57 Notable alumni of Missouri State University – Springfield
Updated: June 15, 2026 EliteDegrees
Missouri State University – Springfield is ranked #1,191 in the world and #303 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 57 notable alumni from Missouri State University – Springfield sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Missouri State University – Springfield won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Douglas Eads Foster
1875-1962 (aged 87)
dentist
Douglas Eads Foster was a dentist who served on the Los Angeles City Council between 1927 and 1929.
2. Troy Galloway
1966-. (aged 60)
civil servant
military personnel
Troy D. Galloway is a retired United States Army major general who last served as the Deputy Commanding General for the Army National Guard of the United States Army Forces Command from August 1, 2021, to May 1, 2023. He most recently served as the Deputy Commanding General for Operations of the First United States Army from May 1, 2019,...
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3. Ryan McKenna
1973-. (aged 53)
politician
Ryan Glennon McKenna is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Missouri Senate, representing the 22nd District from 2007 to 2014. He was a previously member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 1999 through 2006.
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4. Marv Braden
1938-2022 (aged 84)
American football player
Marvin Preston Braden was an American college and professional football coach. He was the head football coach at Northeast Missouri State College—now known as Truman State University—from 1967 to 1968 and United States International University—now known as Alliant International University from 1969 to 1972, compiling a career college football coaching record of 34–22–1. Braden served as an assistant coach for...
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5. Mount Etna Morris
1900-1988 (aged 88)
politician
Mount Etna Morris was an American politician from Missouri. A Democrat, he served three non-consecutive terms as State Treasurer of Missouri as well as two non-consecutive terms as Director of the Missouri Department of Revenue and two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives.
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6. Lester Barnard
1894-1985 (aged 91)
basketball coach
Lester Smith Barnard was an American football, basketball, baseball, and track coach. He served as the head football coach at West Tennessee Normal State School—now known as the University of Memphis—from 1922 to 1923 and Central Michigan University from 1924 to 1925, compiling a career college football coaching record of 22–7–6. Barnard was also the head basketball coach at West...
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7. Marion T. Bennett
1914-2000 (aged 86)
secretary
lawyer
judge
politician
Marion Tinsley Bennett served as a member of the United States Congress, as a judge of the United States Court of Claims and as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
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8. Sara Lampe
1949-. (aged 77)
politician
Sara N. Lampe is a Democratic Party member of the Missouri House of Representatives, representing District 138 (central Springfield) since 2004. She currently serves as Minority Caucus Secretary. Lampe is term limited by Missouri law from running for a House seat in 2012, and previously considered candidacy for Missouri Lieutenant Governor. In August 2018, she became the Democratic nominee for...
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9. Matt Palmer
1979-. (aged 47)
baseball player
Jonathan Matthew Palmer is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He bats and throws right-handed. He attended Three Rivers College and Southwest Missouri State University.
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10. Preston Ward
1927-2013 (aged 86)
basketball player
baseball player
Preston Meyer Ward was an American professional baseball first baseman who appeared in 744 games over nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1948 and 1959 for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Athletics. Ward was born in Columbia, Missouri, and attended Missouri State University. He threw right-handed, batted left-handed, and was listed...
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11. Donn Sorensen
1961-. (aged 65)
Donn Sorensen is a healthcare executive, philanthropist, public speaker and author. Sorensen is the Chairman of Board and a member of the American Medical Group Association’s board of directors. He is also a fellow of the American College of Medical Practice Executives.
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12. Mike Miano
1973-. (aged 53)
teacher
American football player
Mike Miano is a former American football player who played the position of defensive tackle. He is currently a teacher working for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA.)
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13. Pauline Gracia Beery Mack
1891-1974 (aged 83)
chemist
Pauline Gracia Beery Mack was an American chemist, home economist, and college administrator. Her research in calcium, nutrition, radiation, and bone density began during the 1930s, and culminated in work for NASA when she was in her seventies.
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14. Will Creekmore
1989-. (aged 37)
basketball player
William Thomas Creekmore is an American professional basketball player who last played for Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka of the B.League. He played college basketball for Boston University and Missouri State.
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15. David Gregory Kays
1962-. (aged 64)
lawyer
judge
David Gregory Kays is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
16. Doug Harpool
1956-. (aged 70)
lawyer
judge
politician
Mark Douglas "Doug" Harpool is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. He also has been a Democratic American politician, and a former member of the Missouri House of Representatives from southwest Missouri's 134th district. He served five terms from January 5, 1983 to January 6, 1993.
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17. Wendell Bailey
1940-. (aged 86)
politician
Robert Wendell Bailey is an American politician from Missouri. He graduated from Southwest Missouri State University, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, with a degree in Business Administration and owned an automobile dealership in Willow Springs.
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18. Bill Hardgrave
1964-. (aged 62)
Bill Hardgrave is an American academic who currently serves as the president of the University of Memphis, a role he has held since April 1, 2022. He was previously the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Auburn University. Prior to his time at Auburn, he served as the Bradberry Chair in Information Systems in the Sam M. Walton...
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19. Margaret B. Kelly
1935-. (aged 91)
accountant
politician
Margaret Blake Kelly is an American former politician and accountant from Missouri.
20. Stephen R. Bough
1970-. (aged 56)
lawyer
judge
Stephen Rogers Bough is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
21. Melton D. Hancock
1929-2011 (aged 82)
businessperson
politician
Melton D. "Mel" Hancock was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri's 7th congressional district.
22. Jon Harris
1993-. (aged 33)
baseball player
Jonathan Richard Harris is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played college baseball at Missouri State University, and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.
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23. Dylan Coleman
1996-. (aged 30)
baseball player
Dylan David Coleman is an American professional baseball pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros.
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24. Buddy Baumann
1987-. (aged 39)
baseball player
George Charles Baumann IV is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Wei Chuan Dragons.
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25. Mike Kickham
1988-. (aged 38)
baseball player
Michael Joseph Kickham is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Listed at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and 220 pounds (100 kg), he throws and bats left-handed.
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26. Scott Carroll
1984-. (aged 42)
baseball player
American football player
Scott Alexander Carroll is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox.
27. Norm Siebern
1933-2015 (aged 82)
baseball player
Norman Leroy Siebern was an American professional baseball player and scout. He appeared in 1,406 games over a 12-year career in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and left fielder for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox between 1956 and 1968. A two-time World Series champion and...
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28. Kevin Brockmeier
1972-. (aged 54)
writer
science fiction writer
children's writer
novelist
Kevin John Brockmeier is an American writer of fantasy and literary fiction. His best known work is the 2006 novel The Brief History of the Dead.
29. Jolie Justus
1971-. (aged 55)
lawyer
politician
Jolie L. Justus is an American lawyer and politician from Missouri. A Democrat, she was a member of the Missouri State Senate representing the 10th Senatorial District in Kansas City, serving as the Missouri Senate Minority Leader in her final two years.
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30. Wendy Jo Smith
rapper
Wendy Jo Smith, better known by her stage-name Wendy Ho, is an American rap-artist, singer, and comedian.
31. Iron Mountain Baby
1902-1953 (aged 51)
Iron Mountain Baby refers both to a folk song and the subject of that song, William Moses Gould Helms.
32. Shaun Marcum
1981-. (aged 45)
baseball player
Shaun Michal Marcum is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, and Cleveland Indians. In 2015, he became the pitching coach for the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers. He joined the Missouri Southern Lions as their pitching coach in August 2016.
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33. Bob Holden
1949-. (aged 77)
politician
Robert Lee Holden Jr. is an American politician who served as the 53rd governor of Missouri from 2001 to 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the Missouri state treasurer from 1993 to 2001 and represented the 136th district in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1983 to 1989. Since leaving public office, Holden has worked...
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34. Blake Ahearn
1984-. (aged 42)
basketball player
basketball coach
Daniel Blake Ahearn is an American professional basketball coach and former player who was an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Missouri State.
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35. Frank J. Grass
1951-. (aged 75)
military officer
Frank J. Grass is a retired United States Army general who served as the 27th chief of the National Guard Bureau.
36. Jim Bohannon
1944-2022 (aged 78)
journalist
radio personality
James Everett Bohannon was an American broadcaster who worked in television and radio and hosted the nationally syndicated late night radio talk show The Jim Bohannon Show originally broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System and later the Westwood One Network from 1985 to 2022. For 31 years, he also hosted America in The Morning, a nationally syndicated radio news show,...
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37. Cullen Bunn
1971-. (aged 55)
writer
Cullen Bunn is an American comics writer, novelist, and short story writer, best known for his work on comic books such as a number of series published by Marvel Comics, and his creator-owned series The Damned and The Sixth Gun for Oni Press and Harrow County for Dark Horse Comics, as well as his middle grade horror novel Crooked Hills,...
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38. Eric Burlison
1976-. (aged 50)
politician
Eric Wayne Burlison is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Missouri's 7th congressional district since 2023. He previously served as the representative for District 133 (Greene County) in the Missouri House of Representatives. A Republican, Burlison was elected to the Missouri House in 2008 and left office at the end of 2016. In 2018, he was elected...
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39. Bill Mueller
1971-. (aged 55)
baseball player
William Richard Mueller is an American former professional baseball third baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB). Mueller's MLB playing career was spent with the San Francisco Giants (1996–2000, 2002), Chicago Cubs (2001–2002), Boston Red Sox (2003–2005), and Los Angeles Dodgers (2006).
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40. Brad Ziegler
1979-. (aged 47)
baseball player
Brad Gregory Ziegler is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, and Miami Marlins. Ziegler was one of the few Major League pitchers to throw with a submarine delivery.
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41. Kyle Weems
1989-. (aged 37)
basketball player
Kyle Jordan Weems is an American professional basketball player who last played for Derthona Basket of the Italian LBA. He played collegiately for Missouri State University and was named Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year and an All-American in 2011.
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42. Austin Petersen
1981-. (aged 45)
political pundit
politician
Austin Wade Petersen is an American nonfiction writer, politician, activist, commentator, and broadcaster. He is the host of the Wake Up America show daily newscast. He was the runner-up for the Libertarian Party's nomination for President of the United States in 2016, finishing second place to Gary Johnson with 21.9% of the vote.
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43. Crystal Methyd
drag queen
Crystal Methyd is the stage name of Cody D. Harness, an American drag performer who competed on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
44. David Glass
1935-2020 (aged 85)
businessperson
David Dayne Glass was an American businessman. He was president and chief executive officer of Walmart Stores, Inc. He was also an owner and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Royals.
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45. Lei'D Tapa
1982-. (aged 44)
manager
model
professional wrestler
American football player
Seini Betson is a German-born Tongan American professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, model, mixed martial artist, and former women's American football player. She is best known for her appearances with the American professional wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Lei'D Tapa.
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46. Clay Harbor
1987-. (aged 39)
American football player
Clayton Lee Harbor is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football for the Missouri State Bears. He was also a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions,...
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47. Pierce Johnson
1991-. (aged 35)
baseball player
Pierce William Johnson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, and Atlanta Braves, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers. He was drafted by the Cubs in the first round of...
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48. John Goodman
1952-. (aged 74)
producer
comedian
film producer
actor
film actor
John Stephen Goodman is an American actor. He rose to prominence in television before becoming an acclaimed and popular film actor. Goodman has received various accolades including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Vanity Fair has called him "among our very finest actors".
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49. Ryan Howard
1979-. (aged 47)
baseball player
Ryan James Howard, nicknamed "the Big Piece", is an American former professional baseball first baseman. Howard spent his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, from 2004 to 2016. He is known for being the fastest player in baseball history to reach both 100 home runs and 200 home runs. Howard holds numerous Phillies franchise records.
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50. Don S. Davis
1942-2008 (aged 66)
actor
television actor
film actor
sculptor
voice actor
Donald Sinclair Davis was an American actor best known for playing General George Hammond in the television series Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007), and earlier for playing Major Garland Briggs on the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991) and Captain William Scully in The X-Files. In animation, he was also known as Wild Bill in the 2003 direct-to-video animated movie G.I. Joe: Spy...
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51. Durward Gorham Hall
1910-2001 (aged 91)
politician
Durward Gorham Hall was a six-term U.S. representative from Missouri's 7th congressional district.
52. Ron Richard
1947-2023 (aged 76)
politician
Ronald Francis Richard was an American politician from the state of Missouri. A Republican, Richard served in the Missouri House of Representatives, including as Speaker of the House before being elected to the State Senate in 2010. He was the first speaker to later be elected Missouri senator in more than 100 years and became the first in Missouri's history...
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53. Roy Blunt
1950-. (aged 76)
teacher
politician
Roy Dean Blunt is an American politician and lobbyist who served as a United States senator from Missouri from 2011 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 33rd Missouri Secretary of State (1985–1993) and U.S. Representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district (1997–2011).
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54. Todd Tiahrt
1951-. (aged 75)
teacher
politician
William Todd Tiahrt is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Kansas's 4th congressional district from 1995 to 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected as part of the historic Republican Revolution of 1994, defeating 18-year incumbent U.S. Representative Dan Glickman. He ran in 2010 for the United States Senate seat being vacated by...
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55. Mariam Fardous
1984-. (aged 42)
astronaut
physician
Mariam H. Fardous is a Saudi astronaut, selected as a back-up astronaut for Axiom Mission 2 by the Saudi Space Commission; her selection was officially announced on February 12, 2023.
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56. Kathleen Turner
1954-. (aged 72)
theatrical director
film producer
film actor
stage actor
television actor
Mary Kathleen Turner is an American actress. Known for her distinctive deep husky voice, she is the recipient of two Golden Globes, as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Grammy, and two Tony Awards.
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57. Angelo Segrillo
1958-. (aged 68)
historian
university teacher
Angelo de Oliveira Segrillo is a Brazilian historian specialized in Russia and in comparative studies of Russia, the West and Brazil. He holds a B.A. from Missouri State University, a master's degree from the Pushkin Institute (Moscow, Russia) and a doctorate from Universidade Federal Fluminense (Brazil). He is an associate professor of history at the University of São Paulo.
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