Please email alumni@wtamu.edu if you know of notable WT Alumni who should be added to the list.

Professional Notables  |   COB Notables   |  Military Notables   |   WT Athletics

Professional Notables

• Cindy (Pearce) Barnes, '78, '79, Originally from Big Spring, Texas, a twenty-two-year employee of WT, retired WT Director of Advising and Retention, assisted many WT students with their college experience, trainer for WT Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Teams, member of WT Women's Rifle and Softball Teams, continues to actively research and support Historical WT Women's Athletes
• Gary W. Barnes, '78, Originally from Plainview, Texas, Texas Tech University Vice-Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer
• Karen Ann Baggerly, '75, RN, MSN, CCRN, NE-BC, Covenant Health System Regional Chief Nursing Executive, Retired-2022. Caring nurse with Lubbock Methodist Hospital/Covenant Health System for forty-five years, served as President of South Plains Organization for Nursing Leadership, and member of Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership. Honored with the 2006 Woman Of Excellence Award For Medicine and honored with the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Leadership in Healthcare, TTUHSC.
• Myra (Millard) Bennett '78, Myra has founded and run several business operations and is currently the Founder and COO of The Tire Tag, LLC. While attending WT, Myra played Volleyball in 1974, 1975, and 1977.
• Mody C. Boatright 1922, folklorist, educator, author
• Ulane Bonnel '40, naval historian 
• Trevor Brazile, Professional Rodeo Cowboy; All Around Cowboy; inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame; record number for most PRCA World Championships titles with 26
• Candace Camp '71, author
• Sandra L. (Callahan) Cardoza, '92, '95, '01, Originally from California, member of WT Volleyball two time NCAA DII National Championship Team, WT Volleyball All-American, member of WT Athletic Hall of Champions, Stanford Healthcare Trans catheter Heart Valve Program, Nurse Coordinator, continues to be Loyal to WT and to WT Volleyball, worked with WT Volleyball Research for Endowed Scholarship Funds
• Irma Carrillo Ramirez '86, is an American lawyer and jurist serving as a United States Circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She previously served as a United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas from 2002 to 2023.
• Brad Garner '78, '79, professional flutist
• Susan Gibson, CMA award-winning songwriter of "Wide Open Spaces"
• Kay Lynn Hagar, '79, '94, Originally from Oklahoma, Forty-one Year Employee of WT, Retired WT Assistant Vice-President of Student Life and Student Judicial Affairs, assisted many students with their college career
• J. Evetts Haley, historian and political activist
• John L. Hasse, '73, '74, Originally from Pampa, Texas Forty-four Year Employee of WT, retired member of WT Athletic Hall of Champions, assisted and counseled many students throughout the years, long-time Canyon Community service volunteer, recognized as the "Most Knowledgeable of WT History and Heritage"
• Cassie Daniel Howell '08 was the first WT student to be appointed to serve as Student Regent to the Texas A&M University System. She is now the chief of staff for Texas Rep. Candy Noble and was honored as one of the 40 Under 40 in her field. 
• Rellie Kaputin '18, won the national title in the triple jump. Represented her home country of Papua New Guinea at the 2020 Olympics in the long jump. Rellie finished 19th
• Suzanne Kay (Koetting) Ledbetter '82, Agricultural Writer and Communications Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, formerly Farm and Ranch Editor for Amarillo Globe News, recognized as One of the Best and Most Knowledgeable Writer of Agricultural Issues, including Water Resources and Conversation of the Ogallala Aquifer.
• Kaylee Anne Keith '12, Miss West Texas 2011, NBA Cheerleader/Dancer for San Antonio Spurs 2012-2013
• Steve Kragthorpe '88, college football head coach
• Buddy Knox '56, recording artist 
• Monty Lewis '03, Professional Rodeo Cowboy; 2004 World Champion Tie-Down Roper
• Mr. Alvin Ray Lynn - '61, '75, Teacher, Author, Historian, Archeologist – Lynn played football for WT, playing on the 1957 Tangerine Bowl Team.  He also researched and wrote the book, "Kit Carson and the First Battle of Adobe Walls - A Tale of Two Journeys"
• Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks
• Steven C. McCraw '79, '81, Texas Director of Department of Public Safety
• Dr. Linda J. (Caswell) McMurry, '78, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Originally from O'Donnell, Texas Executive Director of Lubbock, Larry Combest Community Health and Wellness Center, Texas Tech University Associate Dean for Clinical Services and Community Engagement, Texas Tech University Associate Professor of the School of Nursing
• Dr. Evelyn Milam '42, President, Cottey College
• Donna Marie (Musshorn) Miller '78, author
• Grace May (Winkelman) Warwick, WTSNC 1911, member of first WTSNC Athletic Planning Committee, Fall of 1910, President of WTSNC Girls Athletic Association, 1910-1911, Tri-Captain and Guard on First WTSNC Women's Basketball Team, Treasurer of WT Ex-Students Association -1921-1922, Director of WT Ex-Students Association, 1940-1941 and 1955-1956, compiler and main writer of "The Randall County Story", 1969, long time writer and editor with husband of Canyon News, and active Canyon civic volunteer
• Mrs. Helen Neal '62, the first African American graduate of West Texas State University
• Dr. Fred Oberst 1927, medical researcher, biochemist, teacher
• Georgia O'Keeffe, artist (faculty member)
• Shanna Peeples '97, 2015 National Teacher of the Year
• Ana Cristina Pereira, All-American, finished 9th place in beach volleyball at the 2000 Olympics for Portugal
• Anita Thigpen Perry '74, former First Lady of Texas
• Kendra Morgan Potts '04, All-American; head coach of the 2022 National Champion and 2023 National Runner-Up WT Lady Buffs Volleyball team
• Donald Powell '63, former Chairman of the FDIC and Current Federal Coordinator of Gulf Coast Rebuilding
• Jay Olin Reed '42, WT football player (number retired), coach, teacher, and administrator
• Bruce Robison, hit country songwriter ("Travelin' Soldier", Angry All The Time, Desperately) and singer
• Rolla H. Shaller Jr. '69, Archeologist and Historian, was often consulted by professional and amateur Archeologists and Historians regarding his vast knowledge of Texas Archeology and Texas History
• Marsha Sharp '76, women's basketball coach
• Stran T. Smith '07, Professional Rodeo Cowboy; 2008 World Champion Tie-Down Roper
• Red Steagall '60, country singer and Western poet
• French Stewart, actor
• Claudia Stuart '72, '85, 2023 Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction, WT Professor Emeritus, 2021 WT Distinguished Alumni
• Arlene L. (Bern) Tellman ’84, testified before the United States Senate in 1987 which brought about the change in the Title IX Law and regulation that Title IX applied to all programs including Women's Intercollegiate Athletics
• Dr. Doug Watson '72, Professor of English, inducted into to Oklahoma Education Hall of Fame
• Shea Woodard-Hall '88, retired from the United States Senate after 30 years of service as the West Texas Regional Outreach Director for Senators Ted Cruz and Kay Bailey Hutchinson

Paul & Virginia Engler College of Business Notables

• Joseph C. Austin '79, {CIS}
• Ray Bain
  
• Larry Combest '69, politician {BBA}
• Nell Foust
• Dickie Hunter '78, '80, {BS Agri-Business & Economics, MBA}
• Bill Klesse '73 {MBA}
• John G. O'Brien '10 {Doctor of Education}
• Helen Piehl '71 {BBA Business Education}
• R. Dyke Rogers '70 {BBA General Business, Economics}
• Stanley T. Sigman, AT&T Mobility CEO {BBA General Business, English}
• John T. Smithee '73, Texas state representative since 1985 {BBA Business}
• Johnny Trotter '15, {honorary doctorate}
• Hazel Kelley Wilson, {honorary doctorate}

Military Notables     Thank you for your Service to Our Country

• William Cephus '74, awarded the Bronze Star for valor in Operation Desert Storm
• Captain Ronald E. Childress Jr. '01, awarded the Bronze Star for service during Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Brigadier General Jesse Cross, U.S. Army, Retired, 50th Quartermaster General of the Army's Quartermaster Center and School, Bronze Star, Distinguished Member of the Quartermaster Regiment
• Major General Ralph Pittman Cousins 1911, U.S. Army major general during World War II, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Force West Coast Training Center
• Colonel Ronny Fryar (1982-1985), {BSMT}, U.S. Army, Retired. Persian Gulf War. Medical Technologist/Specialist in Blood Banking. Served as the Director of the U.S. Army Blood Program and Consultant to the Army Surgeon General. Deputy Commander, Brooke Army Medical Center.
• Captain Joe Warren Gill, WTSTC Student, member of Canyon Unit of National Guard: 1937-1940, United States Army, 36th Division "The Texas Division" "The T-Patchers", 2nd Battalion, 142 Infantry Regiment, Rifle Companies E, F., and G: 1940-1945. World War II Fought in the North African Campaign, in the Italian Campaign, and in the European Campaign. Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver and Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman Badge. Honored as a Veteran: Freedom Museum USA: Panhandle Veterans Hall of Honor, Military Hall of Honor, Written-up in the Book The Texas Army A History of the 36th Division in the Italian Campaign, pages 82-83 and page 165.
• Major General Raymond Earl Haddock '58, Retired, Served as Commander of U.S. Army Berlin during the last period of divided Berlin, WT ROTC Hall of Fame
• Lt. Colonel Robert Lowell Hite (1938-1940), US Army Air Corps (US Air Force) Retired, World War II and Korean War Veteran.   Lt. Col. Hite was the co-pilot in the Doolittle Raider, B-25 Plane #16 "Bat Out of Hell".  He was captured and imprisoned by the Japanese for 40 months.  He has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Chinese Breast Order of Pao Ting, and Congressional Gold Medal, and is a Member of the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame and Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame.
• Colonel Rolla (Ed) Peschke '69, Retired, Decorated Veteran of Vietnam War and Desert Storm/Shield, US Army designated "Distinguished Rifleman", and military author. While at WTSU, ranked 19th nationally among other colligate riflemen. Honored by several military societies for lifetime contributions to their organizations.
• Lt. Colonel Tommy G. Pool '57, Member of the WT ROTC Rifle Team. Lt. Colonel Pool was a member and coach of the US Army Marksmanship Unit.  He earned six gold, five silver, and six bronze shooting medals in National and International competitions during His Army Career. The US Army Marksmanship Unit International Range Complex at Fort Benning is named for Lt. Colonel Tommy G. Pool.
• Brigadier General Dr. Darryl H. Powell, MC '56, U.S. Army, Retired, Chief of Staff Big Spring VA Medical Center, WT ROTC Hall of Fame
• Major General Elvin Jay Schofield '59, '70, U.S. Army, Retired, Commander 90th Army Reserve, WT ROTC Hall of Fame, The Elvin Jay Schofield Collection is on file in the Veterans History Project of the US Library of Congress
• Ernie Vela, U.S. Army Major, awarded two bronze medals for work in Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Joe Don Vela Jr., U.S. Army Captain, awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service during hostile operations in Vietnam
• Colonel Don R. Watson '66, Retired, Vietnam Veteran, headed the committee for WT's Veterans' Memorial, WT ROTC Hall of Fame
• Major General Dr. James E. Whinnery, MD '68, U.S. Air National Guard, Retired, Assistant to the USAF Surgeon General

Click here for a list of WT Soldiers who lost their lives in service to our country. 

WT Athletics

The WT Athletic Hall of Champions recognizes the finest student-athletes, coaches, administrators and other notable individuals who have contributed to the success of West Texas A&M Athletics. Please click here to see these notable Buffs and Lady Buffs.

Click here for a History of Women's Athletics.