17 Notable alumni of Oklahoma Baptist University
Updated: June 13, 2026 EliteDegrees
Oklahoma Baptist University is ranked #4,565 in the world and #1,189 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 17 notable alumni from Oklahoma Baptist University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Oklahoma Baptist University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Richard F. Ward
1951-. (aged 75)
writer
Richard Finley Ward is an American storyteller and the Fred B. Craddock Professor of Preaching at Phillips Theological Seminary.
2. Jerry M. Bunyard
1931-. (aged 95)
military personnel
baseball player
Jerry Max Bunyard is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army. His assignments included Commanding General of the United States Army Missile Command and deputy commanding general for research, development and acquisition at the United States Army Materiel Command.
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3. Michael Fraser
1984-. (aged 42)
basketball player
Michael Fraser is a Canadian former professional basketball player currently working as an assistant coach for the Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). He played college basketball for the Oklahoma Baptist Bison.
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4. Corey Brooks
politician
Corey Brooks is a Republican politician from Oklahoma who served as a member of the Oklahoma Senate from 2013 to 2016.
5. Charlton McIlwain
1971-. (aged 55)
writer
Charlton Deron McIlwain is an American academic and author whose expertise includes the role of race and media in politics and social life. McIlwain is Professor of media, culture, and communication and is the Vice Provost for Faculty Engagement and Development at New York University.
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6. Sullivan Silva
1989-. (aged 37)
association football player
Sullivan Oliveira Silva is a Brazilian footballer currently playing for Thunder Bay Chill in USL League Two.
7. Joel Hefley
1935-. (aged 91)
politician
Joel Maurice Hefley is an American Republican politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing the 5th Congressional District of Colorado from 1987 to 2007. His wife, Lynn Hefley, is, like him, a former member of the Colorado State House of Representatives. They have three daughters. He was Colorado’s sole congressional dean from 2005...
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8. Shane Jett
1974-. (aged 52)
politician
Shane David Jett is an American and Cherokee politician who has served in the Oklahoma Senate representing the 17th district since 2020 and as the Chair of the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus since 2024. He previously served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2004 to 2010, representing the 27th district.
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9. Kris Steele
1973-. (aged 53)
politician
Kris Steele is a United States politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma who served as state representative. Steele served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the Speaker of the House, a position he took over after the 2010 elections. He presided over the 53rd Oklahoma Legislature.
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10. Bob Hoffman
1957-. (aged 69)
basketball coach
basketball player
Bob Hoffman is an American college basketball coach who is currently the head coach at the University of Central Oklahoma.
11. Dennis Jernigan
1959-. (aged 67)
composer
musician
Dennis Jernigan is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. He is native to Oklahoma, and headquarters a music-based Christian ministry from there. Jernigan now lives in Muskogee, Oklahoma, with his wife and their nine children.
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12. Julian Merryweather
1991-. (aged 35)
professional baseball player
Julian Christopher Merryweather is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs.
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13. Charlie Hall
1973-. (aged 53)
songwriter
Charles Eugene Hall III is a contemporary worship music leader and songwriter from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is a member of a group of musicians and speakers that collectively form the Passion movement.
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14. Mary Fallin
1954-. (aged 72)
politician
Mary Newt Fallin is an American politician and real estate broker who served as the 27th governor of Oklahoma from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as the U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district from 2007 to 2011, and as lieutenant governor from 1995 to 2007. As of 2025, Fallin remains the only...
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15. Mike Rodgers
1985-. (aged 41)
athletics competitor
sprinter
Michael Rodgers is an American professional track and field sprinter who specializes in the 100 m and the 60 m. He won the gold medal in the 100 m relay in Doha 2019. He is also the Pan-Am Games Champion.
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16. William R. Pogue
1930-2014 (aged 84)
military officer
autobiographer
mathematician
aircraft pilot
astronaut
William Reid Pogue was an American astronaut and pilot who served in the United States Air Force (USAF) as a fighter pilot and test pilot, and reached the rank of colonel. He was also a teacher, public speaker and author.
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17. Oral Roberts
1918-2009 (aged 91)
televangelist
Granville Oral Roberts was an American Charismatic Christian televangelist, who was one of the first to propagate Prosperity Gospel Theology. He was ordained in the Pentecostal Holiness Church from 1936 until his transfer to the United Methodist church in 1968, a controversial relationship that ended in 1987 when his credentials were revoked. He is considered one of the forerunners of...
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