Lafayette’s alumni are a big part of the school's history. They all once attended Lafayette and made it what it is today. Lafayette has a long list of groundbreaking alumni, including governors, actors, athletes, artists, writers, derby-winning trainers, doctors, lawyers, veterans, and business leaders. Lafayette’s SCAPA program has produced many actors, singers, dancers, musicians, and other artists.
Some notable alumni include Governors of Kentucky John Y. Brown Jr. and Dr. Ernie Fletcher, actor Jim Varney, golf legend Gay Brewer, track star Tyson Gay, five-star soccer player TJ Chinn, and golf champion Myra Vanhoose Blackwelder. These alumni, as well as others, have banners hanging in the hallways of the school.
According to members on the alumni Facebook page, many other Lafayette alumni have gone on to do great things.
Mary Ann Burdette, class of 1944, was Lexington’s Woman of the Year in 1972. She was also the first president of the Lafayette Alumni Association and a school board member. The Alumni Association organizes events and raises money for scholarships to help students achieve their collegiate goals. It is composed of numerous Lafayette Alumni who generously continue to support the school and each other.
Louise Kiernan, Class of 1944, is a Pulitzer Prize winner for journalism and a Harvard fellow.
Brian Johnson, Class of 1961, relocated to Los Angeles after graduating from Lafayette and is a successful actor in numerous movies and television shows. He has acted in films such as “How to Get Away with Murder”, and “The Unit”.
Loren Long, Class of 1981, is a New York Times bestselling picture book illustrator and author. He has written and illustrated books such as “The Yellow Bus” and his popular “Otis” series about a tractor on a Lexington farm.
Eric Reed, Class of 1982, became a Kentucky Derby-winning horse trainer. He won the 2022 Kentucky Derby with the winning horse Donerail.
Tom Ashford, Class of 1980, is a Lexington business leader and Rotary Club District Governor. He was inducted into the Lafayette High School Hall of Fame, and his illustrious career is featured on the alumni website’s main page.
Dr. Vishwar Talwalker, Class of 1984, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Shriners Medical Center and Associate Professor of Pediatric Orthopaedics at the University of Kentucky.
Helen Wade became the first African American student to attend a previously all-white school in Lexington. She made history in 1955 when she took a summer school course at Lafayette. This marked the beginning of racially desegregated education in Lexington, and Helen was one of many notable students to grace Lafayette’s halls.
Lafayette has an active alumni association led by Jason Rothermund (class of 2001), Alan Finch (class of 1967), Pat Ritchey, and Beth Johnson White (Class of 1967). The alumni association hosts a grand and elegant alumni dinner each summer at Spindletop Hall. They also host a chili supper in March, a Fall picnic at Outback Farm, and a Christmas dinner at the school. They support four scholarships with dues and donations for Lafayette students to further their education where they choose.
One of the recent scholarship recipients, Mina Hartman, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity. According to the alumni website, Hartman said, “I am so excited to be the recipient of the Lafayette High School Alumni Association scholarship. It will enable me to have the freedom to take daring internships as well as study abroad." She further emphasized the impact of this support, stating, "It is opening up opportunities that I may not have been able to take advantage of without the scholarship, so I am incredibly grateful for this honor.”
Lafayette High School continues to foster an environment that encourages students to reach their full potential, and its alumni play a crucial role in maintaining that legacy. Whether through professional achievements or contributions to the school community, Lafayette graduates leave a lasting impact. The school’s strong alumni network ensures that the tradition of excellence continues for future generations. For more information on Lafayette Alumni and their Hall of Fame, visit their website at www.lafayettesralumni.com.
