Drake University - Notable Alumni

Notable Alumni

• Brian Albright, scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, past University of California, Los Angeles lecturer.
• Steve Allen, comedian
• Lew Anderson, musician and voice of Clarabell the Clown
• Chris Ash, Defensive Backs Coach of the Wisconsin Badgers football team
• John August, screenwriter.
• Rose Bampton, principal singer at the Metropolitan Opera during the 1930s and 1940s.
• Steve Bannos, film actor and writer
• Tom Bienemann, NFL defensive end
• Jon Bowermaster, oceans expert, journalist, filmmaker and adventurer
• Terry E. Branstad, former, longest serving, and current Governor of Iowa.
• Archie R. Boe, former Chairman and CEO of the Allstate Corporation, and former president, Sears, Roebuck
• James E. Bowman, Tuskegee Airman and former assistant superintendent of the Des Moines School District
• The Honorable Judge Gregory Brandt, of the Polk County District Court
• Johnny Bright, member of the College and Canadian Football Hall of Fame
• Bill Bryson, author.
• Waldo Don Carlos, NFL center.
• Johnnie Carson, career diplomat.
• Joseph Chaikin, Founder of the Open Theater, theater director, actor, author.
• George A. Cohon, Founder of McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited and McDonald's in Russia
• Julee Cruise, singer and actress.
• Chet Culver, former Governor of Iowa.
• Billy Cundiff, NFL placekicker.
• Mark DeCarlo, TV and film actor, comedian, host of Taste of America television show, cartoon voice actor
• Gabriel de Obarrio III, Assicurazioni Generali, S.p.A. C.E.O. (Panama Branch)
• Joey Donia, sports reporter for ABC5 in Des Moines, Iowa
• Mark Doty, poet
• Michael Emerson, Emmy-winning actor, plays Ben Linus on the television show Lost
• George Gardner Fagg, United States federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• Bridget Flanery, actress
• Bill Gates, Phoenix city councilman
• Susan Glaspell, author
• Arne Harris, producer–director for Chicago Cubs on WGN-TV.
• Robert Helmick, former president of the US Olympic committee.
• Ezra Hendrickson, professional soccer player
• Joseph Hermann, conductor, clarinetist and music educator; President of the American Bandmasters Association
• Joseph C. Howard, Sr., Judge, United States District Court for the District of Maryland (1979–2000)
• Cuthbert Hurd (1911–1996) computer pioneer
• Scott Jensen, Wisconsin politician
• Virginia Johnson, Costume Supervisor for The Social Network, and various film and T.V. projects.
• Zach Johnson, PGA golfer, 2007 Masters champion.
• Emma Verona Johnston, oldest living American until May 2004.
• Karl Kassulke, NFL player.
• Ira Levin, author.
• Timothy Ley, an American hematologist, oncologist and cancer biologist.
• Darrell R. Lindsey, Medal of Honor recipient.
• Kenneth A. Macke, former CEO and Chairman of Dayton Hudson Corporation (since renamed Target Corporation)
• Al McCoy, sports broadcaster, voice of the Phoenix Suns.
• Sherrill Milnes, operatic baritone.
• Clark R. Mollenhoff, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.
• John M. Mathew, President and chief executive officer of Wick Communications Company.
• Dick Oatts, Jazz saxophonist
• Dwight D. Opperman, former CEO of West Publishing Company.
• Charles Partridge, Defensive Line and Specialists Coach of the Wisconsin Badgers football team
• Jeremy Piven, actor (attended; did not graduate)
• Max Plenke, author
• Robert D. Ray, former Governor of Iowa.
• Franny Starkey Sanguin, Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady (Michelle Obama)
• David N. Senty, U.S. Air Force Major General
• William A. Staples, president of the University of Houston–Clear Lake
• Phil Stong, author of "State Fair"
• Matthew Stover, author of fantasy and science fiction, including the novelization of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
• Sara Taylor, former Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Political Affairs in the George W. Bush administration
• Fred L. Turner, former Chairman of McDonald's
• Sam Wanamaker, actor
• Brian Wansink, Cornell University professor and author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think
• Larry Whiteside, award-winning sportswriter.
• Harley Wilhelm, Manhattan Project scientist and inventor.
• Ann Williams, member of the Illinois House of Representatives
• Roger Williams, musician and composer
• Rex Wockner, journalist
• David L. Wolper, television and film producer
• Felix Wright, former CFL and NFL safety
• Larry Zimpleman, President and CEO of Principal Financial Group