19 Notable alumni of Ouachita Baptist University
Updated: June 15, 2026 EliteDegrees
Ouachita Baptist University is 4692st in the world, 1st in North America, and 1229st in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 19 notable alumni from Ouachita 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 Ouachita Baptist University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Lucien Abraham
1902-1960 (aged 58)
teacher
military officer
American football coach
Lucien Abraham was an American college football coach who served as the Adjutant General of Arkansas from 1953 to 1955.
2. Mel Wright
1928-1983 (aged 55)
baseball player
Melvin James Wright Jr. was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, pitching coach and scout. A native of Manila, Arkansas, who attended Ouachita Baptist University, Wright threw and batted right-handed and was measured during his playing days at 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) tall and 210 lb (95 kg).
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3. Catherine Dorris Norrell
1901-1981 (aged 80)
politician
Catherine Dorris Norrell was the third woman in Arkansas history to gain a seat in the United States House of Representatives.
4. Pamela Rouse Wright
1957-. (aged 69)
historian
clubwoman
designer
businessperson
Pamela Hilda Edwards Rouse Wright is an American philanthropist, businesswoman, and jewelry designer. She served as the President General of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution from 2022 to 2025. She was the second Texan to serve as the national society's president general. In 2022, Wright was presented with the Yellow Rose of Texas Award by Governor Greg...
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5. Henry G. Bennett
1886-1951 (aged 65)
Henry G. Bennett was a prominent educational figure in Oklahoma. He served as the president of both Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma State University. He was appointed by President Harry S. Truman as the first director of the Point Four Program, a technical assistance program for developing nations.
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6. Joyce Elliott
1951-. (aged 75)
teacher
politician
Joyce Ann Elliott is an American politician from the state of Arkansas. From 2009 to 2022, she was a member of the Arkansas Senate representing the 31st district, which consisted of portions of Little Rock and Pulaski County. She was previously a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, serving from 2001 to 2007. She is a member of the...
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7. Aaron Ward
1896-1961 (aged 65)
baseball player
Aaron Lee Ward was an American infielder for the New York Yankees (1917–1926), Chicago White Sox (1927), and Cleveland Indians (1928). A former player at Ouachita Baptist University, Ward spent ten seasons as a reliable utility infielder for the Yankees under Bill Donovan and Miller Huggins, going to three straight World Series in 1921 (where he made a crucial error...
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8. Bobby Shepherd
1951-. (aged 75)
judge
Bobby Ed Shepherd is a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He maintains chambers in El Dorado, the seat of Union County in south Arkansas.
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9. Travis Jackson
1903-1987 (aged 84)
baseball player
Travis Calvin Jackson was an American baseball shortstop. In Major League Baseball (MLB), Jackson played for the New York Giants from 1922 through 1936, winning the 1933 World Series, and representing the Giants in the MLB All-Star Game in 1934. After his retirement as a player, Jackson managed in minor league baseball through to the 1960 season.
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10. Winston Bryant
1938-. (aged 88)
lawyer
politician
Winston Bryant is an American politician and attorney who served as the secretary of State of Arkansas (1977–1978), the 14th lieutenant governor of Arkansas (1981–1991) and Arkansas attorney general (1991–1999).
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11. Janet Huckabee
1955-. (aged 71)
politician
Janet Huckabee is an American politician, the wife of former 2008 and 2016 Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee. She served as the First Lady of Arkansas, from July 1996 until January 2007 and oversaw a total remodel of the Arkansas Governor's Mansion, including the addition of the Grand Hall ballroom. Huckabee was also a Republican nominee...
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12. Steve Russell
1963-. (aged 63)
writer
business executive
soldier
politician
Steven Dane Russell is President and CEO of JAARS, Inc. He is a retired American soldier and former politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district from 2015 to 2019, after serving in the Oklahoma Senate from 2009 to 2013. Russell is a member of the Republican Party.
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13. Doak Sheridan Campbell
1888-1973 (aged 85)
educator
Doak Sheridan Campbell was from 1941 to 1957 president of Florida State College for Women and its successor coeducational school, Florida State University. He oversaw the creation of this new university. His opposition to the admission of African-American students has caused controversy about the naming of Doak S. Campbell Stadium in his honor.
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14. Sarah Sanders
1982-. (aged 44)
press secretary
political campaign staff
politician
Sarah Elizabeth Huckabee Sanders is an American politician serving as the 47th governor of Arkansas since 2023. Sanders is the daughter of Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who served from 1996 to 2007 as Arkansas's 44th governor. A member of the Republican Party, she was the 31st White House press secretary, serving under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019. Sanders was...
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15. Mike Huckabee
1955-. (aged 71)
musician
politician
writer
diplomat
radio personality
Michael Dale Huckabee is an American politician, diplomat, and Baptist minister serving as the 29th United States ambassador to Israel since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 44th governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007, and ran for his party's presidential nomination in both 2008 and 2016.
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16. James W. Kelly
1913-1989 (aged 76)
military officer
Christian minister
James Woodrow Kelly was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. He was Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy from July 1965 to July 1970. He is an alumnus of Ouachita Baptist University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
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17. H. Dale Jackson
1930-2003 (aged 73)
Christian minister
Reverend Dr. H. Dale Jackson was a Baptist minister, denominational leader and ethicist. He is most remembered for his efforts in promoting the historic distinctives of the Baptist faith; among those being the ideals of absolute separation of church and state, the authority of the Holy Scriptures, the autonomy of the local church, the priesthood of the individual, perseverance of...
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18. Harry E. Claiborne
1917-2004 (aged 87)
lawyer
judge
politician
Harry Eugene Claiborne was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada from 1978 until his impeachment and removal in 1986. Appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, Claiborne was only the fifth person in United States history to be removed from office through impeachment by the United States Congress and the...
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19. Alyse Eady
1988-. (aged 38)
beauty pageant contestant
Alyse Cynthia Eady is an American news anchor and beauty pageant titleholder who was Miss Arkansas 2010. Eady was named first runner-up at the Miss America 2011 pageant, which was won by Miss Nebraska 2010 Teresa Scanlan.
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