Notable Alumni of Texas Tech University

Charles Q. Brown Jr. 1962–

21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Also attended: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide

Preston Smith 1912–2003

40th Governor of Texas

John Carter 1941–

US Representative for Texas's 31st district

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1964

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Mac Thornberry 1958–

Former US Representative from Texas

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1980

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Randy Neugebauer 1949–

Former US Representative from Texas

Bachelor in Business Administration · Class of 1972

Jodey Arrington 1972–

U.S. Representative from Texas

Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1997

Demetrio B. Lakas 1925–1999

27th President of Panama

Arati Prabhakar 1959–

Former director of White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Also attended: California Institute of Technology

Lauro Cavazos 1927–2022

Cabinet member in the George H. W. Bush administration

Also attended: Iowa State University

Sibling: Richard E. Cavazos (University of Texas-Arlington, Texas Tech University)

Kent Hance 1942–

Politician, lawyer and former Texas Tech chancellor

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Bob Bullock 1929–1999

38th Lieutenant Governor of Texas

Also attended: Baylor University

Nathaniel Moran 1974–

U.S. Representative from Texas, Republican

Bachelor of Arts, Master of Business Administration · Russian · Class of 2002

Also attended: The United States Military Academy at West Point

King Pu-tsung 1956–

Taiwanese politician, former National Security Council secretary-general

Master's degree

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Rick Husband 1957–2003

Astronaut and commander of STS-107

Also attended: California State University--Fresno

Charles Bassett 1931–1966

US Air Force test pilot and astronaut

Also attended: University of Southern California, Ohio State University-Main Campus

Paul Lockhart 1956–

NASA astronaut, veteran of two Space Shuttle missions

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Bernard A. Harris, Jr. 1956–

Former NASA astronaut and physician

Also attended: University of Houston, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Ashawna Hailey 1949–2011

Computer scientist, co-creator of HSPICE

Iroro Tanshi 1984–

Nigerian ecologist studying African bats

Doctor of Philosophy

Joseph M. Acaba 1967–

NASA astronaut and hydrogeologist

Also attended: University of Arizona, University of California-Santa Barbara

John Denver 1943–1997

Country and folk singer, songwriter and actor

Jesse Plemons 1988–

Actor, Cannes Best Actor award winner

Hunter Parrish 1987–

Actor known for Weeds

G. W. Bailey 1944–

Actor in M*A*S*H and Police Academy

Also attended: Lamar University, Texas State University

George Eads 1967–

Actor known for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Barry Corbin 1940–

Actor known for Northern Exposure

Natalie Maines 1974–

Lead vocalist of the band the Chicks

Also attended: Berklee College of Music, South Plains College, West Texas A & M University

Spouse: Adrian Pasdar (University of Florida)

Jerry Allison 1939–2022

Drummer of the Crickets

Rachel Caine 1962–2020

Author of science fiction, fantasy and horror novels

Jim Marrs 1943–2017

Journalist and author of conspiracy books

Also attended: University of North Texas

Andy Fickman 1970–

Film director and producer

Also attended: University of Houston

Spouse: Christine Lakin (University of California-Los Angeles)

Susan Graham 1960–

Mezzo-soprano opera singer

Also attended: Manhattan School of Music

Johnny Hardwick 1958–2023

Voice actor, comedian and writer

Pat Green 1972–

Country music artist

Scott Pelley 1957–

Broadcast journalist, former 60 Minutes correspondent

William Shockley 1963–

American actor, musician and director

Jimmie Dale Gilmore 1945–

Country singer-songwriter and actor

Jeffrey Tucker 1963–

Libertarian writer and publisher

Also attended: Howard Payne University

Alexis Tipton 1989–

Voice actress for English-language anime

Also attended: University of North Texas

Chen Chen 1989–

Poet longlisted for the National Book Award

Susan Polgar 1969–

Chess grandmaster and former Women's World Champion

Patrick Mahomes 1995–

Kansas City Chiefs NFL quarterback

Also attended: University of Texas--Tyler

Spouse: Brittany Mahomes (University of Texas--Tyler)

Janine Sonis 1994–

Canada national team professional soccer player

Sibling: Drew Beckie (University of Denver)

Sally Kipyego 1985–

Runner, 2012 Olympic 10,000m silver medalist

Also attended: South Plains College

Michael Mathieu 1984–

Bahamian sprinter, 2012 Olympic relay gold medalist

Shereefa Lloyd 1982–

Jamaican 400m sprinter

Darvin Ham 1973–

NBA coach and former player

Also attended: Otero College

Jarrett Culver 1999–

Basketball player, sixth pick in 2019 NBA draft

Gil Roberts 1989–

Sprinter, Olympic 4×400m relay gold medallist

Tony Battie 1976–

Former NBA player of fifteen seasons

Baker Mayfield 1995–

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback

Attended until 2013

Also attended: University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Andrae Williams 1983–

Bahamian sprinter competing mainly in the 400m

Mac McClung 1999–

Professional basketball player

Also attended: Georgetown University

Zhaire Smith 1999–

Basketball player drafted 16th overall in 2018

Keenan Evans 1996–

Basketball player for Žalgiris Kaunas

Father: Kenny Evans (University of Arkansas)

Terrence Shannon Jr. 2000–

NBA player for the Minnesota Timberwolves

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Courtney Lindsey 1998–

Track and field sprinter

Wes Welker 1981–

Former NFL wide receiver, New England Patriots

Divine Oduduru 1996–

Nigerian sprinter

Rosemary Chukwuma 2001–

Nigerian sprinter

Dallas Braden 1983–

Former MLB pitcher for the Oakland Athletics

Todd Brunson 1969–

Professional poker player

Father: Doyle Brunson (Hardin-Simmons University)

John Hinckley 1955–

Attempted assassin of Ronald Reagan