This condensed list of 150 notable people with Riley County connections was taken from an article prepared by Kevin G. Olson with the assistance of the staff of the Riley County Historical Museum, the Celebrate 150! Heritage Committee, Riley County Historical Society Board of Directors and the Riley County Historical Museum Board of Trustees.

Of the 150 picked for the list, here are the ones that graduated from Manhattan High School.

Baker, Laverne - First African American woman to receive a Ph.D. from Wichita State University.

Baker, William (Bill) – Football player.  Enshrined in the Washburn University Football Hall of Fame.

Balderson, Steve -  Filmmaker.  Born January 19, 1975.

Bailey, Dawayne – Musician.  Played with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, 1982-1986; Chicago, 1986-95; Veronique Sanson, 1998-2000; among other musical accomplishments.

Dary, David – Author, journalist, professor.  Literary awards include 2 Western Writers of America Spur Awards.  Born in Manhattan 1934.  Graduate of Manhattan High School 1952.

Davis, Kenneth S. – Author, professor.  Author of numerous works of history.  Awarded the Francis Parkman Prize.  Nominated for the National Book Award.

Finney, Joan  McInroy - Kansas Governor, 1991-95

Huntington, Anna Seaton – Olympian, rowing (1992) bronze medal winner.  Member of the first all-women America’s Cup crew.  Enshrined in Harvard Athletics Hall of Fame.

Morrison, Frank B. – Nebraska Governor, 1961-67.  Born May 20, 1905, in Golden, Colorado; died April 19, 2004.

Oberheim, Tom – Synthesis pioneer.  Inventor of a number of innovative electronic music products including the first polyphonic music synthesizer, the first phase shifter and ring modulator for the performing musician, the first completely programmable music synthesize and the first electronic synchronized music synthesizer, digital sequencer, and digital drum machine.

Randolph, Thomas – Football player.  All-American at Kansas State.  Played in the NFL.  Graduate of Manhattan High School, 1990.

Richards, Deb – Professional golfer.  Enshrined in University of Florida Hall of Fame.  Graduate of Manhattan High School, 1981.

Robinson, Harold – Broke the “color barrier” in the Big 7 Conference; was first African-American scholarship athlete in the league.  Born in Manhattan, 1930.  Graduate of Manhattan High School, 1948.

Romig, Thomas – Major General, top ranking attorney in the Army 2001-05.  Born in Manhattan, 1948.  Graduate of Manhattan High School, 1966.

Spani, Gary – Football player.  Enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, 2002, and Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame, 2003.  Graduate of Manhattan High School, 1974.

Stensland, Inger (Inger Stevens) – Movie and television actress.  Starred in the television show “The Farmer’s Daughter”, 1963-66.  Won Golden Globe Award and nominated for two Emmy Awards.  Born October 19, 1934, in Sweden.  Graduate of Manhattan High School, 1952.  Died April 29, 1970.