Outstanding Alumni
The outstanding alumni below who have an asterisk beside their names have received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. This award recognizes an alumnus who has distinguished himself/herself in either a professional or humanitarian capacity on a national or international level. This recognition is given when deemed appropriate by the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Executive Director and International Officers.
| *Dr. Charles W. Branch
President, Chattanooga State Technical Community College Spartanburg Junior College, SC Awarded in 1974 |
Carol M. Browner
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Miami-Dade College, FL |
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| *The Honorable Larry Chesley
Vietnam P.O.W.; Author; Arizona State Senator Weber College, UT Awarded in 1976 |
*Judge Eugene A. Cook
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| *Dr. James Davis
Member, Virginia House of Delegates; President of Shenandoah University Ferrum College, VA Awarded in 1980 |
*Dr. Sylvia Earle
Oceanographer; Researcher St. Petersburg College, FL Awarded in 2000 |
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| *Dr. Marvin R. Felder
President, Temple Junior College Wharton County Junior College, TX Awarded in 1974 |
*Dr. Joe B. Frantz
Texas Historian; Author Weatherford College, TX Awarded in 1971 |
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| *Dr. Janice Freeman
Distinguished Science Professor, Texas A&M University University Del Mar College, TX Awarded in 1975 |
*Dr. Joyce Freeman
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| *The Honorable Reynaldo G. Garza
Senior Judge, U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Texas Southmost College, TX Awarded in 1993 |
*Rudy Gatlin
Grammy Award-winning Country Western Musician Odessa College, TX Awarded in 1981 |
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| *David C. Gruel
Jet Propulsion Laboratory Test Engineer; Flight Director for Mars Pathfinder Project Holyoke Community College, MA Awarded in 1998 |
*Fred Haise
Apollo 13 Mission Lunar Module Pilot Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, MS Awarded in 1970 |
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| *Mayor Clarence Harmon
Mayor of St. Louis, MO St. Louis Community College, MO Awarded in 2000 |
*Admiral B.R. Inman
Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Tyler Junior College, TX Awarded in 1985 |
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Rich Karlgaard
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*H. Ben Kinchlow
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*Dr. Jeane J. Kirkpatrick
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*Jim Lehrer
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*Dr. Joseph A. Malik
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*Dr. Thomas J. Malone
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| *Monte Markham
Actor - Stage, Film, Television Palm Beach Community College, FL Awarded in 1973 |
*Randal McDonald
Chief Executive Officer of Pennzoil Corporation Wharton County Junior College, TX Awarded in 1990 |
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*Dr. W. Kendall McNabney
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*Dr. Paul David Mork
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*Margaret Mosal
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*The Honorable Francine Neff
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*Dr. Beverly H. Oliphant
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*Dr. Arnulfo L. Oliviera
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| *H. Ross Perot
International Businessman; 1992 United States Presidential Candidate Texarkana College, TX Awarded in 1977 |
*Thomas Hal Phillips
Author; Screenwriter Hinds Community College, MS Awarded in 1972 |
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| *Caleb Pirtle
Author; Filmmaker Kilgore College, TX Awarded in 1974 |
*The Honorable Howard Pollock
Alaska's First United States Congressman Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, MS Awarded in 1970 |
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*Dr. William Roper
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*Dr. Alfredo G. de los Santos
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| Dannette Sheppard
Featured vocalist, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus Bronx Community College, NY |
*Dr. David H. Shinn
United States Ambassador, Ethiopia Yakima Valley Community College, WA Awarded in 1995 |
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| *Iris Futoranaky Siff
Managing and Artistic Director, Alley Theatre Tyler Junior College, TX Awarded in 1981 |
*The Honorable Ike Skelton
United States Congressman, Missouri Wentworth Military Academy, MO Awarded in 1992 |
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| Jeffrey William Smoke
Member of 2004 United States Olympic Kayaking Team Holy Cross College, IN Beta Epsilon Rho |
*Gerald Steichen
Conductor, New York City Opera and New Haven Symphony Orchestra Northern Oklahoma College, OK Awarded in 2004 |
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| *Lee F. Sword
Jet Propulsion Laboratory Lead Engineer, Mars Pathfinder Project Pima Community College, AZ Awarded in 1998 |
*Dr. Billy Thames President, Copiah-Lincoln Junior College Copiah-Lincoln Junior College, MS Awarded in 1974 |
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| Sela Ward
Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning Actress Meridian Community College, MS |
Michael Weiss
Three-Time US National Ice Skating Champion Two-time World Bronze Medalist Member of US Olympic Ice Skating Team Prince Georges Community College, MD |
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| *Dr. Jerome F. Weynand
President, San Antonio College and St. Phillips College San Antonio College, TX Awarded in 1974 |
*Dr. Jean Woolfolk
Former National Treasurer, Phi Theta Kappa Little Rock Junior College, AR Awarded in 1979 |
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| *Trisha Yearwood
Grammy Award-winning Country Western Musician Young Harris College, GA Awarded in 2002 |
