To celebrate 125 years, we selected 125 Extraordinary Exes to show that what starts here truly changes the world.
Artists/Musicians
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Berkeley Breathed // BJ 1979 Writer, illustrator, and comic-strip artist Berkeley Breathed won a 1987 Pulitzer Prize for his Bloom County strip, which was syndicated in 1,300 newspapers. |
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Rafael Davila // MM 1998 Grammy-nominated tenor Rafael Davila has performed with opera companies in New Zealand, the United States, and his native Puerto Rico. |
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Louis Lane // BM 1943 Louis Lane has conducted leading orchestras across the United States, including in Cleveland, Dallas, and Atlanta. |
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Ben Sargent // BJ 1970 Ben Sargent, long an editorial cartoonist at the Austin American-Statesman, won a Pulitzer Prize for his work in 1982 and was a finalist for the award again in 2001 and 2002. |
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Harvey Schmidt // BFA 1952 Harvey Schmidt composed The Fantasticks, the longest running musical in history. |
Extraordinary Exes Submitted by the UT Community
Al Barnes
Al Barnes is considered one of the nations leading wildlife artists. His art is featured in virtually every outdoor wildlife show and is in much demand around the globe.
Al Barnes is considered one of the nations leading wildlife artists. His art is featured in virtually every outdoor wildlife show and is in much demand around the globe.
Berkeley Breathed
Writer, illustrator, and comic-strip artist Berkeley Breathed won a 1987 Pulitzer Prize for his Bloom County strip, which was syndicated in 1,300 newspapers.
Writer, illustrator, and comic-strip artist Berkeley Breathed won a 1987 Pulitzer Prize for his Bloom County strip, which was syndicated in 1,300 newspapers.
Brian Buongiorno
Brian Buongiorno has won a number of motion picture and film awards including: Clio Award for Budweiser's "Frogs"; Best Achievement in Network Promos for CBS; Best Visual Effects in Commercials; and an Emmy Award Nomination for "Third Rock from The Sun." He has worked as a Digital Colorist, Freelance Lead Inferno Artist, VFX Supervisor at Sea Level Venice, and a Lead Flame Artist.
Brian Buongiorno has won a number of motion picture and film awards including: Clio Award for Budweiser's "Frogs"; Best Achievement in Network Promos for CBS; Best Visual Effects in Commercials; and an Emmy Award Nomination for "Third Rock from The Sun." He has worked as a Digital Colorist, Freelance Lead Inferno Artist, VFX Supervisor at Sea Level Venice, and a Lead Flame Artist.
Barbara Conrad
Opera star Barbara Smith Conrad is a noted mezzo soprano who has performed around the world. Her story of facing racism as an African American at UT and beyond was recently made into a documentary.
Opera star Barbara Smith Conrad is a noted mezzo soprano who has performed around the world. Her story of facing racism as an African American at UT and beyond was recently made into a documentary.
Billy J. Cox II
Billy J. Cox II made the largest single photograph and the largest photographic exhibition ever produced in Texas. The images are true photographs, not digital, and so are not likely to ever be exceeded.
Billy J. Cox II made the largest single photograph and the largest photographic exhibition ever produced in Texas. The images are true photographs, not digital, and so are not likely to ever be exceeded.
John Almon Craig
John Craig is an ophthalmologist. He was an ophthalmic illustrator at Baylor College of Medicine from 1972-1983. Craig was a senior artist and consultant for Clinical Symposia until 2006. Craig was also a cartoonist for Ranger.
John Craig is an ophthalmologist. He was an ophthalmic illustrator at Baylor College of Medicine from 1972-1983. Craig was a senior artist and consultant for Clinical Symposia until 2006. Craig was also a cartoonist for Ranger.
Roy Crane
Cartoonist Roy Crane invented the modern adventure cartoon strip with Captain Easy. Crane cartooned while at UT and endowed an annual creative award.
Cartoonist Roy Crane invented the modern adventure cartoon strip with Captain Easy. Crane cartooned while at UT and endowed an annual creative award.
Dona Lee Croft
Dona Lee Croft is a professor of violin at the Royal College of Music in London. She has performed on international circuits since she was 14. In 1991, Croft was awarded an honorary membership to the RCM by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, for her service in teaching.
Dona Lee Croft is a professor of violin at the Royal College of Music in London. She has performed on international circuits since she was 14. In 1991, Croft was awarded an honorary membership to the RCM by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, for her service in teaching.
Rafael Davila
Grammy-nominated tenor Rafael Davila has performed with opera companies in New Zealand, the United States, and his native Puerto Rico.
Grammy-nominated tenor Rafael Davila has performed with opera companies in New Zealand, the United States, and his native Puerto Rico.
James Dick
A renowned concert pianist, James Dick followed his other passion - for rural development - to found the Festival-Institute at Round Top, bringing world-class musicians to Central Texas.
A renowned concert pianist, James Dick followed his other passion - for rural development - to found the Festival-Institute at Round Top, bringing world-class musicians to Central Texas.
Billy Ray Hunter
As principal trumpet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Billy Ray Hunter Jr. won one of the highest orchestral positions in the world before age 30. He remains one of just three African-American musicians in 95-member orchestra.
As principal trumpet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Billy Ray Hunter Jr. won one of the highest orchestral positions in the world before age 30. He remains one of just three African-American musicians in 95-member orchestra.
Luis Jimenez
Luis Jimenez created large-scale sculptures, working with fiberglass and taking inspiration from Mexican American culture. His art is on display nationwide, including at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Luis Jimenez created large-scale sculptures, working with fiberglass and taking inspiration from Mexican American culture. His art is on display nationwide, including at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Tom Jones
Tom Jones worked closely with Harvey Schmidt, another Extraordinary Texas Ex. Jones is a lyricist, theater partner. Together Jones and Schmidt wrote The Fantasticks.
Tom Jones worked closely with Harvey Schmidt, another Extraordinary Texas Ex. Jones is a lyricist, theater partner. Together Jones and Schmidt wrote The Fantasticks.
Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin was a pioneer in the male-dominated rock music scene of the late 1960s, influencing generations of musicians to come. Joplin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
Janis Joplin was a pioneer in the male-dominated rock music scene of the late 1960s, influencing generations of musicians to come. Joplin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
Laeta Kalogridis
Laeta Kalogridis is widely regarded as one of the best science fiction and suspense script writers and fixers. Most recently, she wrote the screenplay and co-produced Shutter Island with Martin Scorcese. She is currently working on a film with James Cameron.
Laeta Kalogridis is widely regarded as one of the best science fiction and suspense script writers and fixers. Most recently, she wrote the screenplay and co-produced Shutter Island with Martin Scorcese. She is currently working on a film with James Cameron.
Louis Lane
Louis Lane has conducted leading orchestras across the United States, including in Cleveland, Dallas, and Atlanta.
Louis Lane has conducted leading orchestras across the United States, including in Cleveland, Dallas, and Atlanta.
John Lomax
John Lomax entered UT in 1895 and co-founded the Texas Folklore Society. With sons John Jr. and Alan, he made historic field recordings of musicians (including Leadbelly and Tex Ritter) in 33 states, West Indies, Bahamas, and Haiti. They were released in the Archive of American Folk Song of the Library of Congress.
John Lomax entered UT in 1895 and co-founded the Texas Folklore Society. With sons John Jr. and Alan, he made historic field recordings of musicians (including Leadbelly and Tex Ritter) in 33 states, West Indies, Bahamas, and Haiti. They were released in the Archive of American Folk Song of the Library of Congress.
Sterling Morrison
Sterling Morrison is one of the founding members of the '60s avant-garde rock group, The Velvet Underground. In 1971 he enrolled at UT where was a TA while earning his doctorate in medieval studies.
Sterling Morrison is one of the founding members of the '60s avant-garde rock group, The Velvet Underground. In 1971 he enrolled at UT where was a TA while earning his doctorate in medieval studies.
Maxine Price
Maxine Price is an outstanding artist and educator. Over her career she has pursued various aspects of art including being a book designer, a fashion illustrator, an interior designer, a graphic artist, and a portrait artist.
Maxine Price is an outstanding artist and educator. Over her career she has pursued various aspects of art including being a book designer, a fashion illustrator, an interior designer, a graphic artist, and a portrait artist.
Dr. Robert Thomas Radford
Dr. Robert Thomas Radford serves as member and chair of the Men of Art Guild in San Antonio, TX. As Dean Doty's Assistant, he helped to establish Dance in the College of Fine Arts. He won First-Place Purchase Award, Texas Annual, Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. His collections can be found in the: Israel Museum, Dallas Museum, Oakland Museum, Smith College Museum, and Archives of American Art.
Dr. Robert Thomas Radford serves as member and chair of the Men of Art Guild in San Antonio, TX. As Dean Doty's Assistant, he helped to establish Dance in the College of Fine Arts. He won First-Place Purchase Award, Texas Annual, Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. His collections can be found in the: Israel Museum, Dallas Museum, Oakland Museum, Smith College Museum, and Archives of American Art.
John Rando
John Rando is an American Tony Award-winning stage director, who won the award for his direction of the musical Urinetown in 2002. As a UT student he studied in the Shakespeare at Winedale program.
John Rando is an American Tony Award-winning stage director, who won the award for his direction of the musical Urinetown in 2002. As a UT student he studied in the Shakespeare at Winedale program.
Robert Rauschenberg
Artist Robert Rauschenberg became prominent in the 1960s transition from Abstract Expressionism to Pop Art, embracing unconventional materials. His first and most famous work, "Monogram," was created with a police barrier, heel of a shoe, tennis ball, stuffed goat, and paint.
Artist Robert Rauschenberg became prominent in the 1960s transition from Abstract Expressionism to Pop Art, embracing unconventional materials. His first and most famous work, "Monogram," was created with a police barrier, heel of a shoe, tennis ball, stuffed goat, and paint.
Tex Ritter
Tex Ritter is a country-western singer. He sang and helped save cowboy music while at UT.
Tex Ritter is a country-western singer. He sang and helped save cowboy music while at UT.
Ben Sargent
Ben Sargent, long an editorial cartoonist at the Austin American-Statesman, won a Pulitzer Prize for his work in 1982 and was a finalist for the award again in 2001 and 2002.
Ben Sargent, long an editorial cartoonist at the Austin American-Statesman, won a Pulitzer Prize for his work in 1982 and was a finalist for the award again in 2001 and 2002.
Harvey Schmidt
Harvey Schmidt composed The Fantasticks, the longest running musical in history.
Harvey Schmidt composed The Fantasticks, the longest running musical in history.
Harriet Schock
Hariett Schock is a singer, songwriter, teacher, author, and actress, best known for the songs, "That Aint No Way to Treat a Lady" (which won gold and platinum awards) and "First Time on a Ferris Wheel." She has nine albums singing her own songs and also writes music for the movies.
Hariett Schock is a singer, songwriter, teacher, author, and actress, best known for the songs, "That Aint No Way to Treat a Lady" (which won gold and platinum awards) and "First Time on a Ferris Wheel." She has nine albums singing her own songs and also writes music for the movies.
Gilbert Shelton
Gilbert Shelton is an underground cartoonist and creator of Wonder Warthog and the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. At UT he contributed to and edited the Texas Ranger.
Gilbert Shelton is an underground cartoonist and creator of Wonder Warthog and the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. At UT he contributed to and edited the Texas Ranger.