Notable Alumni of the University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa (TU) has a rich history of producing accomplished graduates who have made significant contributions in various fields. From celebrities and politicians to business leaders, athletes, and legal professionals, TU alumni have left their mark on the world. This article highlights some of the most notable individuals who have attended the University of Tulsa, showcasing the diverse talent and impact of its graduates.
Arts and Literature
The Kendall College of Arts & Sciences boasts a renowned alumni network, with graduates leading their fields in Hollywood, the corporate world, law, and federal courts.
S.E. Hinton: Perhaps one of the most recognizable names in young adult literature, S.E. Hinton is the author of "The Outsiders," a best-selling novel that has resonated with generations of readers.
Ted Berrigan: A prominent figure in the New York School of poetry, Ted Berrigan, left an indelible mark on the literary world with his innovative and influential work.
Taylor Chukwu: A Nigerian American writer residing in Los Angeles, Taylor Chukwu (BA ‘18) began her career as a production assistant before optioning her comedy pilot, “Second Coming” with BET. Recently, she has worked as a staff writer on season two of “The Mysterious Benedict Society” on Disney+ and is in the process of developing a feature adaptation of Meena Harris’ children’s book, “The Truth about Mrs.
Read also: University of Georgia Sorority Guide
Rue McClanahan: An American actress best known for her roles on television sitcoms such as Maude, Mama's Family, and The Golden Girls. She graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude.
Jeanne Tripplehorn: An American actress who began her career on stage and has since starred in films such as Basic Instinct, The Firm, and Waterworld, as well as television series like Big Love and Criminal Minds.
Politics and Public Service
TU alumni have also made significant contributions to the world of politics and public service, serving in various elected and appointed positions at the local, state, and national levels.
Jim Inhofe: A former United States Senator from Oklahoma, Jim Inhofe, served in various elected offices in the state for nearly 60 years. He enrolled in the University of Tulsa and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1973.
Steve Largent: A former professional football wide receiver and politician, Steve Largent, represented Oklahoma's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1994 to 2002. He graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelor of Science in 1976.
Read also: History of the Block 'M'
Scott Pruitt: An American attorney, lobbyist, and Republican politician, Scott Pruitt, served as the 14th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the Donald Trump presidency.
Drew Edmondson: An American lawyer and politician from Oklahoma, Drew Edmondson, served as the 16th Attorney General of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2011.
Hani Abdulaziz Al Hussein: The CEO of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Hani Abdulaziz Al Hussein, earned a B.S. from the University of Tulsa.
Monroe Nichols: Monroe Nichols (BA ‘06) celebrated his historic win as the City of Tulsa’s first Black mayor. Prior to becoming mayor, Monroe was the first African American elected to represent District 72 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Business and Entrepreneurship
The University of Tulsa has produced numerous successful business leaders and entrepreneurs who have made their mark in various industries.
Read also: Legacy of Fordham University
Doug McMillon: As the current CEO of Walmart, Doug McMillon leads one of the world's largest and most influential companies. He received his M.B.A. from the University of Tulsa. Having first joined the company as a summer associate in high school, he became the company's fifth CEO in 2014. He previously led the company's Sam's Club division, from 2005 to 2009, and Walmart International, from 2009 to 2013.
Tareq Al-Suwaidan: A Kuwaiti Islamic author, speaker, and businessman, Tareq Mohammed Al-Suwaidan has been recognized as one of the 500 Most Influential Muslims.
Athletics
TU alumni have also excelled in the world of sports, achieving success at the professional and international levels.
Jordan Clarkson: An American and Filipino professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for two seasons with Tulsa before transferring to Missouri, where he earned second-team all-conference honors in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Nancy Lopez: A former professional golfer, Nancy Marie Lopez, became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won 48 LPGA Tour events, including three major championships.
Gus Frerotte: A former professional football player, Gustave Joseph Frerotte, was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tulsa.
Shaquille Harrison: An American professional basketball player for LDLC ASVEL of the LNB Élite and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Zaven Collins: An American professional football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tulsa, where he was named a unanimous All-American and won several defensive player of the year awards in 2020.
Charles Clay: An American former professional football tight end. He played college football at Tulsa and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft.
Paul Pressey: An American former professional basketball player who was also an assistant coach for seven different National Basketball Association (NBA) teams. Pressey is widely credited as being one of the initial point forwards, combining the attributes of a point guard and forward.
Jerome Jordan: A Jamaican professional basketball player who last played for RANS Simba Bogor of the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL). He played college basketball for the University of Tulsa and represents the Jamaica national team in international competition.
Todd Hays: A former American bobsledder who competed from 1994 to 2006. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he won the silver medal in the four-man event at Salt Lake City in 2002, breaking a 46-year medal drought for the US national bobsleigh team.
Steve Rogers: An American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos from 1973 to 1985.
Michael Ruffin: An American former professional basketball player who was previously working as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Bob St. Clair: An American professional football offensive tackle who played 11 seasons for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Francisco Dons and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Will Magnay: An Australian professional basketball player for the Tasmania JackJumpers of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played one season of college basketball for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Science and Technology
TU alumni have also made their mark in the fields of science and technology, contributing to advancements in various areas.
Marie Tharp: An American geologist and oceanographic cartographer, Marie Tharp, collaborated with geologist Bruce Heezen to produce the first scientific map of the Atlantic Ocean floor. Her cartography revealed a more detailed topography and multi-dimensional geographical landscape of the ocean bottom.
Daniel H. Wilson: An American author, television host, and robotics engineer, Daniel H. Wilson, is known for his books such as "How to Survive a Robot Uprising" and "Robopocalypse."
Legal Profession
The University of Tulsa College of Law has a distinguished Hall of Fame that honors alumni and friends for their contributions to the legal profession and support of the College of Law. The Hall of Fame is presented each spring at the TU Law Alumni Gala.
The Lifetime Achievement in Law Award recognizes individuals who have brought honor to the legal profession and society. The W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service is presented to alumni or individuals who have distinguished themselves in the legal field or other chosen profession and who embody high ethical standards and commitment to community service. The Ben Abney Cor Legis Award is given yearly to one TU College of Law inductee who has made a significant impact in the legal field by embodying the Heart of Law through a strong dedication to justice and humanity.
- Lee Levinson (JD ’76) - W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
- The Hon. Dawn Moody (BA ’96, JD ’99) - Benjamin P. Abney Cor Legis Award
- Clark O. Buck Colbert (B. C.) Franklin - W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
- Wendy Drummond (JD ’07) - Benjamin P. Abney Cor Legis Award
- Gov. Danny C. Williams, Sr. (JD ’91) - W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
- Stacy Leeds (JD ’97) - Benjamin P. Abney Cor Legis Award
- The Honorable T. Lane Wilson (BS ’89, JD ’94) - W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
- Marcia M.
- Terry W. West (LLB ’66) - Benjamin P. Abney Cor Legis Award
- M. Beverly K.
- Sidney G.
- Wm. Michael C.
- Rachel Blue (JD ’88) - W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
- The Honorable Dana Kuehn (JD ’96) - W. Thomas Coffman Award for Community Service
- Benjamin P.
- The Honorable Carlos J. Chappelle (JD ’80) (posthumous)
- The Honorable Danny C. Williams Sr.
- The Honorable John E.
- The Honorable Kathy L.
- Kathy R.
- William G.
- Janet K.
- The Honorable Daniel J.
- The Honorable Claire V.
- Sevier M. “Buddy” Fallis Jr.
- James O.
- Karen E.
- The Honorable W.
- John R.
- Sharon J.
- Honorable Charles S.
- Paul D.
- The Honorable William W. S.
- James E.
- Peter B.
- The Honorable Joseph W.
- The Honorable Robert D. Simms Sr.
- John L.
- The Honorable Charles L.
- Floyd L.
Other Notable Alumni
Phillip Calvin McGraw: Known professionally as Dr. Phil, is an American television personality and author, best known for hosting the talk show Dr. Phil. He holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, though he ceased renewing his license to practice psychology in 2006.
Paul Harvey: An American radio broadcaster for ABC News Radio. From 1951 to 2008, his programs reached as many as 24 million people per week.
Lovie Lee Smith: An American football coach. He has served as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL) and the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Wade Andrew Williams: An American actor. He is known for his various character roles, and for a major supporting role as correctional officer Brad Bellick on the Fox television series Prison Break and Father Cronin on The Bernie Mac Show.
Suhail Mohammed Faraj Al Mazroui: An Emirati businessman and politician, who has been serving as the minister of energy in the United Arab Emirates since March 2013.
Jamel McLean: An American professional basketball player for Kumamoto Volters of the B.League. Standing at 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m), he plays at the power forward and center positions.
Joyce Compton: An American actress.
Hank Haney: An American professional golf instructor best known for coaching Tiger Woods and two-time major championship winner Mark O'Meara. Haney is a graduate of the University of Tulsa.
Sam William Rutigliano: An American former football coach who is a television football analyst for WEWS, the ABC affiliate in Cleveland.
Todd Dennys Hays: A former American bobsledder who competed from 1994 to 2006.
James Edward Finks: An American professional football player, coach, and executive.
Carin Koch: She was captain of the 2015 European Solheim Cup team.
Steve Logan: An American football coach who was recently the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football (AAF).
Louis G. Spanos: An American college football coach. He is a defensive analyst for the University of Mississippi, a position he has held since 2023.
Ronald Allan Luce: The co-founder and president of Teen Mania Ministries which was located in Garden V…
tags: #university #of #tulsa #notable #alumni
Popular posts:
