Thomas Edward Burnett Jr. was an American who was the vice-president and chief operating officer of Thoratec Corporation, a medical devices company based in Pleasanton, California; he resided in nearby San Ramon, California. On September 11, 2001, Burnett was a passenger on board United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked as part of the September 11 attacks. He, along with other passengers, formed the plan to retake the plane from the hijackers, and led the effort that resulted in the crash of the plane into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, thwarting the plan of the hijackers to crash the plane into a building in Washington, D.C., most likely either the U.S. Capitol Building or the White House.
Alan Cedric Page is an American retired Minnesota state Supreme Court judge and former professional football player.
John Wesley Carlos is an American former track and field athlete and professional American football player. He was the bronze-medal winner in the 200 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics, where he displayed the Black Power salute on the podium with Tommie Smith. He went on to tie the world record in the 100-yard dash and beat the 200 meters world record. After his track career, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Canadian Football League but retired due to injury.
Peter Berg is an American director, producer, writer, and actor. His directorial film works include the black comedy Very Bad Things (1998), the action comedy The Rundown (2003), the sports drama Friday Night Lights (2004), the action thriller The Kingdom (2007), the superhero comedy-drama Hancock (2008), the military science fiction war film Battleship (2012), the war film Lone Survivor (2013), the disaster drama Deepwater Horizon (2016), the Boston Marathon bombing drama Patriots Day (2016), the action thriller Mile 22 (2018), and the action comedy Spenser Confidential (2020), the latter five all starring Mark Wahlberg. In addition to cameo appearances in the last six of these titles, he has had prominent acting roles in films including Never on Tuesday (1989), Shocker (1989), The Last Seduction (1994), The Great White Hype (1996), Cop Land (1997), Corky Romano (2001), Collateral (2004), Smokin' Aces (2006), and Lions for Lambs (2007).
Paul Robert Giel was an American college football and professional baseball player from Winona, Minnesota. He was an All-American in both sports at the University of Minnesota.
In gridiron football, the holder is the player who receives the snap from the long snapper during field goal or extra point attempts made by the placekicker. The holder is set on one knee seven yards behind the line-of-scrimmage. Before the play begins, the holder places the hand which is closest to the placekicker on the ground in a location designated by the kicker's foot, with their forward hand ready to receive the snap. After receiving the snap, the holder will place the football on the turf, or block, ideally with the laces facing the uprights and the ball accurately placed where the backhand was initially, then balancing the ball with one or two fingers until the ball is kicked.
Robert Otis "Griff" Griffith is an American former professional football player who was a strong safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs. He played 13 seasons in the NFL, mostly for the Minnesota Vikings from 1994 to 2001. He also played three seasons with the Cleveland Browns, and two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, In 2008, he retired as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Griffith also served as an Executive Member of the NFLPA for six years. Currently, he is CEO and Chairman of Matador Enterprises Inc.
Steven Bruce Riley was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 11 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL).
Tyrone M. Carter is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Minnesota, earned All-American honors and won several national awards. He has played professionally for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Washington Redskins of the NFL.
Parker J. Palmer is an American author, educator, and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. He has published ten books and numerous essays and poems, and is founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage and Renewal. His work has been recognized with major foundation grants, several national awards, and thirteen honorary doctorates.
Adrian Paul Heath is an English football manager and former player. He most recently served as head coach of Major League Soccer club Minnesota United FC until October 2023. As a player, he is best known for his six seasons at Everton, where he won two First Division titles and an FA Cup. As a manager, Heath initially worked in his native England before moving abroad to Orlando City, an expansion side in the American second division. Orlando City had the best start of any newly founded team in the history of American soccer, winning multiple honours before joining MLS in 2015.
Patrick Williams Sr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 1997. Williams also played for the Minnesota Vikings, with whom he was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
Chris Kuper is a former American football offensive guard for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). The Broncos selected him in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of North Dakota. He is currently the offensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings.
Stephen Hough Wright is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Raiders. He was also a member of the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Northern Iowa and then played eleven professional seasons with four teams from 1981 to 1992. He also appeared on Survivor: Redemption Island where he placed tenth and became the third jury member.
James Otis Graham, better known as Scottie, is a former professional football player who played running back for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the New York Jets (1992), the Minnesota Vikings (1993–1996), and the Cincinnati Bengals (1997). He is the current running backs coach for the Washington Huskies after serving in the same position at Arizona.
Karl Harold Phillip LeVander was an American attorney and politician. A Republican, he served as the 32nd governor of Minnesota from January 2, 1967 to January 4, 1971, after defeating incumbent governor Karl Rolvaag in the 1966 election.
Arthur Moats is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Arizona Cardinals. He was selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Moats played college football at James Madison, where he was team captain.
Justin Trattou is a former American football defensive end. He played college football for the University of Florida. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He later played with the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, retiring from the NFL in 2018. He was part of championship teams at all three levels of his career in football.
The Minnesota Mr. Football Award is an honor given to the top high school football player in the state of Minnesota.
Jannat Al Ghezi is an Iraqi human right activist and the Deputy Director of Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq. She and her organization help people caught in the Iraqi Civil War and they helped Yazidis and women of other cultures escape from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant despite the grave risk involved. They also help Iraqi women deal with domestic violence. Jannat was herself a survivor of domestic violence from her tribal family which believed she had dishonoured them. She is an International Women of Courage Award recipient.
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