Alexandria Personalities

Remember the Titans?

We sure do! This award-winning film was based on true experiences of the football team at T.C. Williams High School in 1971 amid much racial diversity. Many of the players and classmates of those students are still active in the Alexandria community today. Most notable, is Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille who attended T.C. Williams High School and was a Titan himself during that time period.

Our own Renee Cardone, Manager of Visitors Services at the Alexandria Visitors Center at Ramsay house attended T.C. at this time and so did Wally Owen, Assistant Director of Fort Ward Museum.

The Mammas and the Pappas

Both John Phillips and Cass Elliot went to George Washington School in the 1950's and 1960's when it was still a high school. Before hitting it big, John lived with his parents in the Del Ray neighborhood before marrying and moving a short distance away. Before changing her name to Cass, Ellen Naomi Cohen lived with her family here in Alexandria, too.

The Lizard King

Jim Morrison came to Alexandria as a teenager when his father, a Naval officer, was transferred to the Pentagon in nearby Arlington, Virginia. The future lead singer of the Doors graduated from George Washington in 1961.

Betty & Gerald Ford

(1913 - 2006)

Alexandria was the home of Gerald R. Ford and his family for more than 20 years. Gerald Ford and his family moved to a rental property in Parkfairfax in 1951, when he was in his second term in Congress (R-Michigan).

In the spring of 1955, the family moved to their home at 514 Crown View Drive. During the Fords' years in their Clover neighborhood home, they were active in the community and their children attended Alexandria City Public Schools.

Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as the 38th President of the United States on August 9, 1974. President Ford and his family continued to live at Crown View Drive for ten days before moving to the White House.

President Ford died on December 26, 2006, at the age of 93. In honor of his years in Alexandria, his funeral motorcade passed through Alexandria on December 30, as it traveled from Andrews Air Force Base en route to the U. S. Capitol. Hundreds of people lined Washington Street to bid farewell to one of their most famous residents.

Foo Fighter Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl had incredible success with the bands Nirvana and, more recently, The Foo Fighters. He grew up in the Shirlington area of Alexandria and went to private school at Bishop Ireton in the late 1980's.

Other famous Alexandrians:

Jessica Mitford, author, lived in the Rosemont area of Alexandria for a time period.

Deidrech Bader, actor, also grew up in Alexandria.

Casey Wilson, actor, grew up in Alexandria.

Dermot Mulroney, actor, is an Alexandrian.

Denise Austin, celebrity fitness guru, calls Alexandria home.

Chris Maloney of Law & Order is from Alexandria.

Jon Carroll, of the Starland Vocal Band also attended Bishop Ireton Catholic School.