List of Phi Delta Theta members

The signature of Lou Gehrig indicating his membership into Phi Delta Theta

This is a list of prominent alumni of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Names are listed followed by the school attended and their graduation year.

Academia

• Liberty Hyde Bailey, Michigan State University, 1882 – horticulturist, botanist, father of modern horticulture
• Guy Potter Benton, Ohio Wesleyan, 1886 – president of Miami University (1902–1911); president of University of the Philippines (1921–1925)
• John R. Conniff, Tulane University, 1893 – educator; 7th president of Louisiana Tech University
• Steve Hanke, University of Colorado, 1964 – economist
• Joel Henry Hildebrand, University of Pennsylvania, 1903 – pioneer chemist
• Vernon Lyman Kellogg, University of Kansas, 1889 – entomologist
• Robert Khayat, University of Mississippi, 1960 – chancellor of the University of Mississippi (1995–2009)
• Charles Boynton Knapp, Iowa State University, 1967 – president of the University of Georgia (1987–1997)
• Frederic Brewster Loomis, Amherst College, 1896 – paleontologist
• William Harding Mayes, Vanderbilt University, 1881 – founder of the University of Texas School of Journalism; Dean (1914–1927)
• John D. Millett, DePauw University – president of Miami University
• Santa J. Ono, University of British Columbia – president of University of Michigan; president and vice-chancellor of University of British Columbia (2016-2022); President University of Cincinnati (2012–2016)
• Don K. Price, Vanderbilt University, 1931 – political scientist
• Adam G. Riess, M.I.T., 1992 – winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics
• Walter Riggs, Auburn University, 1892 – president of Clemson University (1910–1924)
• William C. Roberts, Southern Methodist University, 1954 – cardiologist and pathologist; first head of pathology for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
• Andrew Sledd, Randolph-Macon College, 1893 – founding president of the modern University of Florida (1905–1909); president of Southern University (1910–1914); first professor of New Testament Literature at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University (1914–1939); Methodist minister and theologian
• John J. Tigert, Vanderbilt University, 1902 – president of Kentucky Wesleyan College (1909–1913); US Commissioner of Education (1921–1928); third president of the University of Florida (1928–1947)
• William G. Tight – president of the University of New Mexico (1902–1909)
• T. K. Wetherell, Florida State University, 1968 – president of Florida State University (2003–2009)

Aerospace and astronomy

• Neil Armstrong, Purdue University, 1955 – Commander of Apollo 11 and first man to walk on the Moon
• William F. Durand, Michigan State, 1880 – first civilian chair of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the forerunner of NASA
• Jon McBride, West Virginia, 1964 – NASA astronaut, Space Shuttle Columbia
• F. Story Musgrave, Syracuse University, 1958 – NASA astronaut, Space Shuttle Challenger, Space Shuttle Columbia
• Thomas Jefferson Jackson See, University of Missouri, 1889 – astronomer for the United States Navy
• Joel Stebbins, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, 1899 – astronomer

Art and architecture

• Francis Chapin, Washington & Jefferson College, 1921 – painter
• Julian Franklin Everett, University of Wisconsin, 1894 – architect known for his work in Seattle
• Hank Ketcham, University of Washington, 1941 – cartoonist, creator of Dennis the Menace comic strip
• Frank Lloyd Wright, University of Wisconsin, 1888 – architect

Business

• Robert Allen, Wabash College, 1957 – chairman of AT&T (1988–97)
• John Y. Brown, Jr., University of Kentucky, 1956 – co-founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken; former Kentucky Governor
• Tim Collins, Depauw University, 1978 – founder, senior managing director, and CEO of Ripplewood Holdings LLC
• William H. Danforth, Washington University in St Louis, 1892 – founder of Ralston Purina Mills pet food company
• Robert Diamond, Colby College – president of Barclays PLC
• Charles W. "Chuck" Durham, Iowa State University, 1939 – former owner, CEO and chairman emeritus of HDR, Inc.
• The Honourable Trevor Eyton, OC, QC, University of Toronto, 1956 – former president and chief executive officer of Brascan Limited
• William F. Harrah, UCLA, 1934 – founder of Harrah's Hotel and Casinos
• Josh Harris, Wharton School, 1986 – co-founder of Apollo Global Management and owner of several sports teams
• Ray Lee Hunt, Southern Methodist University – chairman and chief executive officer of Hunt Oil Company
• F. Ross Johnson, University of Manitoba, 1952 – former CEO of RJR Nabisco
• John Willard Marriott, University of Utah, 1926 – founder of Marriott Corporation
• Edward Avery McIlhenny, Lehigh University, 1894 – son of Tabasco brand pepper sauce inventor Edmund McIlhenny
• James McLamore, Cornell University, 1942 – founder of Burger King
• Dave Morin, University of Colorado Boulder, 2003 – entrepreneur and angel investor
• Ronald K. Richey, Washburn University, 1949 – president and CEO of the Torchmark Corporation
• Hermon Scott, M.I.T. 1930 – founder of H.H. Scott, Inc.
• Roger Smith, University of Michigan, 1946 – chairman of General Motors
• David Steiner, Louisiana State University, 1982—former CEO of Waste Management
• Mark Suster, University of California San Diego, 1991 – entrepreneur, angel investor, and venture capitalist with Upfront Ventures
• John H. Tyson, University of Arkansas, 1975 – chairman of Tyson Foods
• Ralph C. Wilson Jr., University of Virginia, 1940 – founder, owner, and president of the Buffalo Bills football team; Pro Football Hall of Fame member, 2009
• Joseph Arpaia, Seton Hall University, 2022 – co-founder of Prime Energy

Entertainment

Film and television

• Harry Ackerman, Dartmouth College, 1935 – Emmy Award winner; producer of Gidget, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, The Flying Nun, The Monkees, and The Partridge Family
• Joseph Ashton – actor, film and voice actor
• Austin (Bobkat) Aynes, Butler University, 2015 – actor, Good Bones
• Dirk Benedict, Whitman College, 1967 – actor, The A-Team
• Ted Bessell, University of Colorado, 1957 – actor, daytime Emmy Award winner
• Bill Bixby, University of California (Berkeley), 1956 – actor, director, writer, The Incredible Hulk, My Favorite Martian
• Prince Lorenzo Borghese, Rollins College, 1995 – bachelor in The Bachelor: Rome
• Kurt Caceres, Sacramento State University, 1998 – actor, The Shield, Prison Break
• Trey Callaway, University of Southern California, 1989 – writer of I Still Know What You Did Last Summer; producer of CSI: NY
• Brett Claywell, North Carolina State 2000 – actor, One Tree Hill
• Dabney Coleman, University of Texas, 1953 – actor, Tootsie, Stuart Little
• Mike Connors, UCLA, 1950 – actor; Golden Globe Winner; Emmy Award winner for Mannix
• Tim Conway, Bowling Green University, 1956 – actor, McHale's Navy, The Carol Burnett Show
• Mark DeCarlo, Drake University, 1984 – actor, host on the Travel Channel
• Colby Donaldson, Texas Tech, 1996 – actor, runner-up on Survivor: The Australian Outback
• Jonathan Drubner, Syracuse University, 1991 – television personality; writer, ESPNU College Road Trip; head writer for the ESPY Awards
• George Eads, Texas Tech, 1990 – actor, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
• Roger Ebert, University of Illinois, 1964 – film critic, author
• Donald Gibb, University of New Mexico, 1976 – actor, played "Ogre" in Revenge of the Nerds
• Chris Hansen, Michigan State University, 1981 – journalist known for appearing on Dateline NBC and To Catch a Predator
• Dean Hargrove, Wichita State University, 1960 – producer, Emmy Award winner for Perry Mason, Matlock
• Van Heflin, University of Oklahoma, 1932 – Academy Award-winning actor
• Jeffrey Hunter, Northwestern University, 1950 – actor, King of Kings
• Richard Kelly, University of Southern California, 1997 – writer, producer, Donnie Darko
• Francis D. Lyon, UCLA, 1928 – Academy Award-winning editor
• Al Mayer Jr., CSUN, 1991 – Academy Award, Emmy Award for Technical Achievement
• Michael McDonald, University of Southern California, 1987 – actor, MADtv
• Michael Murphy, University of Arizona, 1960 – actor
• Brock Pemberton, University of Kansas, 1908 – founder of the Tony Awards
• James Pierce, Indiana University, 1920 – actor, Tarzan
• Burt Reynolds, Florida State, 1958 – actor, Golden Globe winner; star of Smokey and the Bandit
• Zachary Scott, University of Texas, 1935 – actor
• Ted Shackelford, Westminster College, 1968 – actor, Knots Landing
• Sonny Shroyer, University of Georgia, 1958 – actor, Dukes of Hazzard
• Donald Simpson, University of Oregon, 1966 – producer, Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop, Days of Thunder, Bad Boys, The Rock
• Josh Taylor, Dartmouth College, 1965 – actor, Days of Our Lives, The Hogan Family
• Trey Wingo, Baylor University, 1985 – ESPN commentator; host of NFL PrimeTime
• Hugh Wilson, University of Florida, 1965 – Emmy Award winner; producer of WKRP in Cincinnati
• Robert Wise, Franklin College, 1936 – Academy Award-winning director/producer, West Side Story, Sound of Music

Music

• Josh Abbott, Texas Tech University – country musician, Josh Abbott Band
• Chris Cagle, Northwest Missouri State University, 2005 – country musician
• Frank Crumit, Ohio University, 1912 – singer and songwriter
• Casey Donahew, Texas A&M University – country musician, Casey Donahew Band
• Wayland Holyfield, University of Arkansas, 1964 – songwriter
• Bob James, University of Michigan, 1961 – jazz musician, Grammy Award recipient
• Werner Janssen, Dartmouth College, 1921 – conductor and composer
• Erich Kunzel, Dartmouth College, 1957 – symphony conductor; Grammy Award recipient
• Phil Pritchett, Southwestern University – country musician, singer and songwriter
• Phil Walden, Mercer University, 1962 – founder of Capricorn Records

Radio

• Edgar White Burrill, Amherst College, 1906 – radio announcer and lecturer
• Ken Niles, University of Montana, 1928 – radio actor
• Wendell Niles, University of Montana, 1927 – broadcaster during the Golden Age of radio

Video games

• Alex Seropian, University of Chicago, 1991 – developer of the Halo, Marathon, and Myth game series

Government

Canada

• James Bartleman, University of Western Ontario, 1963 – 27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
• William Moore Benidickson, University of Manitoba, 1932 – Canadian Senator, 1965–1985
• Leslie Blackwell, University of Toronto, 1923 – Attorney General of Ontario
• Louis Orville Breithaupt, University of Toronto, 1913 – 18th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
• Donald Cameron, University of Alberta, 1939 – Canadian Senator of Alberta
• Henry Hague Davis, University of Toronto, 1907 – justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, 1935–1944
• Henry Read Emmerson, McGill University, 1906 – Canadian Senator of New Brunswick, 1949–1954
• The Honourable Trevor Eyton, OC, University of Toronto, 1956 – Canadian Senator
• Garde Gardom, University of British Columbia, 1946 – Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, 1995–2001
• The Honourable Michael Kirby, OC, Dalhousie University, 1963 – Canadian Senator of Nova Scotia, 1984–2006; chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada
• Victor Oland, Dalhousie University, 1933 – Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, 1968–1973
• Arthur "Art" Phillips, University of British Columbia, 1953 – 32nd Mayor of Vancouver, 1973–1977
• Gerald Regan, Dalhousie University, 1952 – Premier of Nova Scotia, 1970–1978

Executive branch

Benjamin Harrison
23rd President of the United States

Adlai Stevenson I,
23rd Vice President of the United States

John W. Foster
32nd Secretary of State of the United States

• Thomas J. Anderson, Vanderbilt University, 1934, – the American Party presidential nominee in 1976.
• James Baker, University of Texas, 1957 – Secretary of State – Bush administration; founder of the James Baker Institute
• Barber Conable, Cornell, 1943 – president of the World Bank; Congressman from New York, 1965–85
• Benjamin Harrison, Miami University (Ohio), 1852 – 23rd President of the United States
• John W. Foster, Indiana University, 1855 – 32nd Secretary of State
• David F. Houston, University of South Carolina, 1887 – 5th Secretary of Agriculture, 48th Secretary of the Treasury
• Harold Ickes, University of Chicago, 1897 – Secretary of the Interior, 1933–46
• Hamilton Jordan, University of Georgia, 1964 – White House Chief of Staff, Carter administration
• Robert P. Patterson, Union College, 1912- former Secretary of War
• Wilton Persons, Auburn University, 1916 – White House Chief of Staff, Eisenhower administration
• Geoffrey R. Pyatt, University of California, Irvine, 1985 – United States Ambassador to Greece
• Tom Schieffer, University of Texas, 1970 – United States Ambassador to Japan
• Adlai E. Stevenson, Centre College, 1860 – 23rd Vice President of the United States
• Frederick Moore Vinson, Centre College, 1909 – US Secretary of the Treasury

Judicial branch

• William Gordon Mathews, University of Virginia School of Law, 1897 – Federal judge
• James C. McReynolds, Vanderbilt University, 1883 – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
• Sherman Minton, Indiana University, 1915 – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
• Milford K. Smith, associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
• Frederick Moore Vinson, Centre College, 1909 – Chief Justice of the United States

Governors

• Neil Abercrombie, Union, 1959 – Governor of Hawaii, 2010–14
• Forrest H. Anderson, University of Montana, 1937 – Governor of Montana, 1969–73
• Jerry Apodaca, University of New Mexico, 1956 – Governor of New Mexico, 1974–79
• Joseph C. Blackburn, Centre College, 1857 – Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, 1907–09; also a US Senator from Illinois
• Roger D. Branigin, Franklin College, 1923 – Governor of Indiana, 1965–69
• John Y. Brown, Jr., University of Kentucky, 1956 – Governor of Kentucky, 1979–83
• George Busbee, University of Georgia, 1950 – Governor of Georgia, 1975–83
• William Prentice Cooper, Vanderbilt University, 1917 – Governor of Tennessee, 1939–45
• Jon Corzine, University of Illinois, 1969 – Governor of New Jersey 2006–2010
• William Haselden Ellerbe, Wofford College, 1883 – Governor of South Carolina, 1877–99
• Samuel H. Elrod, DePauw University, 1882 – Governor of South Dakota, 1905–07
• Joseph B. Ely, Williams College, 1902 – Governor of Massachusetts, 1931–35
• Norman A. Erbe, University of Iowa, 1947 – Governor of Iowa, 1960–63
• Booth Gardner, University of Washington, 1958 – Governor of Washington, 1985–93
• Chester Harding, University of Alabama, 1884 – Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, 1917–21
• Thomas W. Hardwick, Mercer University, 1892 – Governor of Georgia, 1921–23; also a US Senator and Congressman
• Warren E. Hearnes, University of Missouri, 1943 – Governor of Missouri, 1965–73
• James Holshouser, Davidson College, 1956 – Governor of North Carolina, 1973–77
• Herman G. Kump, University of Virginia, 1905 – Governor of West Virginia, 1932–36
• Hill McAlister, Vanderbilt University, 1897 – Governor of Tennessee, 1933–37
• Tom McCall, University of Oregon, 1936 – Governor of Oregon, 1966–75
• Douglas McKay, Oregon State University, 1941 – Governor of Oregon, 1949–52
• Arthur C. Mellette, Indiana University, 1864 – Governor of South Dakota, 1889–93
• John T. Morrison, Lafayette College, 1880 – Governor of Idaho, 1903–05
• Ragnvald A. Nestos, University of North Dakota, 1904 – Governor of North Dakota, 1921–25
• Malcolm R. Patterson, Vanderbilt University, 1882 – Governor of Tennessee, 1907–11
• Alexander Ramsey, Lafayette College, 1836 (Honorary) – Governor of Minnesota, 1849–53 also US Senator, Congressman, and Secretary of War
• Jim Risch, University of Idaho, 1965 – Governor of Idaho, 2005–06
• Hulett C. Smith, University of Pennsylvania, 1938 – Governor of West Virginia, 1965–69
• Adlai Stevenson II, Princeton University, 1922 – Governor of Illinois, 1949–53
• Ernest Vandiver, University of Georgia, 1940 – Governor of Georgia, 1959–63
• William Winter, University of Mississippi, 1944 – Governor of Mississippi, 1980–84
• Mark White, Baylor University, 1962 – Governor of Texas, 1983–87
• C. C. Young, UC Berkeley, 1892 – Governor of California, 1927–31

US Congressmen

Alumnus William Bankhead served as Speaker of the House 1936–1940.

• Neil Abercrombie, Union, 1959 – representative from Hawaii 1986–1987, 1991–2010
• John Alexander Anderson, Miami University (Ohio), 1853 – representative from Kansas, 1879–1886
• William B. Bankhead, University of Alabama, 1893 – former Speaker of the House, representative from Alabama, 1917–1940
• Douglas Barnard, Mercer University, 1943 – representative from Georgia, 1977–1992
• Chris Bell, University of Texas, 1988 – representative from Texas, 2002–2004
• Richard Walker Bolling, University of South, 1937 – representative from Missouri, 1949–1982
• Charles G. Bond, Ohio State University, 1899 – representative from New York, 1921–1922
• Edward J. Bonin, Dickinson College, 1933 – representative from Pennsylvania, 1953–1954
• William G. Brantley, University of Georgia, 1881 – representative from Georgia, 1897–1912
• Jim Broyhill, University of North Carolina, 1950 – representative from North Carolina, 1963–1984
• Bradley Byrne, Duke University, 1977 – representative from Alabama, 2013–present
• Howard Callaway, Georgia Tech, 1948 – representative from Georgia, 1965–1966
• Frank Ertel Carlyle, University of North Carolina, 1920 – representative from North Carolina, 1949–1956
• James M. Collins, Southern Methodist University, 1937 – representative from Texas, 1967–1982
• Robert J. Corbett, Allegheny College, 1927 – representative from Pennsylvania, 1939–1972
• Jim Courter, Colgate University, 1963 – representative from New Jersey, 1979–1990
• Edwin R. Durno, University of Oregon, 1921 – representative from Oregon, 1961–1962
• John Fleming, Jr., Ole Miss, 1973 – representative from Louisiana, 2009–present
• Charles K. Fletcher, Stanford University, 1924 – representative from California, 1947–1948
• Wyche Fowler, Davidson College, 1962 – representative from Georgia, 1977–1986
• Burton L. French, University of Idaho, 1901 – representative from Idaho, 1903–1932
• James G. Fulton, Penn State, 1924 – representative from Pennsylvania, 1945–1972
• Charles Goodell, Williams College, 1949 – representative from New York, 1959–1970
• Oscar Lee Gray, University of Alabama, 1885 – representative from Alabama, 1915–1917
• Francis M. Griffith, Franklin College, 1874 – representative from Indiana, 1897–1904
• James M. Griggs, Vanderbilt University, 1881 – representative from Georgia, 1897–1910
• Andrew H. Hamilton, Wabash College, 1855 – representative from Indiana, 1875–1878
• Thomas Hardwick, Mercer University, 1892 – representative from Georgia, 1903–1918
• Rufus Hardy, University of Georgia, 1875 – representative from Texas, 1907–1922
• Joel Hefley, Oklahoma State, 1959 – representative from Colorado, 1987–2007
• William M. Howard, University of Georgia, 1877 – representative from Georgia, 1897–1910
• Jared Huffman, UC Santa Barbara, 1986 – representative from California, 2013–present
• John Jarman, Westminster College, 1936 – representative from Oklahoma, 1951–1976
• Royal C. Johnson, University of South Dakota, 1906 – representative from South Dakota, 1915–1932
• John L. Kennedy, Knox College, 1883 – representative from Nebraska, 1905–1906
• Frank Kratovil, McDaniel College, 1990 – representative from Maryland, 2009–2011
• Charles M. La Follette, Wabash College, 1920 – representative from Indiana, 1943–1946
• James G. Lee, Emory University, 1880 – representative from Georgia, 1905–1926
• William Lemke, University of North Dakota, 1903 – representative from North Dakota, 1933–1950
• Pete McCloskey, Stanford University, 1951 – author of the Endangered Species Act; representative from California, 1967–1983
• Robert C. McEwen, University of Vermont, 1942 – representative from New York, 1965–1980
• Charles F. McLaughlin, University of Nebraska, 1908 – representative from Nebraska, 1935–1942
• James McNulty, Arizona, 1950 – representative from Arizona, 1983–1985
• Luke Messer, Wabash College, 1991 – representative from Indiana, 2013–present
• Walt Minnick, Whitman College, 1958 – representative from Idaho, 2009–2011
• Chester Mize, University of Kansas, 1939 – representative from Kansas, 1965–1970
• Martin A. Morrison, Butler University, 1883 – representative from Indiana 1910–1916
• Charles L. Moses, Mercer University, 1876 – representative from Georgia, 1891–1896
• Frederick A. Muhlenberg, Gettysburg College, 1908 – representative from Pennsylvania, 1947–1948
• William B. Oliver, University of Alabama, 1887– representative from Alabama, 1915–1936
• James W. Overstreet, Mercer University, 1888 – representative from Georgia, 1905–1922
• Jim Ramstad, University of Minnesota – representative from Minnesota, 1991–2009
• Dwight L. Rogers, Mercer University, 1910 – representative from Florida, 1945–1954
• Paul G. Rogers, University of Florida, 1942 – representative from Florida, 1955–1978
• David Rouzer, North Carolina State, 1994 – representative from North Carolina, 2015–present
• Max Sandlin, Baylor, 1975 – representative from Texas, 1997–2004
• Jouette Shouse, University of Missouri, 1899 – representative from Illinois, 1915–1918
• Garner E. Shriver, Wichita State University, 1934 – representative from Kansas, 1961–1976
• Jim Slattery, Washburn University, 1970 – representative from Kansas, 1983–1995
• Albert T. Smith Jr., Auburn University, 1953 – representative from Alabama, 1981–1983
• Adlai E. Stevenson, Centre College, 1860 – representative from Illinois, 1875–1880
• Willis Sweet, University of Nebraska, 1879 – representative from Idaho, 1889–1894
• Clark W. Thompson, University of Oregon, 1918 – representative from Texas, 1933–1966
• Edwin Keith Thomson, University of Wyoming, 1939 – representative from Wyoming, 1955–1960
• Samuel Tribble, University of Georgia, 1891 – representative from Georgia, 1911–1916
• Frederick M. Vinson, Centre College, 1909 – representative from Kentucky, 1924–1928, 1930–1937
• Francis E. Walter, Lafayette College, 1916 – representative from Pennsylvania, 1933–1964
• Thomas B. Ward, Miami University (Ohio), 1855 – representative from Indiana, 1883–1886

US Senators

• Brock Adams, University of Washington, 1948 – Secretary of Treasury; Congressman from Washington; senator from Washington, 1987–1993
• John Allen, Wabash College, 1867 – senator from Washington, 1889–1892
• Joseph C. Blackburn, Centre College, 1857 – senator from Kentucky, 1885–1906
• Mike Braun, Wabash College, 1976 – senator from Indiana, 2019–present
• James Broyhill, University of North Carolina, 1950 – senator from North Carolina, 1985–1991
• Harry P. Cain, University of the South, 1929 – senator from Washington, 1946–1952
• Thomas Connally, University of Texas, 1898 – senator from Texas, 1929–1952
• Harry Darby, University of Illinois, 1917 – senator from Kansas, 1949–1950
• Dennis DeConcini, University of Arizona, 1959 – senator from Arizona, 1977–1994
• Duncan U. Fletcher, Vanderbilt University, 1880 – senator from Florida, 1909–36
• Wyche Fowler, Davidson College, 1962 – senator from Georgia, 1987–1992
• James Z. George, University of Mississippi – senator from Mississippi, 1881–1898
• Thomas Hardwick, Mercer University, 1892 – senator from Georgia, 1913–1918
• J. Bennett Johnston, Washington & Lee College, 1954 – senator from Louisiana, 1972–1997
• Eugene D. Millikin, University of Colorado, 1913 – senator from Colorado, 1941–1956
• Sherman Minton, Indiana University Senator from Indiana, 1935–1941
• Sam Nunn, Georgia Tech 1960 – founder of the Nuclear Threat Initiative; senator from Georgia, 1972–1997
• James E. Risch, University of Idaho, 1965, 1968 – J.D.; senator from Idaho, 2008–present
• Arthur Raymond Robinson, University of Chicago, 1913 – senator from Indiana, 1925–1934
• Elbert Thomas, University of Utah, 1906 – senator from Utah, 1933–1950
• John Elmer Thomas, DePauw University, 1900 – senator from Oklahoma, 1927–1950
• Thomas R. Underwood, University of Kentucky, 1919 – Congressman from Indiana; senator from Indiana, 1951–1952
• William F. Vilas, University of Wisconsin, 1858 – senator from Wisconsin, 1891–1896
• Edward Cary Walthall, University of Mississippi – senator from Indiana, 1885–1894
• Xenophon P. Wilfley, Washington University in St. Louis, 1899 – senator from Missouri, 1917–1918
• Raymond E. Willis, Wabash College, 1896 – senator from Indiana, 1941–1956

Other

• Jean Baptiste Adoue, University of Texas, 1906 – former mayor of Dallas, Texas
• Ralph Haben, University of Florida – former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
• Adam Hasner, University of Maryland, 1991 – House Majority Leader, Florida House of Representatives, 2002–present
• John F. Hayes, Washburn University – majority leader, Kansas House of Representatives
• Jim Herring, University of Mississippi 1960 – state chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party 2001–2008; state circuit court judge, 1997–1999
• Thomas M. Honan, Indiana University Bloomington, 1899 – Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, 1908-1910; Indiana Attorney General, 1911-1915
• Brad Little, University of Idaho 1977 – Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, 2009–
• Henry F. Mason, Wisconsin, 1881 – Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court
• William Harding Mayes, Vanderbilt University, 1881 – Lieutenant Governor of Texas, 1912–14
• Charles D. McAtee, Washburn University, 1950 – Marine Corps officer; FBI agent; candidate for Congress; Kansas Attorney General; supervised the last executions in Kansas as director of penal institutions, 1965–1969
• Warren W. Shaw, Washburn University, 1931 – judge; member of Eisenhower's staff during World War II; representative in the Kansas House of Representatives; 1954 Republican nominee for Kansas governor
• Shap Smith, University of Vermont, 1987 – 92nd Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
• Robert Stone, Washburn University, 1889 – Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, 1915
• Richard Vinroot, University of North Carolina, 1963 – Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, 1991–95
• Kevin White, Williams College, 1952 – second longest-serving mayor in Boston history
• Drew Wrigley, University of North Dakota 1988 – Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
• Joshua Soule Zimmerman, Randolph–Macon College, 1892 – West Virginia House Delegate; Hampshire County, West Virginia prosecuting attorney; orchardist

Literature

• Ray Stannard Baker, Michigan State University, 1889 – biographer, Pulitzer Prize winner
• Louis Bromfield, Columbia University, 1920 – Pulitzer Prize winner for Early Autumn
• Po Bronson, Stanford, 1986 – writer
• Eugene Field, Knox College, 1872 – poet, author of children's books
• Walter Havighurst, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1923 – writer and professor
• Don Herold, Indiana University, 1912 – humorist
• James Michener, Swarthmore College, 1929 – Pulitzer Prize winner, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
• Dan Moldea, The University of Akron, 1973 – author, writer of organized crime and American politics books
• Reynolds Price, Duke University, 1955 – writer, essayist
• Edward K. Thompson, University of North Dakota, 1927 – managing editor of Life magazine
• William Allen White, University of Kansas, 1890 – editor, writer, Pulitzer Prize winner

Media

Alumnus Bob Schieffer, former anchor of the CBS Evening News, 2005–2007

• Earle C. Anthony, UC Berkeley, 1903 – pioneer broadcaster; founder of KFI
• Gary Bender, Wichita State, 1962 – sports anchor
• Elmer Davis, Franklin College, 1910 – director of the War Information Department in WWII; Peabody Award recipient
• Willie Geist, Vanderbilt University, 1997 – NBC News personality, co-host of Morning Joe and Sunday Today with Willie Geist anchor
• Harry Kalas, University of Iowa, 1959 – sportscaster
• Robert Kintner, University of Washington, 1944 – president of the ABC, 1950–56
• William Harding Mayes, Vanderbilt University, 1881 – president of the Texas Press Association, 1889–90; president of the National Editorial Association, 1908; president of the Association of American Schools and Departments of Journalism, 1920–21
• Byron Price, Wabash College, 1912 – director of Censorship in WWII; Pulitzer Prize recipient
• Bob Prince, University of Pittsburgh, 1938 – sportscaster
• Bob Schieffer, Texas Christian University, 1959 – CBS News anchor
• Frank Stanton, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1937 – former president of CBS
• Trey Wingo, Baylor, 1985 – ESPN anchor

Military

Medal of Honor and Victoria Cross recipients

• John Henry Balch, Northwestern University, 1920 – Medal of Honor recipient, World War I
• John C. Black, Wabash, 1862 – Medal of Honor recipient, Civil War
• William P. Black, Wabash, 1864 – Medal of Honor recipient, Civil War
• Henry V. Boynton, Kentucky Military Institute, 1858 – Medal of Honor recipient, Civil War
• Robert W. Cary, University of Missouri, 1912 – Medal of Honor recipient, peacetime; Distinguished Service Cross, World War I
• Frederick Funston, University of Kansas, 1890 – Medal of Honor recipient, Philippine–American War
• Robert Hampton Gray, University of British Columbia, 1940 – Victoria Cross recipient, World War II
• Alexander R. Skinker, Washington University in St. Louis, 1905 – Medal of Honor recipient, World War I
• Leon Vance, University of Oklahoma, 1937 – Medal of Honor recipient, World War II

Prominent military personnel

• Jacob Ammen, Indiana University, 1830 – general, Union Army, Civil War
• David Enoch Beam, Indiana University, 1860 - captain, Union Army, Civil War
• William Montague Browne, University of Georgia, 1843 – general, secretary of state, Confederate States of America
• Arthur S. Champeny, Washburn University – brigadier general; only person in US history to receive the Distinguished Service Cross in three separate wars
• John K. Davis, University of New Mexico, 1951 – assistant commandant, Marine Corps 1983–86
• Louis R. de Steiguer, Ohio University, 1887 – admiral; commander in chief, Battle Fleet, US Fleet, 1927–1928
• Julian J. Ewell, Duke University, 1936 – United States Army lieutenant general; Commander of Operation Speedy Express; commander of the 9th US Infantry Division
• Robert L. Ghormley, University of Idaho, 1903 – commander of all forces during the Guadalcanal campaign in WWII
• Arthur F. Gorham, Miami University, circa 1932 (uninitiated, transferred to West Point) – lieutenant colonel; commander, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment during Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily; twice awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
• Leonard D. Heaton, Denison College, 1923 – US major general Surgeon General
• Charles Horner, University of Iowa, 1958 – commander of NORAD North American Aerospace Defense Command; Commander of Allied Air Force for Desert Storm
• Edgar Jadwin, Lafayette College, 1888 – lieutenant general, chief of engineers 1926–1929
• David E. Jeremiah, University of Oregon, 1955 – admiral, acting chairman Joint Chief of Staffs, October 1993
• Edward P. King, University of Georgia, 1903 – major general, commanding officer, Bataan, World War II
• Eli Long, Indiana University, 1855 – major general, Union Army, Civil War
• John S. McCain, Sr., University of Mississippi, 1905 – vice admiral and commander of all land-based naval aircraft in the South Pacific, World War II
• Scott O'Grady, University of Washington, 1988 – USAF captain shot down over Bosnia, rescued six days later
• Edwin D. Patrick, Indiana University, 1916 – major general, commander of the 6th Infantry Division in WWII
• Bernard W. Rogers, Kansas State University, 1943 – general, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO
• Leroy W. Stutz, Washburn University, 1960 – Air Force colonel; spent 2,284 days as a prisoner of war during Vietnam
• Robert Taplett, University of South Dakota, 1940 – Navy Cross recipient, Korean War

Nobel Prize winners

• Adam G. Riess, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1992 – Physics, 2011

Religion

• Charles Minnigerode Beckwith, Bishop of Alabama
• Kirkman George Finlay, University of the South, 1900 – first Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
• Clare Purcell, Emory, 1910 – Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
• Ralph W. Sockman, Ohio Wesleyan, 1911 – evangelist, writer
• David Swing, Miami University, 1852 – founder of the Central Church of Chicago

Science and technology

• Powel Crosley Jr., University of Cincinnati, 1909 – inventor; owner of Cincinnati Reds
• Thomas Francis, Jr., Allegheny College, 1921 – physician, virologist, and epidemiologist; Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
• Drew Houston, MIT, 2006 – founder and CEO of Dropbox
• Mark Hurd, Baylor University, 1979 – former CEO of NCR Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, and Oracle Corporation
• Charles Peter McColough, Dalhousie University, 1943 – former chairman and CEO of Xerox
• Patrick Piemonte, Purdue University, 2004 – inventor and user interface designer
• Homer Clyde Snook, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1900 – inventor; electrical engineer

Sports

• Mike Racy, Washburn University, NCAA VP, MIAA Commissioner
• Mike Adamle, Northwestern University, 1971 – NFL safety, broadcaster
• Bill Austin, Oregon State College, 1949 – NFL lineman and head coach
• Terry Baker, Oregon State University, 1963 – NFL & CFL quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner, first selection of 1963 NFL draft, NCAA Final Four (basketball)
• Ernest Bearg, Washburn University, 1916 – head football coach, Washburn and University of Nebraska
• Jim Bowden, Rollins College, 1983 – MLB general manager, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals
• Richard R. Baggins, Case Western Reserve, 1901 – MLB pitcher, Cleveland Blues
• Rich Brooks, Oregon State University, 1963 – head football coach, University of Oregon, and St. Louis Rams (NFL), and University of Kentucky
• Randy Brown, University of Florida – MLB catcher
• Dave Burba, Ohio State University, 1988 – MLB pitcher
• Ron Cey, Washington State University, 1970 – MLB third baseman, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs
• Gunther Cunningham, University of Oregon, 1968 – NFL defensive coordinator, Kansas City Chiefs, former head coach
• Alvin Dark, Louisiana State University, 1945 – MLB infielder, manager; Rookie of the Year, 1948
• Dwight F. Davis, Washington University in St. Louis, 1899 – tennis player, namesake of the Davis Cup
• Eugene Davis, University of Virginia, 1899 – football coach; later a surgeon
• Morgan Ensberg, University of Southern California, 1998 – MLB infielder
• Weeb Ewbank, Miami University (Ohio), 1928 – NFL and AFL head coach; Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Scott Fortune, Stanford, 1988 – Olympic gold medalist, volleyball
• Ralph Friedgen, University of Maryland, 1970 – head coach, University of Maryland football
• Gary Gait, Syracuse University, 1990 – lacrosse, multiple All-American and NCAA champion
• Paul Gait, Syracuse University, 1990 – lacrosse, multiple All-American and NCAA champion
• Laddie Gale, University of Oregon, 1939 – Basketball Hall of Fame
• Lou Gehrig, Columbia University, 1925 – MLB first baseman, New York Yankees; Baseball Hall of Fame
• Jack Gelineau, McGill University, 1949 – NHL goaltender, Calder Memorial Trophy winner
• Matt Grevers, Northwestern University, 2007 – Olympic gold medalist, swimming
• Jack Ham, Penn State University, 1971 – NFL All-Pro linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Jack Harbaugh, Bowling Green University, 1961 – college football coach
• Tom Harmon, University of Michigan, 1941 – Heisman Trophy winner, broadcaster
• Tommy Moore, Stephen F. Austin University, 1966 - NFL official sidejudge, replay official
• Taner Hamzawi, Florida State University, 2006 - Arkansas head coach
• Terry Hoeppner, Franklin College, 1969 – college football coach
• Hughie Jennings, Cornell University, 1904 – MLB infielder, manager, Detroit Tigers, Baseball Hall of Fame
• Wilbur Johns, UCLA, 1925 – UCLA basketball coach and athletic director
• William Johnson, University of Kansas, 1933 – center, Basketball Hall of Fame
• Bob Locker, Iowa State, 1960 - MLB pitcher, played on 1972 World Series champion Oakland Athletics
• Don Meredith, Southern Methodist University, 1960 – NFL All-Pro quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
• Dick Nolan, University of Maryland, 1955 – former head coach, San Francisco 49ers
• J. T. O'Sullivan, U.C. Davis, 2002 – NFL quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
• Jim Otto, University of Miami, 1960 – NFL center, Oakland Raiders, Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Dave Parks, Texas Tech University, 1964 – NFL wide receiver, first selection of 1964 NFL draft, San Francisco 49ers
• William Porter Payne, University of Georgia, 1969 – president of Atlanta Olympic Committee, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club
• Grantland Rice, Vanderbilt University, 1901 – sportswriter
• Detlef Schrempf, University of Washington, 1986 – NBA All-Star forward
• Ted Schroeder, Stanford University, 1942 – tennis player, Wimbledon and US Open champion
• Jason Simontacchi, San Jose State University, 1996 – MLB pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals
• Russell Stewart, Washington & Lee University, 2012 – Gaglardi Award nominee, captain of record setting Phi Delta Theta Intramural Basketball team, only Division 3 player to score on offense, defense, special teams, and off the field
• Steve Tasker, Northwestern University, 1985 – NFL All-pro special teams player, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
• Zach Thomas, Texas Tech University, 1996 – NFL linebacker, Miami Dolphins
• Mike Timlin, Southwestern University, 1988 – MLB pitcher, four World Series championship teams
• Bill Toomey, University of Colorado, 1961 – Olympic gold medalist, 1968 decathlon
• Doak Walker, Southern Methodist University, 1950 – NFL All-Pro halfback, Detroit Lions, 1948 Heisman Trophy winner, Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Wayne Walker, University of Idaho, 1958 – NFL All-Pro linebacker, Detroit Lions (started all 15 seasons)
• Wes Welker, Texas Tech University, 2004 – NFL All-Pro wide receiver, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos
• Gary Williams, University of Maryland, 1968 – head basketball coach, University of Maryland

External links

• Collett, Ritter (1998). In the Bond: Phi Delta Theta at 150. Landfall Press
• Havighurst, Walter E. (1975). From Six at First: A History of Phi Delta Theta 1848–1973. George Banta Company, Inc.