Trojans in the UK
USC has long had close and influential ties to the United Kingdom in many diverse fields, ranging from government and industry to academia and the arts. The following list - which is by no means complete - are just some well known examples of the contributions that Trojans, as well as those individuals closely affiliated with USC, have made over the years to London life and English societey.
TROJANS
George Lucas (Cinema-Television ‘66), the most successful filmmaker in history, has made all his films since 1976 - which includes the Star Wars and Indiana Jones sagas - at Leavesden, Elstree and Ealing Film Studios in London. In addition, the musical scores for the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films have been recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra at the historic Abbey Road Studios, located in London’s St. John’s Wood district. In 2002, for his contributions to the British film industry, Mr. Lucas was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
General Norman Schwarzkopf (Engineering ‘62), best known for his services as Commander in Chief of the United States Central Command and Commander of Operations for both Desert Shield and Desert Storm, is one of very few Americans throughout history to have been named a Knight of the British Empire. For his contributions in leading the Allied Forces to victory in 1991, Queen Elizabeth II conferred upon General Schwarzkopf the title of Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, the highest award and honour the British government can bestow upon a non-British citizen.
James Ivory (Cinema-Television ‘57) is the co-founder of Merchant-Ivory Productions, one of the most successful and respected film companies in British history. Mr. Ivory has directed such classic British films as A Room With a View, Howards End and The Remains of the Day, which have all resulted in numerous awards bestowed by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Critic’s Circle Film Section of Great Britain, as well as dozens of Academy Awards in the United States.
Ambassador Robert H. Tuttle (MBA ‘68) served as U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James from 2005 to 2009. Ambassador Tuttle has served on the boards of several prominent civic organizations, including the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation, the USC Annenberg School of Communication, and the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art where he was Chairman from 2001 to 2004.
BENEFACTORS
The late Walter Annenberg the largest benefactor in the history of USC and American academia – with both a school and research centre at the University named after him – was the American Ambassador to London (the Court of St. James) from 1969 to 1974. He became the only American ambassador that Queen Elizabeth II ever knighted. Additionally, for his contributions to London and English society, Ambassador Annenberg was the recipient of numerous honourary degrees and awards from British universities and many London art and civic foundations. His daughter, Wallis Annenberg ‘75, is currently a member of the USC Board of Trustees.
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The Lord Hanson is a resident of London and serves as a member of the USC Board of Trustees. He has long been known as one of the leading advocates of Anglo-American relations and is considered among the most influential and respected Britons of the past century, with interests in fields ranging from petroleum and transportation companies to politics and entertainment. The retired chairman of the British-based global conglomerate Hanson PLC, Lord Hanson is a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the British House of Lords.
RHODES SCHOLARS
USC is in the top one percent of all colleges and universities in the western United States in the number of graduates awarded Rhodes Scholarships to study at Oxford University:
1913 Frank Swain
1938 J.F. Goley
1938 Gerald Brown
1966 James O’Toole
1975 Patrick C. Hayden
1989 Holly C. Wyatt
1990 Tara M. Silvestri
1995 Desmond Koh
2008 Reed T. Doucette
HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA
Henley Royal Regatta is undoubtedly the best-known regatta in the world and it holds a unique place in the respect and affection of all oarsmen. Founded in 1839, it is famous both as a great sporting occasion and a social event; and competitors and spectators come from all over the world.
The USC Men’s Crew team aka “the Trojan Navy” has raced at Henley four out of the last five years. In 2008, the team just fell short of becoming only the third collegiate team in history to win the Grand Challenge Cup, the oldest and most prestigious event of the regatta.
