OGDEN — What began as a school of 100 students in a red brick church has expanded to three campuses accommodating 25,000 students.

As attendance at Weber State University has grown in the last 125 years, the school has educated many notable individuals.

David O. McKay - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The ninth prophet of the LDS Church attended Weber when it was the church-owned Weber Stake Academy. Around the time of his attendance, WSR reported tuition for the school cost $3 for a term of 10 weeks for the preparatory department, $4.50 to attend the intermediate department and $6 to attend the academic department.

McKay returned to the school in 1899 as a teacher. In 1902 he became the first principal of the school under its second name, Weber Academy, according to Brigham Young University.

Richard Richards - Republican National Committee

Richards’ legacy at Weber College didn’t end after he graduated. In 2007, the Richard Richards Institute for Politics, Decency and Ethical Conduct was established and named for the former chairman of the Republican National Committee. In 2003, Richards also received an honorary doctorate of humanities degree from WSU.

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Richards worked on the campaigns of both Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.

Damian Lillard - Portland Trailblazers

Earning an All-American title at WSU as a junior, Lillard went on to enter the 2012 NBA draft, where he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers. He was named National Basketball Association’s Rookie of the Year in 2012 as well.

Lillard is one of the few rookies to record 1,500 points and 500 assists in a season, according to the NBA.

Gregory S. Bell - Utah State Lt. Governor

From September 2009 until September 2013, Bell served as the lieutenant governor under Gov. Gary Herbert. Bell was selected by Herbert after the latter took over the governor’s office following Jon Huntsman Jr.’s resignation to become ambassador to China.

Bell resigned from the lieutenant governor position to enter private practice after 23 years of public service.

An Ogden native, Bell attended WSU before studying law at the University of Utah.

J. Willard Marriott - Marriott Corporation

Raised on a farmstead in Marriott-Slaterville in Weber County, Marriott attended Weber Junior College in hopes of widening his prospects outside of the family farm. After school, he built up the Marriott Corporation into an international business, rarely resting, according to the company.

"A man should keep on being constructive, and do constructive things,” Marriott said sometime before his death. “He should take part in the things that go on in this wonderful world. He should be someone to be reckoned with. He should live life and make every day count, to the very end. Sometimes it's tough. But that's what I'm going to do."

David M. Kennedy - U.S. Treasury

Before Kennedy was selected by Richard Nixon as the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, he participated in the debate team at Weber College, according to a June 1969 Deseret News article. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree from the college in 1928.

Jill Parrish - Utah Supreme Court

In January 2003, Utah Gov. Michael O. Leavitt appointed Parrish to the Utah Supreme Court.

Parrish graduated from WSU before she attended Yale Law School. She has served as president of the Utah Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah.

Boyd K. Packer- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Currently the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the LDS Church, Packer attended Weber College for his associates degree. Before attending school, Packer served as a bomber pilot during World War II. He went on to have a career in education.

John L. Smith - Fort Lewis College

Smith was named an Academic All-American as a senior at Weber while he played linebacker and quarterback for the Wildcats. In 2011, he returned to his alma mater briefly to coach the football team. He left in spring 2012 for a head coaching position at the University of Arkansas.

Smith has worked as head coach at seven different colleges and universities over the course of his 18-year coaching career, including Utah State University.

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