53 Notable alumni of
Sam Houston State University
Updated:
Sam Houston State University is 1035th in the world, 380th in North America, and 357th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 53 notable alumni from Sam Houston State University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
-
Marcus Luttrell
- Occupations
- navy sailor
- Biography
-
Marcus Luttrell is a retired United States Navy SEAL who received the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his actions in June 2005 against Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wings in which he was the lone survivor. Luttrell became an SO1 by the end of his eight-year career in the United States Navy.
-
Richard Linklater
- Occupations
- film directordirectorscreenwriteractorfilm producer
- Biography
-
Richard Stuart Linklater is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is known for making films that deal thematically with suburban culture and the effects of the passage of time. His films include the comedies Slacker (1990) and Dazed and Confused (1993); the Before trilogy of romance films: Before Sunrise (1995), Before Sunset (2004), and Before Midnight (2013); the music-themed comedy School of Rock (2003); the adult animated films Waking Life (2001), A Scanner Darkly (2006), and Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood (2022); the coming-of-age drama Boyhood (2014); and the comedy film Everybody Wants Some!! (2016).
-
Dan Rather
- Occupations
- journalistnews presentertelevision produceropinion journalist
- Biography
-
Daniel Irvin Rather Jr. is an American journalist, commentator, and former national evening news anchor. He began his career in Texas, becoming a national name after his reporting saved thousands of lives during Hurricane Carla in September 1961. Rather spontaneously created the first radar weather report by overlaying a transparent map over a radar image of Hurricane Carla. In his first national broadcast, he helped initiate the successful evacuation of 350,000 people. He reported on some of the most significant events of the modern age, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War, 9/11, the Iraq War, and the war on terror.
-
Thaksin Shinawatra
- Occupations
- politicianentrepreneur
- Biography
-
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician. He served in the Thai Police from 1973 to 1987, and was the Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006.
-
Josh McCown
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Joshua Treadwell McCown is an American football coach and former quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft after playing college football for the SMU Mustangs and Sam Houston Bearkats. McCown was also a member of the Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Houston Texans of the NFL, and the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League (UFL). He is the older brother of former NFL quarterback Luke McCown, younger brother of former Texas A&M quarterback Randy McCown and father of UTSA Roadrunners quarterback Owen McCown.
-
Charlie Wilson
- Occupations
- military officerpolitician
- Biography
-
Charles Nesbitt Wilson was an American politician and naval officer who was a 12-term Democratic Representative from Texas's 2nd congressional district. Wilson is best known for leading Congress into supporting Operation Cyclone, the largest-ever Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) covert operation, which during the Carter and Reagan administrations supplied military equipment to the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet–Afghan War. His behind-the-scenes campaign was the subject of the non-fiction book Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History by George Crile III and the subsequent film Charlie Wilson's War, in which he was portrayed by Tom Hanks.
-
Billy Gunn
- Occupations
- professional wrestlerpowerlifter
- Biography
-
Monty "Kip" Sopp, better known by his ring name Billy Gunn, is an American professional wrestler and coach, currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he is one third of the current AEW World Trios Champions with Max Caster and Anthony Bowens as The Acclaimed in their first reign. Billy Gunn is also a member of Bullet Club after The Acclaimed and Bullet Club Gold united on AEW Collision to form the ‘Bang Bang Scissor Gang’.
-
Dana Andrews
- Occupations
- television actortrade unionistfilm actoractor
- Biography
-
Carver Dana Andrews was an American film actor who became a major star in what is now known as film noir. A leading man during the 1940s, he continued acting in less prestigious roles and character parts into the 1980s. He is best known for his portrayal of obsessed police detective Mark McPherson in the noir Laura (1944) and his critically acclaimed performance as World War II veteran Fred Derry in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946).
-
William F. Garrison
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
-
William F. "Bill" Garrison is a retired major general of the United States Army who commanded United States forces during Operation Gothic Serpent, the military operation launched in 1993 to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
-
Abby Johnson
- Occupations
- activistwriter
- Biography
-
Abby Johnson is an American anti-abortion activist who previously worked at Planned Parenthood as a clinic director, but resigned in October 2009. She states that she resigned after watching an abortion on ultrasound. The veracity of her account and the details and motivation for her conversion have been challenged by investigative reporters, as medical records contradict some of her claims.
-
Blake Anderson
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Robert Blake Anderson is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach at Utah State University. Anderson previously served as the head coach at Arkansas State University from 2014 to 2020, the offensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina from 2012 to 2013, and the offensive coordinator, run game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Southern Mississippi from 2009 to 2011.
-
Ralph Yarborough
- Occupations
- politicianjudgelawyer
- Biography
-
Ralph Webster Yarborough was an American politician and lawyer. He was a Texas Democratic politician who served in the United States Senate from 1957 to 1971 and was a leader of the progressive wing of his party. Along with Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson and Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, but unlike most Southern congressmen, Yarborough refused to support the 1956 Southern Manifesto, which called for resistance to the racial integration of schools and other public places. Yarborough voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court. Yarborough was the only senator from a state that was part of the Confederacy to vote for all five bills.
-
Emily Neves
- Occupations
- stage actorvoice actorscreenwriterdub director
- Biography
-
Emily Marie Neves is an American voice actress, ADR director and script writer known for her work on English adaptations of Japanese anime shows and films. Some of her major voice roles include Kotomi Ichinose in Clannad, Kanade "Angel" Tachibana in Angel Beats, Minene Uryu in Future Diary, Yuko Kanoe in Dusk Maiden of Amnesia, Chelsea in Akame ga Kill!, Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi in Cross Ange, Toriko Nishina in Otherside Picnic, Ayase Shinomiya in Guilty Crown and Umaru Doma from Himouto! Umaru-chan. In 2005, she was a preliminary contestant for the fourth season of American Idol at the Las Vegas auditions, where she advanced to the Hollywood round and was eliminated. She was a resident actress at the Alley Theatre in Houston.
-
Morgan Luttrell
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Morgan Joe Luttrell is an American politician, businessman, and military veteran serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 8th congressional district since 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party.
-
Ryan Tepera
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Dennis Ryan Tepera is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and St. Louis Cardinals. He attended Brazoswood High School in Texas, and played college baseball for the Sam Houston State Bearkats.
-
Rhett Bomar
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Rhett Matthew Bomar is a former American football quarterback. He was selected by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma and Sam Houston State University. He was also a member of the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders.
-
Zach Neal
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Zachary Sheridan Neal is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
-
Roger Creager
- Occupations
- singerpianistsinger-songwriter
- Biography
-
Roger Creager is an American Texas country music singer and songwriter from Corpus Christi, Texas.
-
Phillip Wellman
- Occupations
- baseball coachbaseball managerbaseball player
- Biography
-
Phillip Lane Wellman, is an American professional baseball coach and manager. He is the current manager of the El Paso Chihuahuas, Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. Wellman entered minor league baseball as a player in 1984 and began coaching in 1988. Wellman attended Sam Houston State University and Southwestern University.
-
Katie Rose Clarke
- Occupations
- singerstage actortelevision actor
- Biography
-
Katherine "Katie" Rose Clarke is an American musical theater actress.
-
P. J. Hall
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Patrick "P. J." Hall Jr. is an American football defensive end for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Sam Houston State and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Houston Texans, San Antonio Brahmas, and Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL.
-
Ryan O'Hearn
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Ryan Patrick O'Hearn is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals.
-
Caleb Smith
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Caleb Anthony Smith is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, and Arizona Diamondbacks.
-
Ashley Etienne
- Enrolled in Sam Houston State University
- 1996-2000 studied political science
- Occupations
- director of communicationspolitical adviser
- Biography
-
Ashley Danielle Etienne is an American political advisor who served as the communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris. She is the former communications director and senior advisor to Nancy Pelosi, the first woman and person of color to hold the position of Communications Director for the House Speaker. She was also a former special assistant to Barack Obama.
-
Steve Sparks
- Years
- 1965-.. (age 59)
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Steven William Sparks is a former knuckleball-throwing right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher and broadcaster. A graduate from Holland Hall School, he attended Sam Houston State University in 1987. In addition to the knuckler, Sparks threw an occasional slider and low-80s fastball.
-
Colton Cowser
- Years
- 2000-.. (age 24)
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Colton Dale Cowser is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Sam Houston State Bearkats.
-
Lac Edwards
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Lachlan Edwards is an Australian former professional American football punter. He played college football at Sam Houston State University.
-
Ken Boswell
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Kenneth George Boswell is a former Major League Baseball second baseman.
-
Keith Davis
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Keith Lamont Davis is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Sam Houston State University.
-
Tyler Eppler
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Tyler Austin Eppler is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Wei Chuan Dragons of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes, the KBO League for the Kiwoom Heroes, and the CPBL for the Fubon Guardians.
-
Davion Davis
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Davion Davis is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Sam Houston State. He has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Houston Roughnecks, and Birmingham Stallions.
-
John E. Ferling
- Occupations
- historian
- Biography
-
John E. Ferling is a professor emeritus of history at the University of West Georgia. As a leading historian in the American Revolution and founding era, he has appeared in television documentaries on PBS, the History Channel, C-SPAN Book TV, and the Learning Channel.
-
Adrian Devine
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Paul Adrian Devine was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher in 1973 and from 1975 through 1980 for the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers. He batted and threw right-handed and served primarily as a relief pitcher.
-
Alvin Brooks
- Occupations
- basketball coachbasketball player
- Biography
-
Alvin Joseph Brooks Jr. is a basketball coach and head coach of the Lamar University's men's basketball team. Brooks returned to Lamar as men's basketball head coach on April 1, 2021. Prior to Lamar, he most recently served as an assistant coach for the Houston Cougars. Brooks has also served as Director of Basketball Operations for the Kentucky Wildcats. He coached the Houston Cougars from 1993 to 1998. He also served as an assistant coach for the Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team and was at Texas A&M through the '06–'07 season.
-
Robert Gammage
- Occupations
- politicianjudgelawyer
- Biography
-
Robert Alton "Bob" Gammage was a Texas politician, having served as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas State Senate, and the United States House of Representatives.
-
Derick Roberson
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
Derick Roberson is an American football linebacker for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Sam Houston State.
-
Gib Lewis
- Occupations
- politicianlobbyist
- Biography
-
Gibson Donald Lewis, known as Gib Lewis, is an American politician and political consultant from Fort Worth, Texas. He was the first person to be elected five times as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, but he did not seek reelection in 1992, in compliance with a plea bargain agreement connected with his misdemeanor conviction of a violation of Texas financial disclosure law.
-
Bill Zedler
- Years
- 1943-.. (age 81)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
William Wade Zedler, known as Bill Zedler, is a retired medical consultant from Arlington, Texas and a former a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 96. He served continuously from 2003 to 2021 except for the term from 2009 to 2011, when he was temporarily unseated by Democrat Chris Turner.
-
Joel McDonald
- Occupations
- television actorvoice actorscreenwriteractor
- Biography
-
Joel McDonald is an American voice actor, voice director, and scriptwriter who worked on English versions of anime series at Funimation.
-
Jordan Tata
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Jordan Arthur Tata is a retired major league pitcher. Tata made his major league debut on April 6, 2006 against the Texas Rangers in a 10-6 win. For college he attended Sam Houston State. He is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall and weighs 220 pounds (100 kg). Tata bats and throws right-handed.
-
Fred Beene
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Freddy Ray Beene is an American former professional baseball player. Beene was a right-handed pitcher who played in the Major Leagues between 1968 and 1975. He was listed at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and 155 pounds (70 kg).
-
Lindley Beckworth
- Occupations
- lawyerpoliticianjudgeteacher
- Biography
-
Lindley Garrison Beckworth Sr. was an American judge and politician who served as a United States representative from Texas and a judge of the United States Customs Court.
-
Timothy Flanders
- Occupations
- Canadian football player
- Biography
-
Timothy Flanders is a professional Canadian football running back who is currently a free agent. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Ottawa Redblacks.
-
Phil Hennigan
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Phillip Winston Hennigan was an American right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1969 to 1973 with the Cleveland Indians and New York Mets.
-
Robert Manuel
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Robert Mehmet Manuel is a former professional baseball relief pitcher. He pitched parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox.
-
Jimmy Hill
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
-
James Hill Jr., nicknamed "Iron Claw", was an American football cornerback who played for the Chicago / St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He ended his professional career with the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL).
-
Ray Benge
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Raymond Adelphia Benge was a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians (1925–26), Philadelphia Phillies (1928–32 and 1936), Brooklyn Dodgers (1933–35), Boston Bees (1936) and Cincinnati Reds (1938). He led the National League in home runs allowed (24) and earned runs allowed (139) in 1929.
-
Rick Matula
- Occupations
- baseball player
- Biography
-
Richard Carlton Matula [muh-tu'-la] is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1979 to 1981 for the Atlanta Braves. Listed at 6' 0", 190 lb., he batted and threw right handed.
-
Boney Watson
- Years
- 1978-.. (age 46)
- Occupations
- basketball player
- Biography
-
Boney Harold Watson is an American-Qatari basketball point guard. He was part of the Qatari team that won the 2013 FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship and 2014 FIBA 3x3 World Championships.
-
Hiram "Doc" Jones
- Occupations
- military leader
- Biography
-
Hiram Lee "Doc" Jones is an American United Methodist leader and retired US Air Force chaplain.
-
Chris Cralle
- Occupations
- athletics competitor
- Biography
-
Christopher James Cralle is a competitive USA hammer thrower, who is regarded as the most accomplished Sam Houston State athlete in Hammer Throw of all time.
-
Ronda Carman
- Years
- 1970-.. (age 54)
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
-
Ronda Rice Carman is an American writer and founder of All the Best blog, a Rizzoli author, and Founder of Ronda Carman Fine Fabrics. All the Best was named as one of ten top design blogs in 2010 Fox News Carman is a former contributing writer for New York Social Diary and the Huffington Post. Her first book Designers At Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living was named by Amazon as one of the Best Interior Design Books for 2013. In early 2014 Ronda started her own luxury fabric line Ronda Carman Fine Fabrics.
-
Jerome Cabeen
- Occupations
- missionary
- Biography
-
Jerome Cabeen is an author, speaker, social justice advocate and missionary originally from Houston, Texas, in the United States. He is the author of the Amazon.com bestseller, Memoirs of a Reluctant Servant – Two Years of Triumph and Sorrow in Liberia, Africa. The book reached #1 on the Amazon.com Bestseller List in the Coastal West Africa category. Cabeen lived in Honduras in Central America from 2004 to 2008 and Liberia in West Africa from 2008 to 2010, volunteering as a missionary for Franciscan Works, a Catholic missionary organization based in Chicago. Currently he resides in Beaumont, Texas, and works for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont. He is a practicing Catholic and travels around the United States giving talks and lectures on Liberia, Honduras, social justice teachings and missionary work.
