Vermont Public Radio
WRUV-FM on-air interview: August 25, 2009. Click to listen.
Wichita East High School Produces Many Notable
Alumni
Published Apr 22, 2008
Maybe there’s something in the water fountains‚ or maybe it’s knowing you’re
part of a proud tradition‚ but a number of East High Aces have gone on to fame
and glory.
For example‚ there’s Jim Ryun‚ the first high school student to run the mile in
under four minutes. He went to the Olympics in 1964 while still a student at
East‚ and again in 1968 and 1972. Remembered as one of the world’s great
runners‚ he also served in Congress from 1997 to 2007.
Robert Gates‚ class of 1961‚ also made his mark in Washington‚ as director of
the CIA under former president George H.W. Bush and in December of 2006 was
sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Defense.
Diane Bish learned to play the organ at East and is now an internationally known
artist. Her TV show‚ “The Joy of Music‚” is seen and heard by more than 300
million people weekly.
Writer Teresa Riordan‚ class of 1978‚ wrote the “Patently Weird” column for The
New York Times.
Gary M. Adamson‚ class of 1954‚ founded Air Midwest Airlines.
Michael McClure was one of the major Beat Generation poets.
Astronaut Charles (Chuck) Jones‚ class of 1970‚ was among those who perished on
Sept. 11‚ 2001.
Alafair Burke has authored several crime novels and is a radio and TV
commentator. She is the daughter of crime writer James Lee Burke and a radio and
TV commentator.
Kevin Kastning‚ class of 1978‚ is an internationally recognized classical
composer and recording artist.
- Images Magazine (Wichita, KS)
