16 Notable alumni of College of Idaho
Updated: June 16, 2026 EliteDegrees
College of Idaho is ranked #4,425 in the world and #1,151 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 16 notable alumni from College of Idaho sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with College of Idaho won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Tom Throop
1947-. (aged 79)
politician
Thomas Huling Throop is a former Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He represented District 54 of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1979 to 1987 and then served for eight years as a member of the Deschutes County Commission.
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2. Forest Rohwer
1969-. (aged 57)
virologist
university teacher
researcher
ecologist
inventor
Forest Rohwer is an American microbial ecologist and Professor of Biology at San Diego State University. His particular interests include coral reef microbial ecology and viruses as both evolutionary agents and opportunistic pathogens in various environments.
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3. Bucky Halker
1954-. (aged 72)
music historian
Clark "Bucky" Halker is an American academic, music historian, labor activist, singer and songwriter who specializes in American folk music. Halker is best known for his work on labor protest songs, Illinois folk music, and his involvement with the preservation of Woody Guthrie's musical legacy. He is a recipient of the American Folklife Center's Archie Green Fellowship.
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4. Edward Lodge
1933-. (aged 93)
lawyer
judge
Edward James Lodge is an American jurist who is an inactive senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Idaho in Boise, Idaho.
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5. John McGee
1973-. (aged 53)
politician
John McGee is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Idaho Senate, representing the 10th district from 2004 to 2012. He also served as the majority caucus chairman. He resigned in February 2012 following an accusation of sexual harassment.
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6. Chuck Winder
politician
Chuck Winder is an American politician and former Republican member of the Idaho Senate. He served as the president pro tempore of the Idaho Senate and as the majority leader. He is married to Dianne Winder; the couple has two children.
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7. Cary Coglianese
1964-. (aged 62)
editor
professor
Cary Coglianese is an American legal scholar who is the Edward B. Shils Professor of Law and professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he is also director of the Penn Program on Regulation.
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8. Elmo Smith
1909-1968 (aged 59)
military officer
publisher
politician
Elmo Everett Smith was an American politician and newspaper publisher who served as the 27th Governor of Oregon from 1956 to 1957. A member of the Republican Party, Smith served two terms as mayor of Ontario from 1940 to 1943 before resigning to enlist in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After returning to civilian life he severed as...
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9. Dorothy Custer
1911-2015 (aged 104)
musician
Dorothy Bailey Cline Custer was an American comedian, harmonicist, and centenarian most famous for her two appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She has since become the subject of the most-viewed story of all time on the website of Boise-based television station KTVB and has been the subject of numerous interviews in Idaho and other states.
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10. Klaus Scharioth
1946-2025 (aged 79)
diplomat
Klaus Scharioth was a German diplomat. From 2006 to 2011 he served as Germany's ambassador to the United States. From 2011 he was dean of the Mercator Fellowship on International Affairs. He was also a Professor of Practice at the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a commentator on relations between Germany and the United States.
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11. Duane Elgin
1943-. (aged 83)
writer
lecturer
Duane Elgin is an American author, speaker, educator, consultant, and media activist.
12. Robert E. Smylie
1914-2004 (aged 90)
lawyer
politician
Robert Eben Smylie was an American politician and attorney from Idaho. Smylie, who is a member of the Idaho Republican Party, served as the 24th governor of Idaho for twelve years, from 1955 to 1967. He was the first Governor of Idaho who was born in the 20th century. Smylie is Idaho’s third longest governor, with a tenure only one...
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13. Kris Tompkins
1950-. (aged 76)
entrepreneur
conservationist
Kristine "Kris" Tompkins is an American conservationist. Tompkins is the president and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation and was CEO of Patagonia for 20 years, leaving the company in 1993.
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14. Larry Lujack
1940-2013 (aged 73)
disc jockey
Larry Lujack, also called Superjock, Lawrence of Chicago, Charming and Delightful Ol' Uncle Lar, and King of the Corn Belt, was a Top 40 music radio disc jockey who was well known for his world-weary sarcastic style. Some of his more popular routines included Klunk Letter of the Day, the darkly humorous Animal Stories with sidekick Tommy Edwards as Little...
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15. Elgin Baylor
1934-2021 (aged 87)
actor
basketball player
basketball coach
Elgin Gay Baylor was an American professional basketball player, coach, and executive. He played 14 seasons as a forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers. Baylor was a gifted shooter, a strong rebounder, and an accomplished passer, who was best known for his trademark hanging jump shot. The No. 1 draft pick in 1958, NBA...
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16. Butch Otter
1942-. (aged 84)
politician
Clement Leroy "Butch" Otter is an American businessman and politician who served as the 32nd governor of Idaho from 2007 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in 2006, and re-elected in 2010 and 2014. Otter served as lieutenant governor from 1987 to 2001 and in Congress from 2001 to 2007.
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