Walter Jennings

Off the Court

UC Davis alumni, as Walter Jennings tells it on the shows. Each story was checked against its source.

• Patricia S. CowingsNASA scientist astronaut trainee

  Patricia Cowings graduated from Davis in 1973. She was the first American woman trained as a scientist astronaut by NASA, and she patented a training exercise used to treat astronauts. Not bad for a cow town, folks.

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• Charles M. Rice2020 Nobel laureate in medicine

  Charles Rice, an Aggie, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2020. We don't brag much out here. But a Nobel is a Nobel, so I'll say it slow.

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• John S. Watsonformer Chevron chairman and CEO

  John Watson, class of 1978, agricultural economics. Then he ran Chevron as chairman and CEO for eight years. We grow all kinds of things in Davis. An oil company boss was not on the seed packet.

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• Ethan Russellrock album cover photographer

  Ethan Russell, an Aggie, is the only rock photographer to shoot album covers for the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Who. All three. From Davis. I can't explain it either.

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• Mark Publicovertrampoline safety net inventor

  Mark Publicover, an Aggie, designed the first trampoline safety net enclosure to become a commercial success. So if your kid bounced and stayed in the yard, thank Davis. We keep things fenced in out here.

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