22 Notable alumni of Western Oregon University
Updated: June 13, 2026 EliteDegrees
Western Oregon University is ranked #2,591 in the world and #670 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 22 notable alumni from Western Oregon 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 Western Oregon University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Levi Branson "Lee" Reeder
1865-1930 (aged 65)
politician
Levi Branson "Lee" Reeder was an attorney and Republican politician from Pendleton in the US state of Oregon. A native of Illinois, he served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1901–1903.
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2. Sheba Hargreaves
1882-1960 (aged 78)
writer
Sheba May Childs Hargreaves was a writer from Oregon, author of The Cabin at the Trail's End, considered one of the pioneer women of the West.
3. David Arthur Brodie
1867-1951 (aged 84)
botanist
American football player
David Arthur Brodie was an American agriculturalist and college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Washington Agricultural College and School of Science—now known as Washington State University—for one season, in 1896, compiling a record of 2–0–1.
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4. Charles E. Wolverton
1851-1926 (aged 75)
lawyer
judge
Charles Edwin Wolverton was an American state and federal judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 18th Chief Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court. He served as the chief twice during his eleven years on Oregon's highest court, followed by 21 years as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of...
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5. John F. Steelhammer
1909-1974 (aged 65)
politician
John F. Steelhammer was an American politician in the state of Oregon. Born in Woodburn, Oregon, the son of the community's longtime mayor. He attended Oregon Normal College (now Western Oregon University) in Monmouth, and was a teacher in Boardman, Oregon for two years. Receiving an LL.B from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, Steelhammer began practicing law. Later he was...
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6. George W. McBride
1854-1911 (aged 57)
politician
George Wycliffe McBride was an American politician and businessman from the U.S. state of Oregon. An Oregon native, he served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly as Speaker of the House and as Oregon Secretary of State for two terms before election as United States Senator from Oregon. A Republican, he was the first native Oregonian to serve in the Senate....
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7. Robert S. Bean
1854-1931 (aged 77)
lawyer
judge
Robert Sharp Bean was the 16th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving as Chief Justice three different times. He later served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. An Oregon native, he was part of the first graduating class of the University of Oregon.
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8. Betty Komp
1949-. (aged 77)
politician
Betty E. Komp is a Democratic former member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 22 from 2004 to 2017.
9. Marco A. Hernandez
1957-. (aged 69)
lawyer
judge
Marco Antonio Hernandez is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
10. I. L. Patterson
1859-1929 (aged 70)
politician
Isaac Lee Patterson, was the 18th Governor of Oregon from 1927 to 1929. An Oregon native, he served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly from 1918 to 1922, and was a farmer in the Willamette Valley. He was the first governor of Oregon born in the state after it was admitted to the Union.
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11. Paul Evans
1970-. (aged 56)
politician
Paul Lynn Evans is an American politician. He has served in the Oregon House of Representatives since 2015, representing District 20, which includes parts of Marion and Polk counties. He was the mayor of Monmouth from 1999 to 2002.
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12. Jason Slowey
1989-. (aged 37)
American football player
Jason Slowey is an American former football center. He played college football for the Western Oregon Wolves and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Oakland Raiders and BC Lions. He is currently a defensive quality control analyst at Stanford University.
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13. Teresa Alonso Leon
1975-. (aged 51)
politician
Teresa Alonso Leon is an American Democratic politician who served in the Oregon House of Representatives for three terms from 2017 to 2023. She represented the 22nd district, which covers parts of Marion County along Interstate 5, from Woodburn down to northern Salem.
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14. Dan Rayfield
1979-. (aged 47)
lawyer
politician
Daniel Adam Rayfield is an American politician and attorney who has been the 18th attorney general of the state of Oregon since 2024, after his predecessor Ellen Rosenblum resigned a week before her term expired. He was speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2022 to 2024. In the House, he represented the 16th district, which included Corvallis and...
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15. Rick Bartow
1946-2016 (aged 70)
sculptor
painter
draftsperson
Richard Elmer "Rick" Bartow was a Native American artist and a member of the Mad River band of the Wiyot Tribe, who are indigenous to Humboldt County, California. He primarily created pastel, graphite, and mixed media drawings, wood sculpture, acrylic paintings, drypoint etchings, monotypes, and a small number of ceramic works.
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16. Dan Straily
1988-. (aged 38)
baseball player
Daniel Steven Straily is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins, and Baltimore Orioles, and in the KBO League for the Lotte Giants. The Athletics selected Straily in the 24th round of the 2009 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut with them...
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17. Brian Boquist
1958-. (aged 68)
politician
Brian James Boquist is an American politician from Oregon. He served in the Oregon Senate representing District 12 from 2009 until 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he briefly defected to the Independent Party from 2021 until 2023. He previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 23 in the mid-Willamette Valley, from 2005 to 2009.
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18. Ariana Richards
1979-. (aged 47)
painter
television actor
actor
film actor
Ariana Clarice Richards is an American painter and former actress. She is best known for her role as Lex Murphy in the 1993 film Jurassic Park. Richards won several Young Artist Awards for her acting as a child, but as an adult has focused primarily on her art career.
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19. Robert Oberst
1984-. (aged 42)
strongman
weightlifter
Robert Oberst is an American former strongman athlete.
20. Tyrell Williams
1992-. (aged 34)
American football player
Tyrell Williams is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the Western Oregon Wolves and was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He also played for the Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions.
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21. George H. Burnett
1853-1927 (aged 74)
lawyer
judge
George Henry Burnett was an American attorney and judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 21st chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court serving twice as chief first in 1921 to 1923, and then in 1927 when he died in office. Overall he served on Oregon’s highest court from 1911 until 1927.
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22. Mike Nearman
politician
Michael J. Nearman is an American politician who served as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 23rd district from 2015 until 2021, when he was expelled from the house for his role in the December 2020 Oregon State Capitol breach.
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