Notable Alumni of Hardin-Simmons University

Owen J. Baggett 1920–2006

World War II US Army Air Forces pilot

George H. Mahon 1900–1985

Texas Democratic congressman for 22 terms

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1924

Also attended: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, The University of Texas at Austin

Omar Truman Burleson 1906–1991

U.S. Representative from Texas and former FBI agent

Also attended: Samford University, Cumberland University, Abilene Christian University

Stedman Graham 1951–

Businessman and author

Also attended: Ball State University, Weatherford College

John Leland Atwood 1904–1999

North American Aviation president who developed the P-51 Mustang

Willis Whitfield 1919–2012

Physicist and inventor of the modern cleanroom

Thomas G. Barnes 1911–2001

Physicist and young Earth creationist

Also attended: Brown University

Marion Zimmer Bradley 1930–1999

Fantasy author of The Mists of Avalon

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Spouse: Walter Breen (University of California-Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University)

Dan Blocker 1928–1972

Actor who played Hoss in Bonanza

Also attended: Sul Ross State University

Fess Parker 1924–2010

Actor known for Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone

Also attended: University of Southern California, The University of Texas at Austin

Don Collier 1928–2021

Actor known for Western films and TV shows

Also attended: Brigham Young University-Provo

Roy Crane 1901–1977

Cartoonist who created Wash Tubbs and Buz Sawyer

W. Francis McBeth 1933–2012

Composer known for wind band works

Terri Hendrix 1968–

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist

Liz Smith 1923–2017

Gossip columnist

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Slim Willet 1919–1966

Disc jockey, musician and songwriter

Gertrude Beasley 1892–1955

Feminist writer and memoirist

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1914

Also attended: University of Chicago

Harvey Catchings 1951–

Former NBA player

Child: Tamika Catchings (The University of Tennessee-Knoxville)

Bulldog Turner 1919–1998

NFL player and coach, Pro Football Hall of Famer

Hue Menzies 1964–

Football manager who led Jamaica women to 2019 World Cup

Also attended: New York University

Gene Cockrell 1934–2020

American football player and rodeo cowboy

Doyle Brunson 1933–2023

Poker player, two-time WSOP Main Event champion

Child: Todd Brunson (Texas Tech University)

Naim Ateek 1937–

Palestinian Anglican priest, founder of Sabeel

Lee Bowers 1925–1966

Witness to the JFK assassination

Also attended: Southern Methodist University