Notable Alumni of Southwestern University

John Tower 1925–1991

Former Texas senator, Tower Commission chairman

Also attended: Southern Methodist University

Pete Sessions 1955–

Texas congressman, former House Rules Committee chair

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1978

Father: William S. Sessions (Baylor University)

Earle Bradford Mayfield 1881–1964

Former US Senator from Texas

Robert Lee Henry 1864–1931

Former U.S. representative from Texas

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

John Marvin Jones 1882–1976

Texas congressman and U.S. Court of Claims judge

Robert Ewing Thomason 1879–1973

Texas congressman, federal judge and El Paso mayor

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Joseph Tyree Sneed, III 1920–2008

Judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Also attended: Harvard University, The University of Texas at Austin

Child: Carly Fiorina (University of Maryland-College Park, University System of Maryland)

Jessie Daniel Ames 1883–1972

Suffragist and civil rights leader in anti-lynching movement

Thomas Bruce White Sr. 1881–1971

Law officer and prison warden

Joan Bray 1945–

Former Missouri state senator

Also attended: University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Stanley Hauerwas 1940–

Protestant theologian and ethicist

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: Yale University

Robert Homer Simpson 1912–2014

Meteorologist, co-developer of Saffir–Simpson scale

Also attended: Emory University, University of Chicago

Spouse: Joanne Simpson (University of Chicago)

Ivy Hooks 1941–2026

Mathematician and engineer at NASA

Also attended: Austin College, University of Houston

Ana Alicia 1956–

Actress known for Falcon Crest

Also attended: Wellesley College, University of Texas--El Paso

Bill Engvall 1957–

Stand-up comedian and actor

Also attended: Grand Canyon University

Jerry Hardin 1929–

Actor, played Deep Throat in The X-Files

Child: Melora Hardin (Sarah Lawrence College)

J. Frank Dobie 1888–1964

Folklorist and writer on rural Texas life

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Hubert Renfro Knickerbocker 1898–1949

Journalist and author, 1931 Pulitzer Prize winner

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Robert Arthur 1909–1986

Screenwriter and producer linked with Universal Studios

John Murrell 1945–2019

American-born Canadian playwright

Mike Timlin 1966–

Former MLB relief pitcher, four-time World Series champion

Mike Anderson 1966–

Former MLB pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds

Phillip Wellman 1961–

Professional baseball coach and manager

Also attended: Sam Houston State University

Jay Richards 1967–

Theologian and Heritage Foundation fellow

Also attended: Calvin Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York