Notable Alumni of Mercer University

Nathan Deal 1942–

82nd governor of Georgia

Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1966

Spouse: Sandra Deal (Georgia College & State University)

Carl Vinson 1883–1981

U.S. Representative from Georgia for over 50 years

Attended until 1902

Also attended: Georgia Military College

Griffin Bell 1918–2009

72nd Attorney General of the United States

Also attended: Georgia Southwestern State University

Thomas E. Watson 1856–1922

Georgia politician and Populist Party leader

Thomas W. Hardwick 1872–1944

Governor of Georgia and U.S. senator

Also attended: University of Georgia

Walter F. George 1878–1957

Georgia US Senator from 1922 to 1957

Juris Doctor · Class of 1901

Chauncey Sparks 1884–1968

41st Governor of Alabama

Scott Rigell 1960–

Former U.S. representative from Virginia and businessman

Bachelor in Business Administration · Class of 1983

Also attended: Regent University

William D. Jelks 1855–1931

32nd Governor of Alabama

L. Lin Wood 1952–

Lawyer who claimed widespread 2020 election fraud

Attended until 1977

Richard B. Hubbard 1832–1901

16th Governor of Texas and envoy to Japan

Also attended: Harvard University

Ellis Arnall 1907–1992

69th Governor of Georgia

Also attended: University of Georgia

Diana Harshbarger 1960–

U.S. Representative from Tennessee and pharmacist

Doctor of Pharmacy · Class of 1987

Also attended: East Tennessee State University

William Stanley West 1849–1914

Democratic U.S. Senator from Georgia

Allen D. Candler 1834–1910

56th Governor of Georgia

William Usery 1923–2016

U.S. Secretary of Labor under Ford

Also attended: Georgia Military College

J. Mark Wilcox 1890–1956

U.S. representative from Florida

John Birch 1918–1945

WWII US intelligence officer killed in China in 1945

Benjamin S. Griffin 1946–

Four-star general in the United States Army

Master of Business Administration

Also attended: Louisburg College, Old Dominion University

William J. Northen 1835–1913

54th Governor of Georgia and Baptist minister

Ed Roberts 1941–2010

Inventor of the first successful microcomputer, father of the PC

Also attended: University of Miami, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus

Godwin Maduka 1959–

Doctor and businessman, founder of Las Vegas Pain Institute

Also attended: Rust College

Phil Walden 1940–2006

Co-founder of Capricorn Records

Sibling: Alan Walden (Mercer University)

Cecil B. Day 1934–1978

Founder of the Days Inn hotel chain

Also attended: Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

William Heard Kilpatrick 1871–1965

Progressive education pedagogue and John Dewey's successor

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University, Teachers College at Columbia University

James Rachels 1941–2003

Philosopher specializing in ethics and animal rights

Also attended: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Child: Stuart Rachels (Emory University)

Ellis Paul Torrance 1915–2003

Psychologist known for research on creativity

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Bruce Yandle 1933–

Economist, Dean Emeritus at Clemson's business college

Also attended: Georgia State University

Glenda Lappan 1939–

Professor emerita of mathematics at Michigan State University

Also attended: University of Georgia

Lyman Ray Patterson 1929–2003

Law professor and copyright scholar

Also attended: Northwestern University, Harvard University

Steve Berry 1955–

Author and former attorney

Nancy Grace 1959–

Legal commentator, television host and former prosecutor

Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: Valdosta State University, New York University

Richard Malcolm Johnston 1822–1898

American writer and educator

Betty Maxwell 1994–

Miss America 2016

Also attended: Wesleyan College

Erick Erickson 1975–

Conservative radio host and blogger

Alan Walden 1943–2026

Music manager and promoter who worked with Otis Redding

Sibling: Phil Walden (Mercer University)

Harry Stillwell Edwards 1855–1938

Journalist, novelist and poet

Malcolm Johnson 1904–1976

Investigative journalist and 1949 Pulitzer Prize winner

Child: Haynes Johnson (University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Ferrol Sams 1922–2013

Physician and novelist

Also attended: Emory University

Sam Mitchell 1963–

Former professional basketball player and coach

Vicente Arze 1985–

Bolivian footballer

Cindy Brogdon 1957–

Olympic medalist in basketball

Langston Hall 1991–

Former professional basketball player

James Florence 1988–

Professional point guard basketball player

Cory Gearrin 1986–

Former MLB pitcher

Fardaws Aimaq 1999–

Canadian professional basketball player

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, Texas Tech University, Utah Valley University

Ramiro Canovas 1981–

Argentine professional footballer and center back

Stephon Jelks 1996–

Basketball player

Wesley Duke 1981–

Tight end for the Denver Broncos

Joe Pettini 1955–

Former MLB player and coach

Darious Moten 1992–

American basketball player

Doc Bass 1898–1970

Former Major League Baseball player

Demetre Rivers 1995–

American basketball player

Dylan Gaither 2000–

American college soccer player

George Winn 1897–1969

Major League Baseball pitcher

Kobe Perez 1997–

Professional soccer midfielder

William Brennan 1963–

Former MLB pitcher for the Dodgers and Cubs

Dele Olaoye 1982–

Nigerian former footballer

Austin Cox 1997–

Baseball pitcher for the Royals and Braves

Ian Antley 1995–

Soccer defender

Myrtle Cagle 1925–2019

Pilot and member of the Mercury 13