Dr. Harold Wilson
  • Dr. Wilson served as Wakefield's first principal from 1953 to 1964.
  • Created the foundation for excellence prevailing in the school for 50 years.
  • Developed innovative approaches, necessary to deal with the creation of a new school and a changing student body.
  • The guiding force that lead to successful integration in 1964.

Neal Haygood
  • A much loved and respected teacher and coach at Wakefield for many years.
  • Set a high standard of academic excellence, serving as a role model for both students and staff.
  • Came to Wakefield in 1964 from Hoffman Boston to be the first Black teacher and coach.
  • He was instrumental in smoothing the transition toward racial equality.

Eddie Marsh
Edward "Eddie" Marsh served Wakefield for many decades on the custodial staff and as the head custodian. He treated the school as if it was his home and the students and staff as his family.

Patch Adams ‘63
Hunter "Patch" Adams has dedicated his adult life to promoting joy as the greatest tool to health and changing how health care is provided around the world.
He is the founder of the Gesundheit Institute and a frequent lecturer.
His life and work was featured in a movie starring Robin Williams.

Pete Arntson ‘56
Peter Arntson is a well known and respected attorney whose practice is devoted primarily to estate planning and administration. In addition he has served on numerous charitable and nonprofit organizations. Most importantly, he created the Wakefield High School Education Foundation which awards scholarships to Wakefield graduates.

Henry Hudson ‘65
Judge Hudson served as Commonwealth's Attorney for Arlington County, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Director of the United States Marshal Service and Judge of the Circuit Court of Fairfax County. Most recently he has been appointed by President Bush to serve as a Federal District Judge.

William Newman ‘68
He began his career out of college as an actor with roles on stage and in soap operas. He has become a lawyer, and elected official and now, a Judge. He served as the first African American member of the Arlington County Board.
Later he was appointed to serve as a judge in Arlington Circuit Court.
He now has been named Chief Judge.

Conchita Saulmon Mitchell ‘66
  • Arlington County School Board, 1988-1994
  • Founder of the Arlington Education Foundation
  • Former Executive Director of the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization.
  • Member, Arlington Board of Zoning Appeals
  • Founder, Wakefield Alumni Association
  • Board Member, Wakefield Foundation

Dawn Chatty ‘65
  • Deputy Director for Refugee Studies and Reader at Oxford University
  • Expert in forced migration of refugee young people and women in the Middle East
  • Undergraduate degree with honors and PhD from UCLA
  • Masters in social anthropology from the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague
  • Fulbright professor at University of Damascus
  • United Nations Technical Assistance Expert

Henry "Ric" Duques, ‘61
  • CEO and Chairman of First Data Corporation
  • Co-Captain of State Championship basketball team in '61
  • Major contributor to George Washington University and Wakefield Foundation

Richard A. Kidd, ‘61
  • The ninth Sergeant Major of the Army
  • Two combat tours in Vietnam
  • Legion of Merit Award
  • Bronze Star
  • Various other medals and awards

Doug Mills, ‘78
  • Nationally acclaimed photo journalist
  • Pulitzer Prizes in 1993 and 1999
  • Photos include "Mr. President we are under attack" from 9/11/01
  • Eyes of History Award

Douglas Wheeler, ‘57
  • President of the Washington Performing Arts Society
  • Patrick Hayes Award of the International Society for the Performing Arts
  • Brought artists to the Kennedy Center, Lisner Auditorium, Constitution Hall and George Mason University

Julian Stein, Staff ‘53 - ‘64
  • Started the first cross country team at Wakefield (District Champs in '55,'56 and '57)
  • Initiated intramural program
  • Refined the adaptive phys ed program which received national acclaim
  • Executive Director of AAHPERD
  • Taught at George Mason University
  • Honored by the International Olympic Committee, The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity

Barbara J. "Bobbie" Whittier Staff ‘66 - ‘98
  • Presidential Award for Science and Math
  • Who's Who of American Teachers
  • Outstanding educator by the Washington Academy of Science
  • Virginia Junior Academy of Sciences

Maynard Haithcock Staff ‘54 -‘86
  • Coach of Wakefield's only basketball state championship team
  • Coached teams that went to state three times
  • Efforts led to a smooth integration of Wakefield

Big Al Carter ‘68
  • Artist of great renown
  • His work is part of the Corcoran Collection
  • His work has hung in the Freer Gallery
  • Art teacher for 20 years

Paul Ferguson ‘83
  • Arlington County Board Member 1995 - 2007
  • Youngest Member Ever Elected
  • Chair of the County Board 1999, 2003 and 2007
  • Past Chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission
  • Environmentalist
  • Trustee, Wakefield Education Foundation

Donna Floyd Fales ‘58
  • Florida Tennis Association Hall of Fame
  • William & Mary Athletic Hall of Fame
  • Virginia All-Sports Hall of Fame
  • Ranked in USTA Top 10 from 1960-1963, 1965-1966; No.1 in the East 1966
  • U.S. Champion Girls 15 Singles 1955; Girls' 18 Indoor Doubles 1956
  • U.S. Intercollegiate Singles Champion 1959
  • Canadian Singles and Doubles Champion 1960
  • U.S. Clay Court Singles Champion 1962
  • U.S. Mixed Doubles Champion 1966
  • Chair, USTA/National Junior Tennis League Committee 1985-1987; Vice Chair, USTA Wightman Cup Committee; founder and president, NJTL Miami Chapter 1974-1989
  • 2005 U.S. National Senior Grass Court Singles and Double Championship
  • International Tennis Federation's Super Senior World Individual Singles Championship

John Moran ‘62
  • Performer
  • Director
  • Writer
  • Producer
  • "Time of Remembrance", Washington Monument Ground 2006
  • "Vital Voices", Kennedy Center 2006
  • Discovery Channel Einstein Awards, 2004
  • Fulbright Prize Awards Ceremonies

Seth Shostak ‘61
  • Astronomer
  • Radio Host
  • Author of 3 books and over 250 articles

James Bregman ’60
At the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Jim became the first American to win a medal in Judo, receiving the bronze medal for his weight class. He went on to win gold medals in the 1964 National Judo championship and in 1965 at the Macabian Games. He also won a bronze medal in the 1965 World Championship. He has extended his impact by running an international Judo training camp for twenty years and has been a leader in the American and international Judo community.

Karen L Bune ‘72
With 30 years experience in the criminal justice system, Karen’s specialty is victim services. She has made numerous contributions nationally and world-wide. She focuses on domestic violence issues. Karen is an adjunct professor at George Mason and Marymont Universities. She has devoted her life and career to working in the criminal justices system and dealing with crime victims. She has excelled in all respects and serves as an outstanding graduate of Wakefield.

William Lee, Teacher and Gymnastics Coach
Mr. Lee brought acclaim to Wakefield by guiding the ’66 gymnastics team to a state title. Most importantly, he served as a role model and mentor for decades, as a coach and teacher at Wakefield. Awarded posthumously.

Ron Terwilliger ’58
Ron is a business leader and philanthropist. A graduate of the Naval Academy, Ron became Chairman and CEO of Trammell Crow Residential, the largest developer of multi-family housing in the United States. Ron is chair emeritus of the Wharton Real Estate Center and chair of the International Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity, to whom he has left a $100 million legacy gift to help low income families obtain housing.