Notable Alumni of Indiana State University [Sorted List]

1. William W. Parsons

1850-1925 (aged 75)

academic administrator

William Woods Parsons is best known as being the former president of Indiana State Normal School, now known as Indiana State University.

2. Donald Ungurait

1936-2013 (aged 77)

academic

Donald F. Ungurait was the founding Dean of the Florida State University (FSU) Film School., and has directed more than 50 plays, musicals and operas and received more than 200 producer-director credits.

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3. John Edward McGilvrey

1867-1945 (aged 78)

John Edward McGilvrey was an American academic who was the first president of what is now Kent State University. McGilvrey was educated at the Indiana State Normal School, receiving his bachelor of arts and sciences degree in 1895. He also received an honorary doctorate from Miami University in 1915. At the time of his appointment at the Kent State Normal...

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4. A. R. VanCleave

1889-1987 (aged 98)

head coach American football coach

Albert Ray Van Cleave was an American football coach, professor, and college administrator. He was the head football coach at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina for the 1926 season, compiling a record of 0–10.

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5. William Larrabee

1870-1960 (aged 90)

politician

William Henry Larrabee was an American physician and politician who served six terms as a U.S. representative from Indiana from 1931 to 1943.

6. William Harrison Mace

1852-1938 (aged 86)

writer American football player

William Harrison Mace was a professor of American history.

7. Loren Ellis

1904-1984 (aged 80)

basketball coach

Loren Edward Ellis was an American football and basketball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head basketball coach at Valparaiso University from 1941 to 1947 and at Stetson University during the 1950–51 season, compiling a career college basketball record of 101–71. His best squad was his 1944–45 team, they finished with a 21–3 record and a 10-game...

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8. Fred Wampler

1909-1999 (aged 90)

politician

Fred Wampler was an American World War II and Korean War veteran who served one term as a U.S. representative from Indiana from 1959 to 1961.

9. John T. Myers

1927-2015 (aged 88)

cashier farmer politician

John Thomas Myers was an American politician who served 15 terms as a Republican congressman from Indiana's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1967 to 1997.

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10. Gene Edward Brooks

1931-2004 (aged 73)

military officer lawyer judge

Gene Edward Brooks was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

11. Ed Pease

1951-. (aged 75)

director lawyer politician

Edward Allan Pease is an American politician and lawyer from Indiana. He is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, serving two terms from 1997 to 2001,

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12. Isaac M. Burgan

1848-. (aged 178)

educator Christian minister

Isaac M. Burgan was born a slave October 6, 1848 in McDowell County, North Carolina near Marion to a slave, Sylva Burgan. Held in slavery until the end of the American Civil War, Burgan first learned to read from reviewing the homework of white children on the farm. Burgan was regarded as too smart to make a good slave, but...

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13. Robert Jerry

1953-. (aged 73)

scientist

Robert "Bob" H. Jerry, II is the former dean of the University of Florida's Levin College of Law, serving from 2003 to 2014. He succeeded Jon Mills, who stepped down and returned to the University of Florida's law faculty. Jerry became Dean of the College in July 2003.

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14. William Bartelt

1946-. (aged 80)

historian biographer

William Bartelt, often referred to as Bill Bartelt, is an American historian and author based in Newburgh, Indiana. He is considered the greatest living scholar on Abraham Lincoln's youth in Indiana.

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15. Clarence C. Gilhams

1860-1912 (aged 52)

lawyer politician

Clarence Chauncey Gilhams was an American educator and politician who served two terms as a U.S. representative from Indiana from 1906 to 1909.

16. D. Bailey Merrill

1912-1993 (aged 81)

lawyer politician

D. Bailey Merrill was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a U.S. representative from Indiana from 1953 to 1955.

17. Brian D. Kerns

1957-. (aged 69)

politician administrator journalist

Brian Douglas Kerns is an American journalist and politician. He served as a Republican Representative from Indiana's 7th congressional district from January 3, 2001, to January 3, 2003.

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18. Dakota Bacus

1991-. (aged 35)

baseball player

Dakota John Bacus is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals during the 2020 season.

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19. Edison E. Oberholtzer

1880-1954 (aged 74)

teacher head teacher writer

Edison Ellsworth Oberholtzer was the first president of the University of Houston. Oberholtzer obtained his undergraduate education at Westfield College in Westfield, Illinois and Indiana State Normal School (now known as Indiana State University). In 1915, he received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago. Prior to founding the University of Houston, Oberholtzer was a teacher and...

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20. William S. Hillyer

1831-1874 (aged 43)

military leader politician

William Sillman Hillyer was an American lawyer and Union officer who advanced through the ranks to Brevet Brigadier General during the American Civil War. Before the war he practiced law in Saint Louis where he met Ulysses S. Grant. During most of the Civil War he served under General Grant and was with him at the Battle of Fort Donelson,...

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21. James B. Leong

1889-1967 (aged 78)

film producer film actor manufacturer film director actor

James B. Leong was a Chinese-American character actor and filmmaker who had a long career in Hollywood beginning during the silent era.

22. Brad Miley

1958-. (aged 68)

basketball player

Brad Miley is an American former basketball player and coach. After graduating from Indiana State in 1980, he played professionally in Australia and Iceland, winning the Icelandic Cup in 1981. In 2016, Miley was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

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23. Martin David Jenkins

1904-1978 (aged 74)

writer social scientist

Martin David Jenkins, was an American educator and researcher known for his work challenging theories of race and intelligence.

24. Blaise Ilsley

1964-. (aged 62)

baseball player

Blaise Francis Ilsley is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher who played in 1994 with the Chicago Cubs, and was bullpen coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.

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25. Gerry Dick

journalist news presenter

Gerry A. Dick is an American journalist and former news anchor at WRTV, a television station in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is best known as the current host of Inside INdiana Business, a television program owned by Grow Indiana Media Ventures, founded by Dick along with technology business owner Scott A. Jones.

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26. Doug Kay

American football coach American football player

Doug Kay is an American former football coach. He was a head coach in the Arena Football League for the Charlotte Rage, Carolina Cobras, and Columbus Destroyers. He was also the head football coach at Olivet College from 1971 to 1975.

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27. Chuck Smith

1969-. (aged 57)

baseball player

Charles Edward Smith is an American former Major League Baseball player and a former mayor of Woodmere, Ohio.

28. Lotus Delta Coffman

1875-1938 (aged 63)

academic administrator writer

Lotus Delta Coffman was the fifth president of the University of Minnesota, serving from 1920 until his death in office on September 22, 1938. Coffman Memorial Union, the main student center, is named in his memory.

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29. Ryan Strausborger

1988-. (aged 38)

baseball player

Ryan Lee Strausborger is an American former professional baseball left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for Texas Rangers.

30. Mitch Stetter

1981-. (aged 45)

baseball player

Mitchel Blake Stetter is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current coach for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers.

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31. Will Weng

1907-1993 (aged 86)

journalist crossword creator

William C. "Will" Weng was an American journalist and crossword puzzle constructor who was the crossword puzzle editor for The New York Times from 1969 to 1977.

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32. H. R. Cox

1907-1986 (aged 79)

bacteriologist parasitologist

Herald Rea Cox was an American bacteriologist. The bacterial family Coxiellaceae and the genus Coxiella, which include the organism that causes Q fever, are named after him.

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33. Bob Heaton

1956-. (aged 70)

politician

Robert Heaton is an American politician and basketball player who is a Republican member of the Indiana House of Representatives since 2010.

34. George Washington Buckner

1855-1943 (aged 88)

diplomat

George Washington Buckner was an American physician and diplomat. He was United States Minister to Liberia from 1913 to 1915.

35. Brian Boland

1972-. (aged 54)

coach

Brian P. Boland is an American former tennis coach and founder of Boland College Tennis Placement, a consulting service dedicated to guiding student-athletes through the college tennis recruiting process. He was the director of tennis and head men's tennis coach at Baylor University from 2018 to 2020. He was the head coach of the University of Virginia men's tennis team...

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36. Jerry Baker

sports journalist

Jerry Baker is well known and recognizable as a veteran sports announcer in Indiana. He is best known as the voice of the Indiana High School Athletic Association Basketball State Championships on television having served as the anchor announcer for nearly 30 years. He is the former voice of the Indiana Pacers and currently is a reporter for the Indy...

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37. Nevin Ashley

1984-. (aged 42)

baseball player

Nevin Robert Ashley is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was a bullpen catcher with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2020 to 2021.

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38. Joe Thatcher

1981-. (aged 45)

baseball player

Joseph Andrew Thatcher is an American college baseball coach and former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Houston Astros.

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39. Noma Gurich

1952-. (aged 74)

lawyer judge

Noma D. Gurich is an American attorney and jurist who is serving as an associate justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Gurich was appointed the State's highest court by Governor Brad Henry in 2010 and assumed office on February 15, 2011. Gurich was appointed to the Court following the death of long-time Justice Marian P. Opala. Gurich is the third...

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40. Barton Warren Evermann

1853-1932 (aged 79)

biologist ichthyologist university teacher botanical collector zoologist

Barton Warren Evermann was an American ichthyologist.

41. Marvella Bayh

1933-1979 (aged 46)

activist writer politician

Marvella Belle Hern Bayh was the first wife of former Indiana U.S. Senate member Birch Bayh, the mother of former Indiana U.S. Senate member Evan Bayh (Birch Evans Bayh III), and a national spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society.

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42. Jake Petricka

1988-. (aged 38)

baseball player

Jacob Steven Petricka is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, and Los Angeles Angels.

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43. Willa Brown

1906-1992 (aged 86)

aircraft pilot

Willa Beatrice Brown was an American aviator, lobbyist, teacher, and civil rights activist. She was the first African American woman to earn a pilot's license in the United States, the first African American woman to run for the United States Congress, first African American officer in the Civil Air Patrol, and first woman in the U.S. to have both a...

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44. Clint Barmes

1979-. (aged 47)

baseball player

Clint Harold Barmes is an American former professional baseball second baseman and shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2003 through 2015 for the Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Diego Padres.

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45. Trent Miles

1963-. (aged 63)

head coach

Trent Gaylord Miles is an American football coach and former player. He was most recently the head football coach at Georgia State University, a position he assumed in November 2012 and held until he was fired on November 12, 2016. From 2008 to 2012, Miles was the head coach at his alma mater Indiana State University, from which he holds...

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46. Edward Hernandez

1957-. (aged 69)

politician

Edward Paul Hernández is an American politician who previously served in the California State Senate. A Democrat, he represented the 24th Senate district from 2010 until he was redistricted to the 22nd Senate district, which he represented until 2018.

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47. Jared Yates Sexton

1981-. (aged 45)

writer

Jared Yates Sexton is an American author and political commentator from Linton, Indiana. He was an associate professor in the Department of Writing and Linguistics at Georgia Southern University.

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48. Greg Land

1963-. (aged 63)

cartoonist comics artist illustrator draftsperson

Greg Land is an American comic book artist, best known for his work on books such as Uncanny X-Men, Birds of Prey, and Fantastic Four.

49. Jennifer McCormick

teacher politician

Jennifer McCormick is an American politician and educator who served as the 44th and last Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction. Formerly a Republican, she unseated the Democratic incumbent Glenda Ritz in the 2016 election and served one term. Switching to the Democratic Party in 2021, she was their nominee for governor of Indiana in 2024 losing to Republican nominee Mike...

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50. Russell Collins

1897-1965 (aged 68)

actor television actor stage actor

Russell Collins was an American actor whose 43-year career included hundreds of performances on stage, in feature films, and on television.

51. Brother Jed

1943-2022 (aged 79)

preacher

George Edward "Jed" Smock Jr., better known as Brother Jed, was an American evangelist whose open-air preaching ministry was concentrated on college campuses. He preached at major universities in all 50 US states and other countries. As an itinerant preacher, he usually spent only a few days on each campus, visiting the northern campuses in the fall and spring and...

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52. Tony George

1959-. (aged 67)

entrepreneur racing automobile driver

Anton Hulman "Tony" George is the former Chairman, President, and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hulman & Company, serving from 1989 to 2009. He was also formerly on the Board of Directors of both entities. He founded the Indy Racing League and co-owned Vision Racing and currently co-owns Ed Carpenter Racing.

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53. Bruce Baumgartner

1960-. (aged 66)

amateur wrestler

Bruce Robert Baumgartner is an American former freestyle wrestler. He is the current assistant vice president for university advancement and former athletic director at the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania near Erie, Pennsylvania and current President of USA Wrestling.

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54. Tunç İlkin

1957-2021 (aged 64)

sports commentator American football player

Tunch Ilkin was a Turkish-American professional football player and sports broadcaster. A two-time Pro Bowl selection as an offensive tackle with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was the first Turk to play in the National Football League (NFL). He was voted to the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team. After his playing career, he was a television and radio analyst for the Steelers...

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55. Lou Anna Simon

academic

Lou Anna Kimsey Simon is an American academic administrator who served as the 20th president of Michigan State University from 2005 until 2018.

56. Alvy Moore

1921-1997 (aged 76)

actor television actor

Jack Alvin "Alvy" Moore was an American actor best known for his role as scatterbrained county agricultural agent Hank Kimball on the CBS television series Green Acres. His character would often make a statement, only to immediately negate the statement himself and then negate the corrected statement until his stream of statements was interrupted by a frustrated Oliver Wendell Douglas...

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57. Jake Laravia

2001-. (aged 25)

basketball player

Jacob Glen LaRavia is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Indiana State Sycamores and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

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58. Jill Bolte Taylor

1959-. (aged 67)

author biologist neuroscientist anatomist

Jill Bolte Taylor is an American neuroanatomist, author, and public speaker.

59. John Wooden

1910-2010 (aged 100)

basketball player military officer writer basketball coach

John Robert Wooden was an American basketball coach and player. Nicknamed "the Wizard of Westwood", he won ten National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national championships in a 12-year period as head coach for the UCLA Bruins, including a record seven in a row. No other team has won more than four in a row in Division I college men's or...

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60. Sean Manaea

1992-. (aged 34)

baseball player

Sean Anthony Manaea is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants. Manaea played college baseball for the Indiana State Sycamores. He made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Athletics.

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61. Birch Bayh

1928-2019 (aged 91)

writer lawyer farmer politician

Birch Evans Bayh Jr. was an American politician from Indiana who served as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives representing Vigo County, Indiana from 1954 to 1962 and as a member of United States Senate for three terms from 1963 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to office in 1954, when he...

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62. Larry Bird

1956-. (aged 70)

coach basketball player basketball coach

Larry Joe Bird is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player,...

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63. Jamal Khashoggi

1958-2018 (aged 60)

journalist political writer

Jamal Ahmad Hamza Khashoggi was a Saudi journalist, dissident, author, columnist and editor. Khashoggi was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 by agents of the Saudi government at the behest of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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64. Burl Ives

1909-1995 (aged 86)

writer autobiographer street artist film actor banjoist

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American singer and actor with a career that spanned more than six decades.

65. Thurman C. Crook

1891-1981 (aged 90)

horticulturist teacher politician farmer coach

Thurman Charles Crook was an American politician who served one term as a United States representative from Indiana from 1949 to 1951.

66. Albert Henry Vestal

1875-1932 (aged 57)

lawyer politician

Albert Henry Vestal was an American lawyer and politician who served eight terms as a Republican United States representative from Indiana from 1917 to 1932.

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67. Erika Celeste

journalist

Erika Celeste is an American journalist who has worked in radio, print, and television since 1992. She has won two Tellys, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and several AP Awards.

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68. Cary D. Landis

1873-1938 (aged 65)

Cary Dayton Landis was an American attorney and politician who served as the 25th Florida Attorney General, serving from 1931 until 1938.

69. William M. Dunn

1814-1887 (aged 73)

military officer lawyer politician

William McKee Dunn was a U.S. representative from Indiana and the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army.

70. Micah Shrewsberry

1976-. (aged 50)

basketball coach basketball player

Micah William Shrewsberry is an American basketball coach and former college basketball player who is the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He previously served as head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions.

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71. Brad Ellsworth

1958-. (aged 68)

politician police officer

John Bradley Ellsworth is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for Indiana's 8th congressional district from 2007 to 2011. In 2010, he was the Democratic candidate for a seat in the United States Senate, but he was defeated by former Senator Dan Coats.

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72. Margaret Hill McCarter

1890-1938 (aged 48)

novelist teacher writer

Margaret Hill McCarter was an American teacher and novelist. She was the best-known and highest-paid novelist in Kansas at the time.

73. John R. Gregg

1954-. (aged 72)

lawyer politician

John Richard Gregg is an American politician, businessman and attorney who served as the 85th and longest-serving Democratic speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1996 to 2003. He served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1987 to 2003.

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74. Robbie Avila

2003-. (aged 23)

basketball player

Robbie Avila is an American college basketball player for the Saint Louis Billikens. He previously played for the Indiana State Sycamores of the Missouri Valley Conference.

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75. J. Buzz Von Ornsteiner

1967-. (aged 59)

actor radio personality psychologist

Dr. J. Buzz Von Ornsteiner aka Dr. Buzz is a licensed forensic psychologist who provided commentary for the TV series CopyCat Killers.

76. Dan Sparks

1945-. (aged 81)

basketball coach basketball player

Daniel E. Sparks is an American former professional basketball player and college coach. He played in the American Basketball Association for the Miami Floridians during the 1968–69 and 1969–70 seasons after a split collegiate career at Vincennes University and Weber State University. Sparks was selected in both the 1968 ABA and NBA drafts by the Miami Floridians and Cincinnati Royals,...

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77. David Moss

1983-. (aged 43)

basketball player

David Moss is an American composer, percussionist and self-taught vocalist, founder of the David Moss Dense Band; co-founder and artistic director of the Institute for Living Voice, Antwerp. His performances are noted for their innovative style, multimedia approach and improvisation. Moss has lived in Berlin, Germany since 1991, when he received a fellowship from the prestigious Berlin Artist Program of...

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78. Bill Hayes

1961-. (aged 65)

writer biographer photographer screenwriter

William Foster Hayes III was an American actor and recording artist. His song "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" hit the top of the Billboard charts between March and May 1955.

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79. Luke Gross

1969-. (aged 57)

rugby union player rugby union coach basketball player

Luke Gross is an American former rugby union player and current rugby coach and administrator. A lock who played for various club sides, he earned 62 caps for the United States between 1996 and 2003. Gross was the all-time caps leader for the United States, until Mike MacDonald broke his record in 2011.

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80. Y. C. Simhadri

1941-2021 (aged 80)

university teacher administrator

Yedla C. Simhadri was an Indian academic and administrator. He served as the vice-chancellor of several Indian universities including Banaras Hindu University, Patna University, Andhra University, and Acharya Nagarjuna University.

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81. John Moore

1826-1907 (aged 81)

military officer

John Moore is an Irish film director and producer whose credits include the action war film Behind Enemy Lines and A Good Day to Die Hard.