List of Southern Illinois University alumni

Southern Illinois University Carbondale has had a number of notable alumni since it was first founded in 1869.

Academics

• Robert Coover, T.B. Stowell Adjunct Professor of Literary Arts at Brown University[1]
• Gertrude Hull - history teacher for 40 years. Was a tutor to Douglas MacArthur.
• Louise Huffman - teacher and educator on US Antarctic programs[2]
• Sir Curtis Price, KBE, current head of New College, Oxford, former President of the Royal Academy of Music[3] and former president of the Royal Musical Association[4]
• Wilfred Reilly - Kentucky State University professor, author of "Hate Crime Hoax,"[5] and opponent of the alt-right movement.[6]

Business people

• Curt Jones, founder of Dippin' Dots[7]
• Kenny Troutt, founder of telecommunications company Excel Communications[8]

Entertainers

• James Belushi, actor/comedian[9]
• Hannibal Buress, stand-up comedian, actor, writer and producer.
• Don S. Davis, actor best known for role on Stargate SG-1[10]
• Jackie Debatin (attended), actress and businesswoman[11]
• Bil Dwyer, actor, comedian[12]
• Dennis Franz, actor best known for his work on NYPD Blue[7][13]
• Dick Gregory (attended), actor, author, comedian, activist[14]
• Justin Hartley, actor, best known for role on This is Us
• Steve James, documentary director and producer of Sundance award winning Hoop Dreams and Stevie[15]
• Jenny McCarthy (attended), actress and Playmate of the Year, was studying nursing at SIU when she submitted her photo to Playboy[16]
• Melissa McCarthy, actress, famous for her role in Gilmore Girls and the motion picture Spy
• Gary Miller, ESPN SportsCenter anchor[17]
• Tom Minton, animation producer, writer, artist
• Bob Odenkirk, actor/writer/comedian[18]
• Tim O'Malley, actor/comedian, Godshow, Second City alum[19]
• Randal Mario Poffo, also known as professional wrestler Macho Man Randy Savage; graduated 1971
• Rick Rizzs, broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners[20]
• Richard Roundtree, actor, Shaft[21]
• Robert K. Weiss, producer of The Blues Brothers[7]
• Walt Willey, actor best known for All My Children

Musicians

• Hamiet Bluiett, jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer[22]
• Shawn Colvin, musician, singer[23]
• Lee England Jr., violinist, vocalist, arranger, and composer
• Open Mike Eagle, rapper[24]
• Darryl Jones, bassist of The Rolling Stones
• David Lee Murphy, musician, singer
• Jason Ringenberg, musician, singer

Politicians and government officials

Federal government

• Roland Burris, former U.S. Senator from Illinois (2009-2010). He previously served as Illinois Comptroller and Illinois Attorney General.[7]
• Jack Davis, U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 4th Congressional District who served from 1987-1989.[25]
• William Enyart, U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 12th Congressional District who served from 2013-2013. He earned his law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law.[26]
• Tim Lee Hall, U.S. Congressman who represented Illinois’s 15th Congressional District from 1975-1977.[27]
• Donald McHenry, United States ambassador to the United Nations (from 1979 to 1981)[7]
• David D. Phelps, U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 19th congressional district who served from 1999-2003.[28]
• Glenn Poshard, former U.S. Congressman, gubernatorial candidate, president of SIU[7]
• Larry O. Spencer, Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force Larry O. Spencer

Statewide officeholders

• Randy Daniels, former New York Secretary of State[29]
• Albert E. Mead, former Governor of Washington[30]

State legislators

• Carl Bearden, member of the Missouri House of Representatives
• John Cavaletto, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 107th district (2009–present).[31]
• Jerry Costello II, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 116th district (2011–present).[32]
• William Davis, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 30th district (2002–present).[33]
• Chad Hays, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 104th district (2010–present).[34]
• Jeanette Mott Oxford, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives
• Mary Nichols, Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives representing the 72nd district (2010–present).[35]
• Lena Taylor, Democratic member of the Wisconsin Senate for the 4th district (since 2005).[36]
• Art Turner, Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives (2010–present).[37]
• Kathleen Vinehout, Democratic member of the Wisconsin Senate representing the 31st district (since 2007).[38]
• Grant Wehrli, Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 41st district (2015–present).
• Charles “Chuck” Ficago, candidate for Governor of Southern Illinois, on a platform of separating Chicago from Illinois, and fighting for the rights and interests of rural Illinoisans

[39]

Local officeholders

• Howard Brookins, Chicago Alderman for the 21st ward.[40]
• Forrest Claypool, member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners for District 12 (2002-2006). He is currently the CEO of Chicago Public Schools.
• David Coss, Mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico (2006-2014)[41]
• Jason Ervin, Chicago Alderman for the 28th ward.[42]

International figures

• Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq, Pakistani politician and son of former President General Zia-ul-Haq
• Joe Hung (Master's degree in journalism, 1965), Taiwanese journalist (Central News Agency) and diplomat, Representative of Taiwan to Italy (1993–2000)[43]

Sports figures

Baseball

• Sam Coonrod, major league pitcher
• Jim Dwyer, former Major League Baseball outfielder[44]
• Steve Finley, former Major League Baseball center fielder, 5-time Gold Glove winner, 2-time All-Star[44]
• Jason Frasor, Major League Baseball pitcher[44]
• Joe Hall, former Major League Baseball pitcher[44]
• Jerry Hairston, Jr., Major League Baseball second baseman[44]
• Dan Hartleb, college baseball coach at Illinois
• Duane Kuiper, former Major League Baseball second baseman, announcer, commentator for EA Sports baseball video games[44]
• Al Levine, Major League Baseball pitcher[44]
• Skip Pitlock, former Major League pitcher
• Bill Stein, former Major League Baseball infielder[44]
• Dave Stieb, former Major League Baseball pitcher, 7-time All Star[44]

Basketball

• Ashraf Amaya, former NBA player[45]
• Chris Carr, former NBA player[45]
• Walt Frazier, Basketball Hall of Famer and named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History[7]
• Mike Glenn, former NBA player[45]
• Nate Hawthorne, former NBA player Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.
• Troy Hudson, NBA guard[45]
• Joe Meriweather, NBA center
• Matt Shaw, Former European Professional League, Centralia High School sports Hall of Fame

Football

• Lionel Antoine, former NFL offensive tackle
• Houston Antwine, former NFL defensive lineman
• Tom Baugh, former NFL player
• Amos Bullocks, former NFL running back
• Jim Hart, former NFL quarterback, 4-time Pro Bowl selection[46]
• Kevin House, former NFL player[47]
• Brandon Jacobs, NFL running back[48]
• Yonel Jourdain, NFL running back for the Buffalo Bills
• Deji Karim, NFL running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars[49]
• Carl Mauck, former NFL player and NFL coach
• Marion Rushing, former NFL linebacker
• Bart Scott, NFL linebacker[50]
• Sam Silas, former NFL lineman
• Russ Smith, former NFL guard
• Sebron Spivey, former NFL wide receiver
• Terry Taylor, former NFL cornerback
• Ernie Wheelwright, former NFL running back
• Adrian White, former NFL safety

Other

• Ron Ballatore, NCAA championship swimming coach, five-time Olympic swimming coach
• Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls, IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Roger Counsil, NCAA championship gymnastics coach
• Randy Savage, professional wrestler
• Frank Schmitz, Four time individual NCAA gymnastics champion and silver medalist at the 1965 Trampoline World Championships.
• Cameron Wright, retired high jumper; competed at the 1996 Olympic Games; Southern Illinois University Hall of Fame 2011.

Writers and journalists

• Jim Bittermann, CNN European correspondent based in Paris[51]
• Chris Bury, ABC news anchor[7]
• Joan Lovett (Lovelace), CBS four-time Emmy award winner
• Michael Meyerhofer, poet and fantasy author
• Jason Pargin, fantasy author
• P.S. Mueller, cartoonist for The New Yorker[13]
• Jared Yates Sexton, author, political commentator, and creative writing professor
• Chad Simpson, Micro Award-winning short and flash fiction author
• Jackie Spinner, writer at the Washington Post and author of Tell Them I Didn't Cry: A Young Journalist's Story of Joy, Loss, and Survival in Iraq[52]

Others

• Matthew F. Hale (Law School, 1998), white supremacist who solicited the murder of federal judge Joan Lefkow[53]
• Joan E. Higginbotham, astronaut[7]
• Rodney P. Kelly, retired Major General, U.S. Air Force
• Thomas McClelland, retired Captain, U.S. Navy
• Johnny R. Miller, Assistant Adjutant General of the Illinois Army National Guard
• Joseph Nechvatal, digital artist and art theoretician
• Michael Swango, physician and serial murderer[54]
• Mallica Vajrathon, United Nations senior staff member

References

1. "Literary Arts Program: faculty". Archived from the original on 2008-03-03. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
2. "Empowering Educators at the School of Ice". antarcticsun.usap.gov. Antarctic Sun. 2015. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
3. "Senior Staff: Principal". Archived from the original on 2008-01-19. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
4. "Council Members & Officers". Archived from the original on 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
5. Reilly, Wilfred (February 22, 2019). "Hate crime hoaxes, like Jussie Smollett's alleged attack, are more common than you think". USA Today.
6. Kwong, Matt. "By linking Trump with hate groups, Clinton spotlights the 'alt-right'". www.cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Company.
7. "Distinguished Alumni Wall". Archived from the original on 2008-03-01. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
8. "Troutt-Wittmann Academic and Training Center". Retrieved 2007-08-14.
9. "According to Jim Bios". Retrieved 2007-06-23.
10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-02-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
11. "Jackie Debatin". Retrieved 2010-10-26.
12. "Last Comic Standing: Bill Dwyer". Archived from the original on 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
13. Utterback, Wayne (April 19, 2007). "Emprace the 'Dark': Author, SIUC alumnus reprints book about Strip". Daily Egyptian. p. 7.
14. "Dick Gregory: Global Watch-Biography". Archived from the original on 2007-06-17. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
15. "Steve James Biography-Yahoo!Movies". Retrieved 2007-06-23.
16. "Jenny McCarthy Picture, Profile, Gossip, and News at CelebrityWonder.com". Archived from the original on 2007-05-14. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
17. "Jenny Gary Miller Class of 1974". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
18. "Biography for Bob Odenkirk". Retrieved 2007-06-23.
19. https://aol.imdb.com/name/nm0641795/resum%5B%5D
20. "Team: Broadcasters". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
21. "The Working Actor: Richard Roundtree". Retrieved 2007-06-23.
22. "Hamiet Bluiett". mapleshaderecords.com. Archived from the original on 2010-08-31. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
23. "Artist Description for Shawn Colvin". Retrieved 2007-06-23.
24. "BA #064:'Open' Mike Eagle". Box Angeles podcast.
25. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000106
26. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2016-02-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
27. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000073
28. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000584
29. "SIUC launches 1st Capital Campaign". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
30. "Washington Governor Albert E. Mead". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
31. http://www.ilga.gov/house/rep.asp?MemberID=2169
32. http://www.ilga.gov/house/rep.asp?MemberID=2201
33. http://www.ilga.gov/house/rep.asp?MemberID=2111
34. http://www.ilga.gov/house/rep.asp?MemberID=2193
35. http://www.house.mo.gov/bio.aspx?year=2016&district=072
36. "4th Senate District – Lena Taylor" (PDF). Wisconsin Blue Book (2015-2016). Wisconsin State Assembly. 2015-01-15. p. 26. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
37. http://www.ilga.gov/house/rep.asp?MemberID=2181
38. "31st Senate District – Kathleen Vinehout" (PDF). Wisconsin Blue Book (2015-2016). Wisconsin State Assembly. 2015-01-15. p. 80. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
39. http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2269
40. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-02-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
41. "Mayor David Coss". Archived from the original on 2007-07-24. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
42. http://www.aldermanervin.com/jason
43. "Late journalist-diplomat Joe Hung remembered as man of erudition and veracity". Eye on Taiwan Media. 2018-03-06. Archived from the original on 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
44. "Southern Illinois University Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Retrieved 2007-06-23.
45. "Players who Played for Southern Illinois University". Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
46. "Southern Illinois Alumni Football Cards". Retrieved 2007-06-23.
47. "Kevin House". Retrieved 2007-06-23.
48. "Player-Brandon Jacobs". Archived from the original on 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
49. "Deji Karim". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
50. "Bart Scott". Retrieved 2007-06-23.
51. "Radio-Television Goes Golden" (PDF). Daily Egyptian. October 5, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2012.
52. "Spring 2005 Commencement Speaker, Jackie Spinner". Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
53. "The case of Matthew F. Hale: Implications for First Amendment rights, social mores and the direction of bar examiners in an era of intolerance of hatred". The Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics. 2000. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
54. "In Depth: Michael Swango". Archived from the original on 2007-07-08. Retrieved 2007-06-23.

External links

• Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Recreation Center's Distinguished Alumni Wall