Hanover College: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Hanover College, the oldest private college in Indiana, boasts a distinguished history of producing successful graduates across diverse fields. Situated on a picturesque, wooded campus overlooking the Ohio River, the college has fostered an environment of academic excellence and personal growth since its founding. With a commitment to its Presbyterian affiliation and a curriculum that encourages both intellectual exploration and community engagement, Hanover has shaped the lives of numerous individuals who have gone on to make significant contributions to society. This article explores the lives and achievements of some of Hanover College's most notable alumni.
Academics and Education
Hanover College has a strong tradition of producing leaders in academia and education.
John Merle Coulter (1870), a distinguished botanist, served as a professor at Hanover College, Wabash College, and the University of Chicago. He also held the esteemed position of President at both Indiana University and Lake Forest University.
James Kennedy Patterson, who immigrated from Scotland to Indiana in 1842, attended Hanover College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1856 and a Master of Arts degree in 1859. He became the first president of the University of Kentucky.
Jonathan Edwards served as the sixth president of Hanover College and later became the first president of Washington & Jefferson College after the union of Washington College and Jefferson College.
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William Abbott Oldfather, born in Iran, was an influential classical scholar who established strong academic traditions in classical studies at the University of Illinois and conducted significant research on ancient Locris in Greece.
Charles Reid Barnes was an American botanist who specialized in bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts). He also served as co-editor of the Botanical Gazette for over 25 years.
Stanley Coulter (1870) served as the Dean of School of Sciences at Purdue University.
Wilbur Young (1930) served as Indiana’s Superintendent of Schools from 1951-1959, during which time he consolidated schools in Indiana, improved graduation rates, and authored a book on building better schools.
Politics and Law
Hanover College has a long-standing tradition of producing leaders in the realms of politics and law.
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Mike Pence, graduated in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in history, served as the 48th Vice President of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. Prior to his role as Vice President, Pence represented Indiana in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013.
Eric Holcomb (1990), the 51st Governor of Indiana (2017-2025), previously served as the 51st Lieutenant Governor of Indiana under Governor Mike Pence.
Thomas A. Hendricks was the 16th Governor of Indiana (1873-1877) and the 21st Vice President of the United States (March to November 1885). He also served in the U.S. Senate (1863-1869) and the Indiana General Assembly (1848-1850).
Albert Gallatin Porter served as the 19th Governor of Indiana (1881-1885) and as a United States Congressman from 1859 to 1863.
Walter L. Fisher served as United States Secretary of the Interior under President William Howard Taft from 1911 to 1913.
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William Hayden English was a U.S. Representative from Indiana (1853 to 1861) and the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1880.
Barclay Henley was an attorney and politician who served two terms as United States Representative from California from 1883 to 1887.
Greenleaf Fisk was a member of the Republic of Texas House of Representatives and a Chief Justice in Bastrop, Texas.
William A. served as Representative from Indiana from 1909 to 1917.
Samuel Gordon Daily was an American politician from the Nebraska Territory.
Robert J. served as Representative from Indiana from 1895 to 1897.
Arthur B. served as Representative from Kentucky.
John Green was an Indiana lawyer, judge, and politician, serving in the Indiana State Senate (1857-59, 1869-71) and as a common pleas court judge (1860-64).
Algernon Sydney Sullivan was an American lawyer noted for his role in the business law firm Sullivan & Cromwell.
Arts and Entertainment
Hanover College has also produced notable figures in the arts and entertainment industry.
Woody Harrelson, graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts, is a renowned actor known for his roles in the NBC sitcom "Cheers" (1985-1993) and films such as "The People vs. Larry Flynt" (1996), "The Messenger" (2009), and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (2017).
Ginnifer Goodwin studied theatre from 1996-1997, is an accomplished actress who has starred in the HBO drama series "Big Love" (2006-2011), the ABC fantasy series "Once Upon a Time" (2011-2018), and the series "Why Women Kill" (2019).
Carol Warner Shields (1957) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
Judith Moffett is an American author and academic who has published poetry, non-fiction, science fiction, and translations of Swedish literature.
James W. served as House of Representatives.
William Ross Wallace (1836) was a poet.
Joyce Hopewell Brinkman (1966) served as the First poet laureate of Indiana.
Monica Sone (1946), author of noted memoir Nisei Daughter.
Business and Entrepreneurship
Hanover College alumni have also made their mark in the world of business and entrepreneurship.
George Washington Brackenridge was a philanthropist and businessman who expanded the University of Texas through his donations of time, land holdings, and wealth.
James Graham Brown (1902) was a philanthropist, businessman, and real estate developer.
John Resig (2001) co-founded Resignation Media, LLC in August 2007 and launched theCHIVE.com in November 2008.
Bob Schults (1964), Former CEO of Shaklee.
John Shoemaker (1964), Retired Executive Vice President of Sun Microsystems.
Peter Dunn 2000, financial author, radio host, television personality, and speaker.
Science and Technology
Harvey Washington Wiley (1867) was an American chemist who advocated successfully for the passage of the landmark Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and subsequently worked at the Good Housekeeping Institute laboratories. He was the first commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Reginald H. Thomson (1877), a civil engineer who designed modern Seattle.
James A. Lake (1965), Retired Associate Laboratory Director of Nuclear Programs, Idaho National Laboratory.
Harold K. Voris (1962), Curator and Head of the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.
Athletics
Micah Shrewsberry (1999), head coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Brett Dietz is the head football coach for DePauw University. Dietz played college football at Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana.
Fred V. Archer was the head football coach for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux football team.
Tony Vittorio (1988), college baseball coach at IPFW and Dayton.
Mike Leonard (1984), Head Football Coach for Franklin College.
Other Notable Alumni
Colonel Leslie MacDill (1909) was an early aviation pioneer and US Army Air Corps officer, namesake of MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, headquarters of US CENTCOM.
Thom Mayer (1973), Command physician at the Pentagon during 911 and Medical Director of the NFL Players Association (NFL).
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