List of Texas Christian University alumni

Texas Christian University has more than 90,000 living alumni.[1] Following is a list of notable Texas Christian University alumni by profession.

## Art

[edit]

* Glenda Green – artist; author of Love Without End, Jesus Speaks (1998)
* Mary McCleary – contemporary artist with works in numerous public collections

## Business

[edit]

* Brian Alvey – co-founder of Weblogs, Inc.; serial entrepreneur
* Beverley Bass (BA '74) – former American Airlines pilot; first female American Airlines captain and captain of the first all-female commercial jet airliner crew[2]
* Kyle Bass – principal and founder of Hayman Capital Management
* John Davis – billionaire entrepreneur; 1-800-Flowers founder
* Kathryn Farmer – CEO and president of BNSF Railway since 2021; first female CEO of a Class I railroad
* Elliott Hill – president & CEO of Nike, Inc., member of TCU Board of Trustees
* Maciej Kranz – Cisco Systems Vice President of Innovation

## Education

[edit]

* Leon Breeden – clarinetist and founder of the "Lab Band" program at the University of North Texas
* James Cash Jr. – former chairman of Harvard MBA program; senior associate dean and chairman of HBS Publishing; on boards of GE and Microsoft
* Theresa A. Powell – vice president of academic affairs at Temple University; president of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators[3]
* Jim Ranchino – pollster, political consultant, and political scientist on the faculty of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas
* Jeff Sebo – philosopher, director of Animal Studies at New York University, and author of The Moral Circle
* Elizabeth MacLeod Walls – 15th president of William Jewell College; 14th president of Washington & Jefferson College
* Joseph D. Womack \- 10th president of Bushnell University

Bob Schieffer, class of '59

## Entertainment

[edit]

* Norman Alden – actor with a fifty-year career in movies and television, mostly in voice roles and small parts
* Cecil Brower – Western swing pioneer
* Betty Buckley – Tony Award-winning actress best known for playing Grizabella in the musical Cats
* Mario Cruz – saxophone player
* Corby Davidson (attended Aug 1988 thru May 1991, did not graduate) – Dallas/Fort Worth sports radio personality with The Ticket 1310am
* Cynthia Dobrinski – handbell composer and clinician[4]
* Kelli Finglass – Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, television personality, television producer
* Frederic Forrest – actor
* John Gilliland – radio broadcaster who created the Pop Chronicles music documentary[5]
* Skip Hollandsworth – journalist; screenwriter; Executive Editor of Texas Monthly magazine
* Kristin Holt – television personality; former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader; finalist on the original American Idol
* Daniel Hunter – known for his music project, Analog Rebellion (formerly PlayRadioPlay!)
* Clyde Hurley – jazz trumpeter soloist in "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller Band
* Benton Jennings – actor in theatre, movies, television, and commercials
* James Kerwin – film and theater director
* Curtis King – founder of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters[6]
* Chris Klein – film actor, American Pie, We Were Soldiers Once, And Young, Rollerball
* John Knowles – guitarist
* William Lewis – opera singer
* Wendy Powell – voice actress
* Tudi Roche – actress
* Rod Roddy – former The Price Is Right announcer
* Bob Schieffer – journalist with CBS News since 1969 and host of Face the Nation
* Travis Schuldt – television actor on Passions, 10-8: Officers on Duty and Scrubs
* Sarah Rose Summers – Miss USA 2018
* Rob Thomas – writer, Veronica Mars and Rats Saw God
* Nina Vance – founder, Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas
* Stephanie Vander Werf – model, TV presenter and beauty pageant contestant; Miss Panama 2012; represented Panama at the Miss Universe 2012
* Shantel VanSanten – actress, One Tree Hill, Final Destination 4, You and I
* William Walker – Metropolitan Opera baritone
* Van Williams – television actor on Bourbon Street Beat, Surfside 6, and the Green Hornet
* Travis Willingham – voice actor
* Peggy Willis-Aarnio – ballet historian

## Law

[edit]

* Tim Curry – district attorney for Tarrant County from 1972 until his death in 2009
* S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. – chief judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
* Zuberi Williams – associate judge, Maryland District Court (2015 – present)[7][8]

Gordon England, former Secretary of the Navy

## Military

[edit]

* Horace S. Carswell Jr. – recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor
* Gordon R. England (MBA '75) – 71st & 73rd Secretary of the Navy; Deputy Secretary of Defense (2005–2009)

## Politics

[edit]

* Dan Boren – former U.S. representative from Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district
* Israel B. Curtis – Louisiana politician, did graduate studies at TCU[9]
* Wendy Davis – 2014 candidate for Texas governor; former state senator in the Texas Senate
* Hou Chong-wen – deputy mayor of Chiayi City, Taiwan
* Eddie Bernice Johnson (B.S. 1967) – U.S. representative, Texas 30th congressional district
* Kyle Kacal (Certificate in Ranch Management) – member of the Texas House of Representatives from College Station since 2013
* Lois Kolkhorst (Class of 1988) – member of the Texas Senate since 2014 and former member of the Texas House of Representatives
* Mike Lang – member of Texas House of Representatives since 2017
* Tommy Merritt – former member of Texas House of Representatives and candidate for Texas Department of Agriculture
* Thomas Pressly – member of the Louisiana Senate since 2024 and former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives[citation needed]
* Winthrop Paul Rockefeller – former lieutenant governor of Arkansas 1996–2006
* John Roger Williams – U.S. representative and former Secretary of State of Texas

Jake Arrieta LaDainian Tomlinson, class of 2005

## Sports

[edit]

* Scott Ankrom – former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver[10]
* Jake Arrieta – MLB pitcher Baltimore Orioles (2010–13), Chicago Cubs (2013–2017), Philadelphia Phillies (2018–2020)
* Yazmeen Ryan \- Professional soccer player for Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team.
* Ronnie Baker – sprinter
* Desmond Bane – NBA, selected 30th overall in the 2020 NBA draft, selected for Rising Stars Challenge at 2022 NBA All-Star Game
* Pat Batteaux – former NFL player
* Sammy Baugh – 1935 Heisman Trophy finalist; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame[11][12]
* Josh Boyce – wide receiver, New England Patriots
* Scott Brooks – former NBA point guard and current Oklahoma City Thunder head coach; won Coach of the Year Award 2010
* Larry Brown – former cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders, and Super Bowl XXX MVP[13]
* David Caldwell – former nose tackle for the Green Bay Packers[14]
* Tank Carder – 2011 Rose Bowl defensive MVP; linebacker for the Cleveland Browns[15]
* Matt Carpenter – MLB All-Star for the St. Louis Cardinals
* Andrew Cashner – pitcher for the Miami Marlins
* Ron Clinkscale – quarterback, Canadian Football League
* Bill Collins – Masters Athletics world record holder[16]
* Roosevelt Collins – former NFL player
* Charles Coody – PGA golf professional, Class of 1960, Texas Sports Hall of Fame (2000)
* Norm Cox – former professional football player
* Édgar Crespo – Olympic swimmer from Panama
* Andy Dalton (class of 2010) – 2011 Rose Bowl offensive MVP; Pro Bowl quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals[17]
* Kenneth E. Davis – 1984 Heisman Trophy finalist; All-American running back[18]
* Jamie Dixon – TCU men's basketball head coach; former head coach for the University of Pittsburgh[19]
* Josh Doctson – wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings
* Max Duggan – quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers
* Taylor Featherston – infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies
* Brandon Finnegan – pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, formerly of the Kansas City Royals; became the first player to play in a College World Series and an MLB World Series in the same year[20]
* Keith Flowers – former NFL player[21]
* Bobby Jack Floyd – former fullback for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears[22]
* Larry Foyt – semi-retired NASCAR and IRL driver[23]
* Jeff Gladney – cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals
* Clint Gresham – long snapper for the Seattle Seahawks
* Phil Handler – former NFL football player and coach[24]
* J. J. Henry – PGA golfer, member of the 2006 Ryder Cup team[25]
* Tom Hoge – PGA golfer
* Bryan Holaday – catcher for the Boston Red Sox
* Jerry Hughes – linebacker for the Buffalo Bills
* Sandora Irvin – former WNBA player, San Antonio Silver Stars[26]
* Quentin Johnston – wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers
* Jeremy Kerley – wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers
* Harry Kinzy – former MLB pitcher[27]
* Max Knake – former Arena Football League quarterback[28]
* Jenny Lidback – former LPGA golfer[29]
* Bob Lilly – former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame[11]
* Robert Lyles – NFL linebacker for Houston Oilers, Atlanta Falcons
* Stansly Maponga – defensive end for the New York Giants
* George McLeod – former NBA player[30]
* Guy Morriss – former NFL Pro Bowl center; former head football coach at Baylor University and University of Kentucky[31]
* Lee Nailon – former NBA player[32]
* Marshall Newhouse – offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders[33]
* Jeff Newman – former MLB All Star player for the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics[34]
* Cameron Norrie – British tennis player
* Davey O'Brien – 1938 Heisman Trophy winner; won the Walter Camp and Maxwell Award the same year[35]
* David Pate – 1991 Australian Open Men's Doubles Champion; runner-up of the 1991 US Open in Men's Doubles[citation needed]
* Matt Purke – pitcher for the Chicago White Sox
* Mike Renfro – former NFL receiver for the Houston Oilers and the Dallas Cowboys[36]
* Joe Robb – defensive end, Philadelphia Eagles 1959–60, St Louis Cardinals 1961–67, Pro Bowl 1966, Detroit Lions 1968–71, & WFL 1972–74
* Khadevis Robinson – Olympian in the 800 meter run; multiple USATF gold medalist; world record-breaker, running the fastest leg in the 4x800 in 2006[37]
* Aaron Schobel – retired Pro Bowl defensive end with the NFL's Buffalo Bills[38]
* Bo Schobel – former defensive end with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals[39]
* Matt Schobel – former tight end with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles[40]
* Angela Stanford – professional golfer on the LPGA Tour[41]
* Jim Swink – All-American running back; member of the College Football Hall of Fame; runner-up for the 1955 Heisman Trophy[42]
* Kurt Thomas – former NBA player[43]
* LaDainian Tomlinson – 2006 NFL MVP and 2000 Heisman Trophy finalist; San Diego Chargers 2001–09; New York Jets 2010–2011[44]
* Gregg Troy – head coach of the University of Florida swimming and diving team[45]
* Kris Tschetter – former professional golfer on the LPGA Tour[46]
* Jason Tucker – former wide receiver for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos; four-time All Star; 91st Grey Cup MVP[47]
* Johnny Vaught – 1932 All-American guard for TCU; former head coach of the University of Mississippi; member of the College Football Hall of Fame
* Jason Verrett – cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers
* Will Walls – former NFL football player[48]
* Daryl Washington – linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals
* Kenrich Williams – NBA basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder
* Malcolm Williams – cornerback for the New England Patriots
* Jeff Zimmerman – former All-Star pitcher for the Texas Rangers[49]

## Writing and journalism

[edit]

* Richard J. Allen – writer
* Sandra Brown – bestselling fiction author
* Dan Jenkins – bestselling author and Sports Illustrated writer
* Sue Monk Kidd – bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees
* Robert W. Russell – pen name Nas'Naga (1941–2021), poet and novelist from Ohio[50]
* Bud Shrake – sportswriter and author

## Other

[edit]

* Carson Huey-You – youngest graduate in TCU history, graduated with a bachelor's degree in physics at age 14

## Fictional alumni

[edit]

* The Professor (Roy Hinkley) – character from the 1960s TV series Gilligan's Island; has, among his six degrees, a Ph.D. from TCU[51]
* Reverend Timothy Lovejoy – animated character from The Simpsons[52]
* Earl Walker – character from Jonathan Franzen's novel Purity; is seen "wearing a sweat suit with the purple and white of Texas Christian University"[53]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Welcome to Froglinks". froglinks.com. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
2. ^ "All-female flight crew is an aviation first". UPI Archives. United Press International. December 30, 1986. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
3. ^ "Dr. Theresa A. Powell". Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. September 30, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
4. ^ "COMPOSER – Cynthia Dobrinski". www.choristersguild.org. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
5. ^ "John Gilliland's Pop Chronicles".
6. ^ "Black Academy of Arts and Letters Records". UNT Digital Library. March 31, 2025. Archived from the original on February 17, 2025. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
7. ^ "TCU Alumni – Featured Frog".
8. ^ "10,000 HOURS: APPROACHING THE BENCH".
9. ^ "Israel "Bo" Curtis obituary". The Alexandria Town Talk. February 24, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
10. ^ "Scott Ankrom". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
11. ^ a b "Sporting News' NFL Top 100: Colts QB Peyton Manning voted No. 1 by our panel of experts – NFL". Sporting News. September 9, 2009. Archived from the original on September 16, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
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13. ^ "Larry Brown". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
14. ^ "David Caldwe". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
15. ^ "Tank Carder". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
16. ^ "Bill Collins". Masters Athletics. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
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19. ^ "Player Bio: Jamie Dixon – University Of Pittsburgh Official Athletic Site". Pittsburghpanthers.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
20. ^ Calcaterra, Craig (October 20, 2014). "Brandon Finnegan to be the first player to play in two World Series in one year". HardballTalk. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
21. ^ "KEITH FLOWERS". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
22. ^ "Bobby Jack Floyd". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
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32. ^ "Lee Nailon". Basketball Reference.Com. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
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34. ^ "Jeff Newman". BASEBALL_REFERENCE.COM. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
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38. ^ "Aaron Schobel". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
39. ^ "Bo Schobel". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
40. ^ "Matt Schobel". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
41. ^ "Angela Stanford". LPGA. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
42. ^ "Jim Swink". Football Foundation/. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
43. ^ "Kurt Thomas". Basketball Reference. Com. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
44. ^ "LaDainian Tomlinson". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
45. ^ "Gregg Troy". 2013 University Athletic Assoc., Inc. Archived from the original on May 23, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
46. ^ "Kris Tschetter". LPGA. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
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48. ^ "WILLIE WALLS". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
49. ^ "Jeff Zimmerman". BASEBALL REFERENCE. COM. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
50. ^ Allen, Chadwick (2012). "Unsettling the Spirit of '76: American Indians Anticipate the U.S. Bicentennial". Trans-Indigenous: Methodologies for Global Native Literary Studies. University of Minnesota Press. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
51. ^ Weber, Bruce (January 16, 2014). "Russell Johnson, the Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' Dies at 89". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
52. ^ "Oh, Tim, calm down, he's just your old roomate(sic) from Texas Christ..." TV Fanatic. December 9, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
53. ^ Jonathan Franzen, Purity (New York, NY: Picador, 2015), p. 212.