Acclaimed Alumni
K-State graduates more than 3,500 students each year. And while every graduate has a permanent, unique place in the K-State family, some are extremely familiar with the spotlight. From high-ranking military officials to Emmy-winning actors, Wildcats have carved out amazing careers and accomplishments at all levels.
Alumni in business, government, military, academia
- Richard Myers, president of Kansas State University and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Carl Ice, president and CEO of BNSF Railway Co.
- Warren Staley, retired chairman and CEO, Cargill Inc., one of the largest privately owned corporations in the U.S.
- Donald Prigmore, president of GTE-Sprint
- Bill Porter, founder and chairman emeritus of E-Trade
- Richard Pearson, former president and COO of TWA and former senior vice president of American Airlines
- David Denton, executive vice president and chief financial officer at CVS/Caremark
- Paul Edgerley, managing director of Bain Capital Private Equity
- Ashraf Aly Al-Arabi, Egyptian Minister of Planning
- Margaret Grosh, senior economist at World Bank
- Retired Lt. Gen. Richard Seitz, Army ROTC Hall of Fame inductee
- Retired Col. H. Duane Saunders, Army ROTC Hall of Fame Inductee
- Lynn Markel, executive vice president and CFO for Koch Industries, Inc., one of the largest privately owned corporations in the U.S.
- John Carlin, former archivist of the United States and former Kansas governor
- Paul Fisher, president of Fisher Pens, creator of the Space Pen
- Jerry Wexler, influential producer at Atlantic Records, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987
- Neil Vander Dussen, president of Sony American
- Marlin Fitzwater, the only press secretary to serve two U.S. presidents, Ronald Reagan and George Bush
- Milton Eisenhower, President Dwight Eisenhower's brother and former president of K-State
- John Slaughter, former president of Occidental College and former head of the National Science Foundation
- Herbert Dimond, inventor of the snooze alarm
- Sam Brownback, Kansas governor
- Pat Roberts, U.S. senator from Kansas
- John Bilbrey, president and chief executive officer, Hershey Co.
- Kelly Dubbert, first vice president and chief operating officer, Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank
- Steven Howe, director of the Center for Space Nuclear Research
- Michael W. Kramer, chief operating officer, J.C. Penney Co. Inc.
- Geraldine "Geri" Richmond, National Medal of Science recipient and professor of chemistry, University of Oregon
- Joseph L. Searles III, first African-American floor broker and floor member, New York Stock Exchange
- Pete Souza, chief White House photographer
- Scott E. Topping, chief financial officer, Hawaiian Holdings Inc., owner of Hawaiian Airlines
- Gregory C. Case, president and CEO, AON
- Raymond C. Bushland, 1992 World Food Prize co-winner, 2016 Golden Goose Awardee
- Lynn Jenkins, congresswoman for 2nd District of Kansas
Alumni in entertainment
- Eric Stonestreet, Emmy-winning star of "Modern Family" on ABC
- Lindsey Springer, head of development for DreamWorks TV
- Gordon Jump, actor who played the Maytag man and Mr. Carlson on “WKRP in Cincinnati”
- Erin Brockovich, environmental activist whose story was featured in movie starring Julia Roberts
- Kirstie Alley, Emmy-winning actress
- Samuel Ramey, basso cantante with the New York City Opera
- Velina Houston, award-winning playwright and author
- Virgil Miller, pioneer of special effects in the early days of Hollywood
- Tim Izo Orindgreff, band member of The Black Eyed Peas
Alumni in sports
- Tyrone Adams, NBA
- Elijah Alexander, NFL
- David Allen, NFL
- Dennis Allen, NFL
- Gerald Alphin, NFL
- Elden Auker, legendary submarine-style pitcher for the world-champion Detroit Tigers (he once struck out Babe Ruth)
- Eric Bailey, NFL
- Thane Baker, Olympic gold medallist
- Thomas Barnett, NFL
- Ernie Barrett, NBA
- Danny Beard, NBA
- Jonathan Beasley, NFL
- Monty Beisle, NFL
- Monte Bennett, NFL
- Gerald Benton, NFL
- Greg Best, NFL
- Keith Best, NFL
- John A. Billings, MLB
- Michael Bishop, NFL
- Rolando Blackman, NBA all-star
- Joe Blanchard, NFL
- Bob Boozer, NBA
- Ray Bradley, NFL
- Barrett Brooks, NFL
- Greg Brown, NFL
- Larry Brown, NFL
- Ron Brown, NFL
- Henry Bryant, NFL
- Josh Buhl, NFL
- Dralinn Burks, NFL
- Thomas Bushby, NFL
- Bill Butler, NFL
- Jerametrius Butler, NFL
- Don Calhoun, NFL
- Bryan Campbell, NFL
- Russ Campbell, NFL
- Chris Canty, NFL
- Dyshod Carter, NFL
- Rock Cartwright, NFL
- Brian Casey, NFL
- Lamar Chapman, NFL
- Henry Childs, NFL
- Steve Clark, NFL
- Paul Coffman, NFL
- Will Cokeley, NFL
- Jim Colbert, pro golfer
- Andre Coleman, NFL
- Norris Coleman, NBA
- Tim Colston, NFL
- Larry Comley, NBA
- Jarrod Cooper, NFL
- Ron Coppenbarger, NFL
- Les Craft, NBA
- Willis Crenshaw, NFL
- Tyrone Crews, NFL
- Henry Cronkite, NFL
- Willie Cullars, NFL
- Lawrence Darnell, NFL
- Daniel Davis, NFL
- Roy DeWitz, NBA
- Lynn Dickey, NFL quarterback
- Jon Doty, NFL
- Robert Douglass, NFL
- Marc Dunn, NFL
- Andy Eby, NFL
- Maruice Elder, NFL
- Jack Epps, NFL
- Jay Dale Evans, NFL
- Jerome Evans, NFL
- Mike Evans, NBA
- Eric Everley, NFL
- DeMarcus Faggins, NFL
- Mario Fatafehi, NFL
- E.E. Feather, NFL
- Olga Firsova, WNBA
- Donald Flenthrope, NFL
- DeShawn Fogle, NFL
- Wally Frank, NBA
- Josh Freeman, starting quarterback for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Scott Fulhage, NFL
- James Furey, NFL
- Percell Gaskins, NFL
- Carl Gerlach, NBA
- Eugene Goodlow, NFL
- Brian Goolsby, NFL
- Ira Gordon, NFL
- Joe Gordon, NFL
- Martin Gramatica, NFL
- Rogerick Green, NFL
- Steve Grogan, quarterback for the New England Patriots
- Elmer Hackney, NFL
- Raymond Hahn, NFL
- David Hall, NBA
- Joe Hall, NFL
- Homer Hanson, NFL
- Kenny Harrison, Olympic gold medallist
- Larry Hartshorn, NFL
- Maruice Henry, NFL
- Steve Henson, NBA
- Mack Herron, NFL
- Bryan Hickman, NFL
- Thomas Hill, NFL
- Lew Hitch, NBA
- Cliff Holloman, NFL
- Steve Honeycutt, NBA
- Doug Hoppock, NFK
- Thomas Houchin, NFL
- Darren Howard, NFL
- Kevin Humphrey, NFL
- Jeff Hurd, NFL
- Jim Iverson, NBA
- Pat Jackson, NFL
- Kendyl Jacox, NFL
- Clyde Johnson, NFL
- Damina Johnson, NFL
- Jason Johnson, NFL
- Mike Johnson, NFL
- Alvin Jolley, NFL
- Askia Jones, NBA
- David Jones, NFL
- Willie Jones, NFL
- Randy Jordan, NFL
- Tony Jordan, NFL
- Jason Kazar, NFL
- Jeff Kelly, NFL
- Dick Knostman, NBA
- Laurie Koehn, WNBA
- Vic Koenning, NFL
- Lon Kruger, NBA
- Jerry Krysl, NFL
- Mike Kuhn, NFL
- Ernie Kusnyer, NBA
- Lynn Larson, NFL
- Mo Latimore, NFL
- Ben Leber, NLF
- Nick Leckey, NFL
- Leonard LeGault, NFL
- Ryan Lilja, NFL
- Ricky Lloyd, NFL
- Aaron Lockett, NFL
- Kevin Lockett, NFL
- George Lyon, NFL
- George Maddox, NFL
- L.E. Madison, NFL
- Megan Mahoney, WNBA draft pick
- Dan Manucci, NFL
- Ron Marciniak, NFL
- Matt Martin, NFL
- William Matan, NFL
- Don Matuzsak, NBA
- Chad May, NFL
- Derrick McBride, NFL
- Jerry McCloud, NFL
- Darnell McDonald, NFL
- Kenny McEntyre, NFL
- Harry McGee, NFL
- James McGill, NFL
- Jon McGraw, NFL
- Damion McIntosh, NFL
- Pat McKenzie, NBA
- Shad Meier, NFL
- Steve Mitchell, NBA
- Justin Montgomery, NFL
- Mike Montgomery, NFL
- Quincy, Morgan, NFL
- Jim Bob Morris, NFL
- Dennis Morrison, NFL
- Lyle Munn, NFL
- Frank Murphy, NFL
- Willie Murrell, NBA
- Ed Nealy, NBA
- Gerald Neasman, NFL
- Jordy Nelson, professional football wide receiver for the 2011 NFL Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers
- Ron Nery, NFL
- Quentin Neujahr, NFL
- Terence Newman, NFL
- Ralph Nichols, NFL
- Nicole Ohlde, WNBA
- Chris Oltmanns, NFL
- Mike Osborn, NFL
- Jack Parr, NBA
- Madison Pearson, NFL
- Ralph Pfeifer, NFL
- Terry Pierce, NFL
- Nick Pino, NBA
- Ted Power, MLB
- Rollin Prather, NFL
- Norbert Raemer, NFL
- Bobby Randall, MLB
- Horace Randels, NFL
- Thomas Randolph, NFL
- Randy Reed, NBA
- Tank Reese, NFL
- Andy Replogle, MLB
- Jamie Rheem, NFL
- Joe Rheem, NFL
- Mitch Richmond, NBA all-star
- Ell Roberson, NFL
- Raymond Romero, NFL
- Fred Rothwell, NFL
- Mitch Running, NFL
- Dougal Russell, NFL
- Kevin Saunders, world-champion wheelchair athlete
- Josh Scobey, NFL
- Clarence Scott, NFL
- Richard Sears, NFL
- Earl Seyfert, NBA
- Leland Shaffer, NFL
- Howie Shannon, NBA
- Andrew Shull, NFL
- Mike Simeta, NFL
- Mark Simoneau, NFL
- Reggie Singletary, NFL
- J.J. Smith, NFL
- Mario Smith, NFL
- Michael Smith, NFL
- Roy Smith, NBA
- Sean Snyder, NFL
- Gary Spani, NFL
- Darren Sproles, NFL
- Milford Stephenson, NFL
- Robert Streb, PGA
- Shanele Stires, WNBA
- Art Strozier, NFL
- John Stucky, NFL
- Roger Suttner, NBA
- Justin Swift, NFL
- Marvin Switzer, NFL
- Veryl Switzer, NFL
- Charles Tackwell, NFL
- Cecil Taylor, NFL
- James Terry, NFL
- Daniel Thomas, NFL's Miami Dolphins
- Bobby Thompson, NFL
- Jerry Togiai, NFL
- John Tuttle, NFL
- Jerry Venable, NBA
- Bobby Walker, NFL
- James Walker, NFL
- Taco Wallace, NFL
- Rashad Washington, NFL
- Jeff Webb, NBA
- Howard Webber, NFL
- Kendra Wecker, WNBA
- Bernard Weiner, NFL
- Todd Weiner, NFL
- John Welch, NFL
- Cedrick Williams, NFL
- Chuckie Williams, NBA
- George Williams, NFL
- Larry Williams, NBA
- Melvin Williams, NFL
- Craig Wilson, MLB
- Travis Wilson, NFL
- Nyle Wiren, NFL
- Earl Woods, father of golfer Tiger Woods and one of the first African-Americans to play on a college sports team
- Mike Wroblewski, NBA
- Ron Yankowski, NFL
- Paul Yniquez, NFL
- Ryan Young, NFL
- Charles Zickefoose, NFL
