Marquette University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Marquette University, over its long history, has fostered a diverse array of talented individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields. From athletics and entertainment to journalism, politics, and business, Marquette alumni have left an indelible mark on the world.
Athletics: Champions on and off the Court
Marquette University boasts a rich athletic tradition, producing numerous professional athletes and leaders in the sports industry.
- Dwyane Wade: Widely regarded as one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history, Wade led the Miami Heat to three NBA championships. He is Miami's all-time leader in points, games played, assists, steals, shots made, and shots taken. He was drafted into the NBA after his junior year at Marquette.
- Jimmy Butler: Known as "Jimmy Buckets", Butler is a professional basketball player currently playing for the Miami Heat. He is a six-time NBA All-Star and a five-time All-NBA Team member. Before joining the NBA, Butler played for Marquette after transferring from Tyler Junior College.
- Glenn "Doc" Rivers: Rivers, now the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, had a successful career as an NBA player and coach. He led the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship in 2008.
- Juan Toscano-Anderson: Toscano-Anderson won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2022.
- Maurice Lucas: Lucas played as a power forward on the Portland Trail Blazers, helping lead the team to a title in 1977.
- Jim Chones: A native of Racine, Wisconsin, Chones played for Marquette in the ’70s. Later he went pro and won an NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Butch Lee: The first Puerto Rican basketball player in the NBA, Lee also became the first Puerto Rican player to win an NBA Championship when the Los Angeles Lakers won in 1980.
- Ralph Metcalfe: Metcalfe was America’s lead sprinter from 1932-34 and won a gold medal as a part of the 1936 4×100 relay team.
- Dean Meminger: Dean “The Dream” Meminger was first drafted to the New York Knicks in 1971 and played as their point guard. In 1973, he helped lead the Knicks to an NBA Championship.
- Wesley Matthews: Played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles. He is the son of former NBA player Wes Matthews.
- Steve Novak: Played college basketball at Marquette University. Novak split time at both small forward and power forward. He was the NBA regular season leader in three point percentage during the 2011-12 season.
- Sam Hauser: Played college basketball for Marquette and, in his senior season, the Virginia Cavaliers.
Arts and Entertainment: From Comedy to the Silver Screen
Marquette University has fostered a vibrant arts and entertainment scene, producing acclaimed actors, comedians, writers, and musicians.
- Chris Farley: A 1986 graduate of Marquette, Farley became a household name as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live." He was known for his energetic and physical comedy.
- Bob Odenkirk: Odenkirk is best known for his role as Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill on Breaking Bad (2008-2013) and its spin-off Better Call Saul (2015-2022).
- Danny Pudi: Pudi is known for his role as Abed Nadir on the NBC sitcom Community (2009-2015), for which he received three nominations for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and one nomination for the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy.
- Amy Madigan: Madigan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the 1985 film Twice in a Lifetime.
- Adam Stockhausen: Oscar-winning production designer of Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.
- Jeannie Noth Gaffigan: The critically acclaimed show "The Jim Gaffigan Show" was written and coproduced by Jeannie Noth Gaffigan and inspired by the Gaffigan family’s own life.
- Ivy Awino: Known professionally as Poizon Ivy, Awino became the first female to DJ the NBA All-Star game in 2018.
Journalism and Publishing: Telling Stories That Matter
Marquette's journalism program has produced Pulitzer Prize winners and influential media figures who have shaped public discourse.
- John Machacek: Machacek and Richard Cooper were awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1972 for their coverage of the Attica, New York, prison riot in the Rochester Times-Union.
- Margo Huston: Huston received a Pulitzer Prize in 1977 for her reports on the elderly and the process of aging in the Milwaukee Journal.
- Jacqui Banaszynski: Banaszynski was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for her feature series about AIDS victims in a rural farm community, published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch.
- George Lardner Jr.: Lardner Jr. won a Pulitzer Prize in 1993.
- Joan Biskupic: A current legal assistant for CNN and an author, Biskupic has written four biographies on Supreme Court justices John Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor, Anton Scalia and Sandra Day O’Connor.
- James Foley: Freelance journalist who was detained in Libya and later Syria in 2012.
- Tom Snyder: Television personality, news anchor, and radio personality best known for his late night talk shows Tomorrow, on NBC in the 1970s and 1980s, and The Late Late Show, on CBS in the 1990s.
Politics and Law: Shaping Policy and Justice
Marquette University has a strong tradition of producing leaders in politics and law, including senators, governors, and legal professionals.
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- Joseph McCarthy: McCarthy was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin who gained notoriety for his anti-communist campaigns during the Cold War.
- Scott Walker: Walker served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019.
- Kristina Keneally: Keneally served as the first female Premier of New South Wales from 2009 to 2011 and was later a Labor Senator for New South Wales from February 2018 until April 2022.
- Rachel Lindsay: Lindsay is an American media personality, attorney and podcaster. She is best known for her role as a contestant on the twenty-first season of ABC's The Bachelor and as the lead of its spinoff, The Bachelorette, in its thirteenth season.
- Kathleen Zellner: An American attorney who has worked extensively in wrongful conviction advocacy.
- John G. Schmitz: A Republican member of the United States House of Representatives and California State Senate from Orange County, California.
Business and Technology: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Marquette alumni have made significant contributions to the business world, founding successful companies and pioneering technological advancements.
- Marcus Lemonis: Lemonis is the chairman and CEO of Camping World, Good Sam Enterprises, and Beyond. He is also known for his role as the star of The Profit.
- Patrick Haggerty: Haggerty was the co-founder and later president of Texas Instruments. Under his leadership, the single-chip microprocessor and the hand-held electronic calculator were created.
- Dick Burke: Founded Trek Bikes.
- Chuck Swoboda: Led the LED light revolution.
- Bill Feess: Credited as an early pioneer of global positioning system technologies.
- Dick Leinenkugel: Past president of Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company.
- Jim Sartori: CEO of Sartori Co.
- Mark Rampolla: Created Zico coconut water.
- Bob Mosher: Co-invented Bagel Bites.
Service and Leadership: Making a Difference in the World
Many Marquette alumni have dedicated their lives to service and leadership, working in nonprofits, government, and other organizations to improve the lives of others.
- Mary Bruggeman Swift and Christopher J. Swift: Recipients of the Alumni of the Year Award for their dedication and faith.
- Lisa Ross: Recognized for her dedication to service, mentorship, and faith in the communications industry.
- William "Bill" Krueger: Honored with the Service Award for his faith, service, excellence, and leadership.
- Jenna Santoianni: A leader in the entertainment industry, building community on and off screen and nurturing Marquette’s alumni network on the West Coast.
- Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock: Became the first Black female to serve as a brigadier general in the Marine Corps.
- Kristin Stoniecki: Served as a White House nurse for Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
- Dr. Shital (Chauhan) Vora: Co-founded Global Brigades, a nonprofit focused on resolving health and economic disparities.
- Dr. Arnold Mitchem: Served as the president of the Council for Opportunity in Education.
Other Notable Alumni
Marquette University has also produced notable alumni in various other fields, including:
- Peter Boghossian: Philosopher and college professor.
- Rondell Sheridan: Television actor, comedian, and television director.
- Scott Hahn: Catholic theologian and Christian apologist.
- Peter Bonerz: American actor and director.
- George Allen: American football coach.
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