Notable Alumni of Bethany College

Thomas Buergenthal 1934–2023

International lawyer, former ICJ judge

Also attended: Harvard University, New York University

Champ Clark 1850–1921

36th Speaker of the U.S. House

Also attended: University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Child: Bennett Champ Clark (George Washington University, University of Missouri-Columbia)

Joseph Rucker Lamar 1857–1916

Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

Benjamin Barker Odell Jr. 1854–1926

34th Governor of New York

Ben M. Williamson 1864–1941

Former US senator from Kentucky and businessman

George T. Oliver 1848–1919

US Senator from Pennsylvania

Benjamin Joseph Franklin 1839–1898

Missouri congressman and territorial governor of Arizona

William N. Sweeney 1832–1895

U.S. representative from Kentucky

William Ferrel 1817–1891

Meteorologist, namesake of the Ferrel cell

Attended until 1844

Also attended: Franklin and Marshall College

George Albee 1921–2006

Clinical psychologist and community psychology pioneer

Also attended: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Lawrence B. Slobodkin 1928–2009

Ecologist, Stony Brook University professor emeritus

Edgar Odell Lovett 1871–1957

First president of Rice Institute, now Rice University

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Frances McDormand 1957–

Actress, four-time Academy Award winner

Bachelor of Arts · Theatre · Class of 1979

Also attended: Yale University

Spouse: Joel Coen (Simon's Rock at Bard College, New York University)

William H. Macy 1950–

American actor and filmmaker

Also attended: Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater, Goddard College

Spouse: Felicity Huffman (Circle in the Square Theatre School, New York University)

Tom Poston 1921–2007

Actor, played George Utley on Newhart

Also attended: American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York, Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater

Spouse: Suzanne Pleshette (Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater, Syracuse University)

James Schuyler 1923–1991

Poet, Pulitzer Prize for Poetry winner

Caroline Gordon 1895–1981

Novelist and literary critic

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1916

Spouse: Allen Tate (Georgetown University, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus)

John Robinson Tait 1834–1909

Landscape painter, art critic and travel writer

T. C. Jones 1920–1971

Actor known for female impersonation performances

William L. Adams 1821–1906

Writer, newspaper editor and physician from Oregon

Also attended: Western Oregon University

Dave Sims 1953–

New York Yankees radio play-by-play announcer

Shane Douglas 1964–

Professional wrestler known for ECW, WCW and WWF

Bob Alexander 1922–1993

Canadian professional baseball pitcher

Ed Wells 1900–1986

Major League Baseball pitcher