When you think of Peoria, Illinois, you probably think of tractors or that old vaudeville line, "Will it play in Peoria?" But honestly, if you look at the names coming out of Bradley University, the place is basically a quiet factory for heavy hitters. It isn't just a regional school in the middle of a cornfield. It's the place that produced the voice of the Los Angeles Lakers, the guy who found some of the world's biggest dinosaurs, and the woman who essentially invented the modern family sitcom mom.
The list of Bradley University notable alumni is weirdly diverse. It’s not just a bunch of business suits—though there are plenty of those too. We’re talking about Academy Award winners, Hall of Fame broadcasters, and people who literally changed the way we drink wine or fly to the moon.
The Hollywood and Media Pipeline
You’ve probably seen Neil Flynn a thousand times. He was the Janitor on Scrubs and the dad on The Middle. He’s got that "everyman" vibe that works so well on screen, and he cut his teeth right here in Peoria. But he’s not the only one.
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Joanna Kerns, who played Maggie Seaver on Growing Pains, is a Bradley grad. Most people remember her from the show, but she actually turned into a massive director later on, helming episodes of everything from Grey’s Anatomy to Pretty Little Liars. It’s a common theme with Bradley people; they start in one spot and then quietly take over the industry from behind the scenes.
Speaking of behind the scenes, Tami Lane won an Oscar for her makeup work on The Chronicles of Narnia. Imagine sitting in a lecture hall in Illinois and then, a few years later, you’re holding a gold statue because you turned a human into a faun.
Voices You Know
If you're a sports fan, Bradley’s impact on your ears is unavoidable.
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- Chick Hearn: The legendary Lakers announcer. He coined phrases like "slam dunk" and "air ball." Think about that. The very language of basketball was shaped by a Bradley alum.
- Charley Steiner: You know him from the "This is SportsCenter" commercials and his years calling games for the Dodgers.
- Jack Brickhouse: The voice of the Chicago Cubs for generations. "Hey-Hey!"
The Power Players in Business and Science
It’s easy to focus on the red carpets, but the "boring" stuff is where Bradley really flexes. David Burritt, the CEO of U.S. Steel, is a 1977 grad. He spent decades at Caterpillar (the local giant) before moving on to lead one of the most iconic American companies in history.
Then there’s Tana Utley. She retired recently as a Vice President at Caterpillar, but her real legacy is technical. She led the R&D effort that cut diesel emissions by 98%. That’s not just a corporate title; that’s a "saving the planet" kind of achievement.
Science and Exploration
Paul Sereno is a name you should know if you ever went through a dinosaur phase. He’s a paleontologist who has discovered several new species, including the Nigersaurus and the Sarcosuchus (a croc the size of a bus). He’s been on the cover of National Geographic more times than most people have been in a local newspaper.
And we have to talk about Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. He was the first African American astronaut. He graduated from Bradley in 1956 with a chemistry degree. While he tragically died in a flight training accident before he could make it into orbit, his path started in the ROTC program on Bradley's campus.
The Sports Legends
Bradley has always been a basketball school. The 1970s were particularly wild. Doug Collins, the number one overall NBA draft pick in 1973, is perhaps the most famous face of the Braves. He went on to be an All-Star, an Olympic coach, and the guy who coached Michael Jordan twice (once with the Bulls and once with the Wizards).
But the talent didn't stop in the 70s.
- Patrick O’Bryant: Led the Braves to that magical Sweet Sixteen run in 2006.
- Michelle Young: Before she was The Bachelorette, she was a star on the Bradley women's basketball team, scoring over 1,000 career points.
- Walt Lemon Jr.: A local hero who made it to the NBA and recently got inducted into the Bradley Hall of Fame in 2025.
Why Bradley Keeps Producing These People
There’s a specific "Bradley way" that’s hard to pin down. It’s a medium-sized school, which means you can’t really hide. You have to participate. Whether it’s the "Hollywood Semester" program that sends students to LA or the intensive engineering labs, the school forces you to be practical.
Take James Barrett. He graduated in the 1950s. He didn't go into tech or politics initially; he ended up running Chateau Montelena. In 1976, his Chardonnay beat the best French wines in the "Judgment of Paris." It completely changed the global reputation of California wine. That’s the Bradley energy: showing up as an underdog and winning.
Common Misconceptions About Bradley Grads
A lot of people think Bradley is just a feeder school for Caterpillar. While there is a huge pipeline there—and Cat has been a great partner for the university—the alumni network is actually global. You’ll find Bradley grads in the halls of Congress (like Robin Kelly and the long-serving Robert Michel) and in the deepest parts of the Sahara digging up fossils.
Another myth is that it’s only for "Midwest" careers. Tell that to George Shaheen, who was the CEO of Webvan and Andersen Consulting, or the folks at JetBlue who were helped by co-founder David Ulmer, another Bradley alum.
What to do with this information
If you're looking into the school or just curious about its impact, don't just look at the Wikipedia list. Look at the Centurion Society. It’s an elite group of alumni the school recognizes for making a global impact.
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Next Steps for Researching Bradley Legacies:
- Check the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame: Especially the 2025 and 2026 classes, which include recent stars like Kelly Amundrud and Jim DeRose.
- Visit the Slane College of Communications: They have a literal wall of fame for broadcasters and journalists like Cheryl Corley of NPR.
- Explore the Turner School of Entrepreneurship: It’s one of the first of its kind and explains why so many grads end up as CEOs or founders.
The reality is that Bradley University notable alumni aren't just names on a page; they are the people who designed the car you drive, the voice you hear during the game, and the scientists protecting the air you breathe. It’s a small school with a massive footprint.