Mr. Alphonso “Jody” Norris III, a 1981 graduate of Westside High School. While at Westside, Mr. Norris was a student-athlete playing football at wide receiver and defensive end, running track (high jump, triple jump and 220 yard dash,) and a member of Westside’s inaugural soccer team as an inside striker.

After graduating from South Carolina State University and obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Mr. Norris’ career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) soon began in 1990. During his time with the FBI, Jody served in a multitude of capacities, including Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the Charlotte Field Office, FBI Program Director for Domestic Security Alliance Council in Washington, D.C., and Section Chief for Executive Development and Selection Program. His areas of expertise included Complex Investigations, Crisis Management and Response, Fraud Prevention, Economic Espionage and Insider Threat Mitigation, Cyber and Information Security and Process Reengineering.

Before retiring in 2020, Mr. Norris was Special Agent in Charge (SAC) in the Columbia Field Office, tasked with overseeing the South Carolina field organization, including the Columbia headquarters, along with eight resident agencies across the state. Jody managed all related operational, administrative, and financial and security functions in addition to directing daily operations encompassing National Security and Criminal Investigative Programs. He is credited for having elevated the Criminal Investigative program to one of the highest-performing programs of any field office in the FBI, taking a marginally performing program to one of the top five out of the more than 50 field offices.  Some of his other most notable contributions in this role include rebranding the Crisis Management Program for the FBI’s Houston Division and White-Collar Crime Branch, and leading the development of one of two standalone FBI Cyber/Security Branches. He is also responsible for having orchestrated the planning and execution of security operations for some of the highest-profile events, such as the Kentucky Derby, NCAA Final Four, NFL Super Bowl 51, Hurricane Harvey recovery and response, and the MLB World Series.

Acclaimed for his efforts and performance over the course of his tenure, Jody has received honors and awards including: Southeast Region Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Case of the Year (2003), National Organized Crime Enforcement Case of the Year (2000), and a nomination for FBI Director’s Award for Excellence in Investigation (2000).

It is obvious that Mr. Norris’ 30-year career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation distinguishes him for not only propelling himself forward, but also for making advancements and taking the FBI to greater heights as well. He is an incredible testament to our school district and Westside High School.

A member of the 1969 T.L. Hanna High School graduating class, Mr. John William Tucker,  "Johnny," served as an active member of the student body as Junior Class Secretary.

          Mr. Tucker graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1973 with a degree in Political Science. At the start of his career, Mr. Tucker served as an Administrative Assistant for both the fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office as well as the 10th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office, He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1984. During his twelve years as a representative, Mr. Tucker was First Vice Chairman for both the Judiciary Committee and the Rules Committee, and Chairman of the Crime Study Committee. He also served on the Health Care and Oversight Committee, Joint Appropriations Review Committee, and Prosecution Coordination Commission.  At the end of his tenure as a State Legislator in 1996, Mr. Tucker became Chief of Staff for the 13th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office and served in this capacity until 2010.

Highly regarded and acclaimed for his contributions to the State of South Carolina, Johnny holds many honors, awards and recognitions, including a Certificate of Merit for “Mothers against Drunk Driving.” Mr. Tucker was named the 1993-1994 Legislator of the Year for Appalachian Health District 1, and received a Legislative Award for Vocation Rehabilitation in 1994. Perhaps the most notable though, is the 1996 Legislative Resolution passed by the South Carolina General Assembly in his honor, which designated a portion of Highway 81 North in Anderson County as the “John W. Tucker, Jr. Highway” as a continuing tribute to his years of service to his community and state. Mr. Tucker is also a 1997 recipient of the prestigious Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor.

          Mr. Tucker prioritized his involvement and contributions not only at the state-level, but at the local-level as well. John has faithfully served several associations, boards and committees including: South Carolina Heritage Trust Advisory Board, Anderson Area Medical Center Board of Trustees, Anderson Area Transportation Committee, Anderson Vocation Rehabilitation, Rotary Club of Anderson, Clemson University Board of Visitors, Friends of Anderson Museum, and Kiwanis Club of Anderson. Additionally, The Supreme Court of South Carolina appointed John as a public member of the South Carolina Judicial Conduct Commission in 2014. He remains engrained in his community as an AnMed Health Trustee Emeritus and member of Central Presbyterian Church in Anderson.

The Honorable Mayor Roberts was a member of the Westside Class of 1978 and during his time at Westside he was a 3 sport athlete, playing football, basketball and baseball. He was recognized as an All-star basketball player and even received a Division 1 basketball scholarship. In addition to his athletic ability while at Westside, Mayor Roberts was the student body Treasurer, Vice President and President. After graduation, Mr. Roberts went to college at Winthrop University and graduated with a degree in Marketing. He then started and still runs a successful insurance business in Anderson.

Mayor Roberts is an Anderson Native who has been in the forefront of the business and public service for more than 30 years. He has served on boards and commissions across the spectrum from caring for displaced children to chairing the Chamber of Commerce Board. Mayor Roberts has also served many other organization such as the Salvation Army, President of the SC Municipal Association, United Way, Anderson University Board of Visitors, and the AnMEd Board of Trustees. This is not an exhaustive list of the many organizations that have utilized his talents.

Mayor Roberts explains his reason for community involvement using a passage from a book by Vernon Jordan that says, “If you are not at the table then you are not represented." Mayor Roberts has represented well.

Mr. Roberts was first elected Anderson Mayor in 2006 and has diligently served the community through his 4 terms. He is actively making sure Anderson is a healthier place to live, work and play through his efforts to build a walkable, bikeable and more mobile community. The Mayor reflects that being Mayor is exciting, challenging, frustrating and rewarding all at the same time. Mayor Roberts also recently received an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Anderson University. Mayor Roberts attributes his strong work ethic and morals to his parents and he is often heard mentioning one of his mom’s favorite quotes from Abraham Lincoln “It’s surprising what you can get accomplished if you don’t care who gets credit”.

Congratulations to Mayor Terrence Roberts, Anderson Five's first Westside High School Distinguished Alumni recipient. He is pictured here with son Jay, also an A5 Alumnus.

A member of the 1995 graduating class, actor, director, and playwright Chadwick Boseman was the winner of the first Distinguished Alumni award given to a T.L. Hanna High School graduate. It was awarded posthumously, following his death in August 2020 from colon cancer, and presented to his parents,  Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Boseman of Anderson, at the ceremony.

Mr. Boseman was a talented student-athlete while at Hanna, playing on the basketball team and participating on the speech and debate team. He was recruited to play college basketball, but chose instead to pursue his passion for the arts. He went on to Howard University in Washington, D.C., earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing in 2000. He then attended and graduated New York City's Digital Film Academy. As a writer, director, and actor on New York's stages, he won a Drama League Directing Fellowship, an AUDELCO award, and was nominated for a Jeff Award as playwright for Deep Azure. He moved to Los Angeles where he starred in several films while continuing to direct.

He portrayed baseball legend Jackin Robinson in the movie 42; James Brown in Get on Up; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in Marshall; and, perhaps most famously for Anderson children, superhero T'Challa, in Marvel Comics' The Black Panther movies in 2016 and 2018. Black Panther was the first superhero film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. He was voted one of Time Magazine's 100 of the World's Most Influential People. His final film released posthumously, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama. Boseman also received four nominations for a Screen Actors Guild award for his work in Da 5 Bloods and  Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, the most for a performer at a single ceremony, winning Best Male Actor in a leading role for Ma Rainey.

While Mr. Boseman had many talents in the motion picture realm, some of his greatest accomplishments were his humanitarian work, which he continued working on despite his colon cancer diagnosis in 2016. He supported cancer charities including St. Jude's Hospital, children's charities, and the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem. He once said, "You never go wrong when you invest in kids' futures." He leaves behind a legacy as an example of someone who used their fame to do good for others.