue Jackson, Football   (10/22/1965)   1983

Hue Jackson graduated from Dorsey High School in 1983. He then attended Glendale Community College and Pacific University.   His 19 year coaching experience included the University of the Pacific, UC Berkeley, Arizona State and USC, and numerous professional football teams. He was the Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders and is the current Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Keyshawn Johnson, Football  (7/22/1972)     1991

Joseph Keyshawn Johnson was a collegiate All-American football player for the University of Southern California. Johnson then played for the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers during his ten year career. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection at wide receiver, and played in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Michael “Butch” Johnson, Football   (5/28/1954)   1972

Michael “Butch” McColly Johnson graduated from Dorsey High School and then attended the University of Riverside. He was drafted number 87 in the 1976 NFL Draft. He played wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys from 1976 to 1983 and from 1984 to 1985 with the Denver Broncos.

Robert Kardashian, Attorney     (2/22/1944 – 9/30/2003)

Robert George Kardashian was a Los Angeles Attorney who represented O.J. Simpson in his murder trial in 1994. He was also the father of the celebrity Kardashian family.

Sheila Kuehl, Actress, Legislator   (2/9/1941)   1957

Sheila Kuehl graduated from Dorsey High School with the Summer Class 1957. She played a starring role in the 1960’s sitcom, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. She graduated from Harvard Law School in 1978 and became an activist for gay and lesbian rights in California. She was elected to two terms in the California State Senate, and then the three terms in the State Assembly, becoming the first woman to serve as Speaker Pro Tem of the Assembly. She was also the first openly gay person elected to the Califonia State Legislature. She was elected a Los Angeles County Supervisor in 2014.

She is the Founding Director of the Public Policy Institute at Santa Monica College and, in 2012, was Regents’ Professor in Public Policy at UCLA. Kuehl served as chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Natural Resources and Water Committee, and Budget Subcommittee on Water, Energy and Transportation, as well as the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

She authored 171 bills that were signed into law, including legislation to establish paid family leave, establish nurse to patient ratios in hospitals; protect the Santa Monica Mountains and prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender and disability in the workplace and sexual orientation in education. She fought to establish true universal health insurance in California.

Prior to her election to the Legislature, as a public-interest attorney Kuehl drafted and fought to get into California law more than 40 pieces of legislation relating to children, families, women, and domestic violence. She was a law professor at Loyola, UCLA and USC Law Schools and co-founded and served as managing attorney of the California Women’s Law Center.

Jackie Phillips Lacey, District Attorney   (2/27/1957)   1975

Jackie Lacey graduated from Dorsey High School in 1975. She then graduated from UCSB and earned her law degree from the USC School of Law in 1982. She joined the District Attorney's Office in 1986 as a deputy district attorney. Lacey prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases while serving as a deputy district attorney, including a successful prosecution of the first race-based hate crime murder in the United States. Jackie Lacey continued to move up through the ranks, taking on management and executive roles in the office in 2000. In 2011, she was named Chief Deputy District Attorney. She is currently a District Attorney for Los Angeles County. She is the first woman and first African American to serve as District Attorney since the office was established in 1850.

Eric Gerald Laneuville, Actor  (7/14/1952)   1970

Eric Laneuville began acting at Audubon Junior High School graduated from Dorsey High School in 1970 where he participated drama and theater. He began his acting career while at Dorsey High School. His first major roles were in the Omega Man in 1971 and the T.V. series Room 222. He starred in the T.V. series St. Elsewhere.

Laneuville's first directing assignments were for episodes of St. Elsewhere. He has subsequently directed episodes of L.A. Law (1986), Quantum Leap (1989), Doogie Howser, M.D. (1990), NYPD Blue (1993), ER (1995), 413 Hope St., Gilmore Girls (2004), Lie to Me (2009), Monk (2005), The Mentalist (2009–12), Invasion, Medium, Lost (2005–08), Girlfriends, Everybody Hates Chris, Prison Break, Ghost Whisperer, and Grimm (2012–14). In 1992 he won an Emmy for directing the episode "All God's Children" of the NBC series I'll Fly Away. He also directed the 2004 television film, America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story.

Ron Lang, Volleyball         1955

Ron Lang graduated from Dorsey High School in 1955. He was a member of the first US Olympic Volleyball team in 1964. Overall he won 50 beach volleyball titles. From 1958 to 1967, Lang earned nine First-Team All-American selections, one Second-Team All-America honor, and three Open National Championships for a variety of teams. The United States Volleyball Association named Lang an All-Time Great Male Player in 1982, and he was further honored in 2003 as a member of USVBA's 75th Anniversary Men's 1953 to 1977 All-Era Team. He was the first athlete named to the US Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame and US indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1988.

Bill Le Vine, Business  (7/1/1920 – 10/5/2013)   1939

Bill Le Vine graduated from Dorsey High School in the Summer of 1939. At Dorsey High School he took print shop classes. In 1943 he founded Postal Press and built it into one of the largest printing firms in Southern California. In 1964 he revolutionized the printing industry with the creation of PIP – Postal Instant Press. The concept of a “print while you wait service” filled an untapped niche in the printing industry. PIP reached over 1000 franchises internationally.

Charles Grant Lewis, Architect  (3/12/1948)   1965

Charles Grant Lewis graduated from Dorsey High School with the Summer Class of 1965. He is a highly recognized, African-American architect. Lewis was known for a lifelong commitment to advancing opportunities for young black men, especially design professionals.

Lewis designs included the African American Library and Museum at Oakland, Thomas L. Berkley Square, San Francisco International Airport Pacific Bell Park and the Cecil Williams Glide Community House in San Francisco, among other buildings.

One of Lewis' proudest achievements was the restoration of homes along 34th Street in Oakland. His designs transformed dilapidated buildings into proud Victorians with modern amenities. As each house had a face-lift, the spirit of the neighborhood seemed to lift as well. Before starting his own firm, Lewis managed projects for Michael Willis Architects in San Francisco. He was part of the team that restored the African American Library, a project that preserved historic beaux-arts architecture while integrating new elements.

Mike Love, The Beach Boys, Vocalist   (3/15/1941)   1961

Michael Edward Love was the co-founder, vocalist and lyricist for the iconic 1960’s band the “Beach Boys.” Their songs helped define the 1960’s and included California Girls, Little Deuce Coupe, I Get Around, Surfin USA, Fun, Fun, Fun, and California Dreaming. Mike Love has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Willard Love, Educator (11/13/1941)   1959

Willard Love graduated from Dorsey High School in 1959 and then attended Los Angeles City College and Cal State University Los Angeles. He became an educator in the Los Angeles Unified School District where he returned to Dorsey High School to serve as its Assistant Principal and Interim Principal. He also served as Principal of Gompers Middle School where he was honored as “Principal of the Year.”

He has been honored extensively as an educator including awards from the Council of Black Administrators, the Stovall Uplift Foundation and the Augustus Hawkins Distinguished Service Award. He was also honored for his exemplary work at Jefferson High School as profiled in Mentor Magazine and receiving the DEMO Pride Award. The Dorsey High School historical gymnasium, originally built in 1937 was named the Willard Love Athletic Center in 2015.

John Edward Maupin Jr., Medicine   (10/28/1946)   1964

John Edward Maupin graduated Dorsey High School in 1965 and then attended San Jose State University. He received his D.D.S. degree from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry. He also holds an MBA from Loyola College in Baltimore.

He became the President/CEO of Meharry College Medical College, a position he held for 12 years. His research programs included programs in cancer, HIV/AIDS, women’s health and unintentional injury. His most recent position was as CEO of the Morehouse School of Medicine. During his career he has held numerous leadership positions including Director of Morehouse Associates, Deputy Commissioner for Baltimore Medical Services, National Health Care Workforce Commission to name a few.

Jon M. Mayeda, Judge   (1946) 1964

Jon Mayeda graduated Dorsey High School in the Summer 1964. He served as a Los Angeles Superior and Municipal Court Judge for 26 years.   He also taught law at the Judicial Institute of California. He is also a founding member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of L.A. County. He was also a former President of the California Asian Judges’ Association.

Art S. Mazmanian, Baseball   (5/1/1927)   1944

Art Mazmanian graduated from Dorsey High School with the Winter Class of 1944. He was a long time baseball coach at Mount San Antonio College. The baseball field at Mt. SAC is named in his honor.

Marni McEathron Nixon, Vocalist   (2/22/1930)

Marni Nixon was seldom seen in film, but she was heard. She was famous for dubbing for some of the greatest actresses in some of the most iconic films of our time. These films included The King and I, Westside Story, My Fair Lady, Joan of Arc, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Boy on a Dolphin and Gypsy.

She has taught at Cal Arts and at the Music Academy of the West and performed on stage nationally and internationally earning two Grammy nominations.

Lisa Nichols, Author             1994

Lisa Nichols graduated from Dorsey High School in 1994. Lisa Nichols is one of the world’s most-requested motivational speakers, as well as media personality and corporate CEO whose global platform has reached and served nearly 30 million people. From a struggling single mom on public assistance to a millionaire entrepreneur, Lisa’s courage and determination has inspired fans worldwide and helped countless audiences break through, to discover their own untapped talents and infinite potential.

As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Motivating the Masses, Inc., one of the country’s only publicly traded personal and business development training companies, Lisa Nichols has helped develop workshops and programs that have transformed the lives of men and women, and altered the trajectory of businesses throughout the country and across the world.

Lisa is also a best-selling author of six books and her 7th book, ABUNDANCE NOW! She is also a noted media personality who has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, the Steve Harvey Show, and Extra – just to name a few, is also celebrated for the impact she has on the lives of teens. Through Lisa’s non-profit foundation Motivating the Teen Spirit, she has touched the lives of 211,650 teens, prevented over 3,800 teen suicides, supported 2,500 dropouts in returning to school, and has helped thousands reunite with families.

She as been recognized with a Humanitarian Award from the country of South Africa, The Ambassador Award, and the LEGO Foundation‘s Heart of Learning Award. The City of Henderson, Nevada named November 20th as Motivating the Teen Spirit Day; and the City of Houston, Texas named May 9th as Lisa Nichols Day for her dedication to service, philanthropy and healing.

Dennis LaMont Northcutt, Football (12/22/1977)

Dennis Northcut attended Dorsey High School and led the Dons to the City 4A Championship and was named City Player of the Year in 1995. He then attended the University of Arizona where in 1999 he was a Frist Team All-American selection and also set the Arizona receiving record. He played professionally for the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions.

Fred Warren Ockrim (10/7/1946)     1964

Fred Okrim graduated from Dorsey High in 1964 and then attended UCSB and then received his Pharmacist Degree from the University of Southern California. In 1982 he developed a generic pharmaceutical company which went public in 1986 and later sold to Barr Laboratories. He is currently the President and CEO of Sea Snak Foods, Inc. He also serve on several other Boards.

Paul Olden, Announcer, New York Yankees

Paul Olden graduated from Dorsey High School and attended LACC. He has had a long and highly successful career as an announcer in professional sports. He has worked with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, California Angels, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Eagles, UCLA Bruins, Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets and New Jersey Nets. In 2009, he became the voice of the New York Yankees. In 2009 he also earned a World Championship Ring as the Yankees won the World Series of baseball.

Sallyanne Payton, Chief Counsel, UDOT, Washington D.C.

Sallyanne Peyton received her B.A. and Law Degree from Stanford University. She was Chief Counsel for the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (USDOT). She is currently a Professor of Law at the University of Michigan teaching Administrative Law with a specialty in Health Law. With this specialty, she has been an advisor to federal health reform. She has served as Chair of the Administrative Law Section of the Association of American Law Schools. She is also a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance.

 

Billy Preston, Songwriter, Vocalist   (9/2/1946 – 6/6/2006)

William Everett Preston was a songwriter, singer and keyboardist. He earned fame backing up some of the best musicians of the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s, including Sam Cooke and Ray Charles. He also gained fame for songs such as Nothing from Nothing, You Are So Beautiful, and Will It Go Round in Circles. He worked closely with the Beatles and continued to produce hit songs and albums until his death in 2006.

 

Apostle Frederick K.C. Price, Pastor, Crenshaw Christian Center   (1/3/1932)

Frederick Price attended Foshay Junior High school, Manual Arts High School and graduated from Dorsey High School. He completed two years at LACC and holds an honorary diploma from Rhema Bible Training Center awarded in 1976. He also holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Oral Roberts University.

He began his ministry as an assistant pastor in a Baptist church from 1955 to 1957, then pastored an African Methodist Episcopal church in Val Verde, California from 1957 to 1959. From there he served in a Presbyterian church and then joined the Christian and Missionary Alliance at West Washington Community Church in 1965. Apostle Frederick Price and his wife Betty, who met at Dorsey High School, then co-founded the Crenshaw Christian Center in the Crenshaw section of West Los Angeles, California.

Franklin Nathan Rayor, Business   (3/2/1924)   1942

Franklin Rayor graduated from Dorsey High in the Summer of 1942. In 1963 he co-founded the Imperial Bank of California. Imperial Bank became the 9th largest bank in California. He also became the founder of Rayor and Company Realtors. He is a past president of the Inglewood Board of Realtors and Trustee for the University of West Los Angeles.

Michael Brian Schiffer, Behavioral Archaeology

Michael Brian Schiffer graduated Dorsey High School and then UCLA. He received his M.A. and PhD from the University of Arizona in 1973. He is one of the founders and pre-eminent exponents of behavioral archaeology. His earliest ideas in his 1976 book Behavioral Archeology are concerned with the formation processes of the archaeological record. His most important early contribution to archaeology was the rejection of the common processualist assumption that the archaeological record is a transparent fossil record of actual ancient societies. In fact, he argues, artifacts and sites undergo, respectively post-use and post-occupational modification by diverse formation processes. He is currently a Research Associate in the Lemelson Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, and Research Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Maryland.

Donald Singer, Education   (1936)     Winter 1954

Dr. Donald Singer graduated from Dorsey High School in 1954 and then earned a PHD in Education for the University of Southern California. He was President of Crafton Hills College in Orange County and president of the American Sports University. He was also President of San Bernardino Valley College. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the California Community College Trustees.

Brenda Sykes, Actress   (6/25/1949) 1967

Brenda Sykes graduated from Dorsey High School in 1967. She had starring roles in Mandingo, Black Gunn and Pretty Maids All in a Row. She also played in the 1970’s sitcom, Good Times.

 

Richard Teague, Automobile Executive and Designer (12/23/1923 – 5/5/91)

Richard Teague was one of the most innovative automobile designers of the 20th century.   His creations, as an AMC executive, included the Jeep Cherokee, Pacer, Gremlin, Javelin, and Neon. He also designed numerous “concept cars” and future cars for AMC.

Derrel Thomas, Baseball

Derrel Thomas played professional baseball for fourteen years for eight different professional teams from 1971 to 1985. In 1981 he was a World Series Champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ralph Tilley, Track and Field   1969

Ralph Tilley won 17 Los Angeles City Track and Field Championships including the 2005 California State Championship.

Jody Watley, Vocalist, Shalimar   (1/30/1959)

Jody Watley began her music career on Soul Train and at the same time attended graduated from Dorsey High School. He 1977 she became a member of the group Shalimar and stayed with them until 1983. The group had several major R&B hits including Dead Giveaway, The Second Time Around, for the Lover in You, and A Night to Remember. As a soloist in 1987 she released the Album Jody Watley. The album's lead single, Looking for a New Love, became a hit and was certified gold. The album peaked at #10 on Billboard, number-one on the Billboard and sold a total of four million copies worldwide. In 1988 Jody Watley won a Grammy for Best New Recording Artist, and was nominated for Best Female R&B Performance. She also received nominations for three Soul Train and one MTV awards. Her next album was Larger than Life in 1989, sold four million albums.

Diane Watson, Congresswoman   (11/12/1933)  1952

Diane Edith Watson was a Democratic California State Senator before being elected to the United States Congress in 2001 representing the 33rd District. She served eight years in Congress as an advocate for a wide range of liberal causes before retiring in 2008. She later served as Ambassador to Micronesia.

Howard Weitzman, Attorney (9/21/39) 1951

Howard Weitzman is one of the exceptional Los Angles attorneys. He has been recognized as Lawyer of the Year and Music Lawyer of the Year, while representing high profile clients that include John Delorean, Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson, Magic Johnson and Arnold Schwartzenegger.

Kirby Wilson, Football   (8/24/1961)

Kirby Wilson graduated from Dorsey High School and then attended Pasadena City College and then transferred to the University of Illinois. Kirby Wilson became a collegiate running back coach for eleven years from 1985 to 1986 with school such as USC, Wyoming and Iowa State. He then became an NFL running back coach. He is currently the running back coach for the Minnesota Vikings. He was a Super Bowl XXXVII and XLIII Champion.

Gail Smith Wyatt, Educator, Psychology

Gail Smith Wyatt graduated from Dorsey High School. She is a Clinical Psychologist, Sex Therapist and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCLA. She was the first African American woman to be licensed as a psychologist in the State of California.

Dr. Wyatt has to her credit more than 110 journal articles and book chapters, and has co-edited or written five books, including Stolen Women: Reclaiming our Sexuality, Taking Back Our Lives and No More Clueless Sex: 10 Secrets to a Sex Life That Works for Both of You. Dr. Wyatt is an Associate Director of the UCLA AIDS Institute and coordinates a core of behavioral scientists who consult with other researchers to recruit underserved populations and conduct research that effectively incorporates socio-cultural factors into HIV/AIDS research.