Notable Alumni of Marshall University

Robert Byrd 1917–2010

U.S. Senator from West Virginia, 1959–2010

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1994

Also attended: American University, George Washington University, University of Charleston

Jim Justice 1951–

US senator, former governor of West Virginia

Also attended: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Spouse: Cathy Justice (Marshall University)

Earl Ray Tomblin 1952–

35th Governor of West Virginia

Also attended: West Virginia University

Carwood Lipton 1920–2001

WWII officer with Easy Company, 101st Airborne

Also attended: Yale University

Albert G. Jenkins 1830–1864

Congressman and Confederate Army officer

Also attended: Harvard University, Washington and Jefferson College

John Frederick Hartranft 1830–1889

Union major general and Medal of Honor recipient

Also attended: Union College

Hubert Summers Ellis 1887–1959

Former US representative from West Virginia, banker

Terry R. Ferrell 1962–

Retired Army lieutenant general, former US Army Central commander

Also attended: Central Michigan University

Charlotte Pritt 1949–

West Virginia politician and former state senator

Joseph Duffey 1932–2021

Academic, diplomat and anti-war activist

Also attended: Yale University, Andover Newton Theological School, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Cathy Justice 1953–

Educator and former first lady of West Virginia

Spouse: Jim Justice (The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Marshall University)

Rick Thompson 1952–

Former Speaker of West Virginia House of Delegates

Jimmy Stewart 1969–

Republican politician in the Ohio legislature

H. Truman Chafin 1945–

Former West Virginia state senator and Majority Leader

Johnnie H. Corns 1936–2020

US Army lieutenant general, commanded US Army Pacific

Bachelor of Arts · Civil authority

Also attended: Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Bill Anderson 1948–

West Virginia Republican state delegate

Also attended: West Virginia University

Don Blankenship 1950–

Former chairman and CEO of Massey Energy

Chris Cline 1958–2019

American coal baron and philanthropist

Lonnie Thompson 1948–2026

Paleoclimatologist and Ohio State University professor

Bachelor of Science

Also attended: Ohio State University-Main Campus

Spouse: Ellen Mosley-Thompson (Ohio State University-Main Campus, Marshall University)

David A. Wiley 2000–

Educator, academic and copyright activist

Also attended: Brigham Young University-Provo

Ellen Mosley-Thompson 1952–

Glaciologist and climatologist at Ohio State University

Also attended: Ohio State University-Main Campus

Spouse: Lonnie Thompson (Ohio State University-Main Campus, Marshall University)

Mary Jean Harrold 1947–2013

Computer scientist noted for software engineering research

Master of Science

Also attended: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Billy Crystal 1948–

Comedian, actor and filmmaker

Also attended: Nassau Community College, New York University

Child: Jennifer Crystal Foley (Northwestern University)

Conchata Ferrell 1943–2020

Actress who played Berta in Two and a Half Men

Also attended: West Virginia University

Michael W. Smith 1957–

Contemporary Christian musician and songwriter

John Fiedler 1925–2005

Actor in stage, film, television and radio

Soupy Sales 1926–2009

Comedian and children's television host

Nelson S. Bond 1908–2006

Science fiction writer and scriptwriter

Joe Chrest 1965–

Actor, Ted Wheeler in Stranger Things

Breece D'J Pancake 1952–1979

Short story writer

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Rob Redding 1976–

Podcaster, journalist and author

Also attended: CUNY New York City College of Technology

Aleshia Brevard 1937–2017

Author, actress and theater professor

Also attended: Middle Tennessee State University

Darrell Fetty 1948–

Actor, screenwriter and Emmy-nominated producer

Jim Thornton 1965–

Radio announcer, news anchor and voice actor

Julia Keller 2000–

Writer and Pulitzer Prize winner

Also attended: Harvard University, Ohio State University-Main Campus

Beau Smith 1954–

Comic book writer and columnist

Griffin McElroy 1987–

Podcaster, co-founder of Polygon

Father: Clint McElroy (Marshall University)

Sibling: Justin McElroy (Marshall University)

Howard Bay 1912–1986

Set designer, two-time Tony Award winner

Also attended: University of Colorado Boulder, Westminster College, Carnegie Mellon University

Jason Williams 1975–

NBA point guard, 2006 champion with Miami Heat

Also attended: University of Florida

Hassan Whiteside 1989–

Basketball player, formerly of Shanghai Sharks

Mike D'Antoni 1951–

Basketball coach, 2005 NBA Coach of the Year

Sibling: Dan D'Antoni (Marshall University)

Hal Greer 1936–2018

NBA player for the Philadelphia 76ers

Randy Moss 1977–

Former NFL wide receiver, single-season touchdown reception record holder

Lea Ann Parsley 1968–

Skeleton racer; 2002 Olympic silver medalist

Also attended: Ohio State University-Main Campus, University of Virginia-Main Campus

Andy Tonkovich 1922–2006

Basketball player, first overall pick in 1948 BAA draft

DeAndre Kane 1989–

Professional basketball player

Bob Allen 1946–2025

Former NBA player for the San Francisco Warriors

Chad Pennington 1976–

Former NFL quarterback

Vinny Curry 1988–

Former NFL defensive end for 11 seasons

Ahmad Bradshaw 1986–

Former NFL running back

Tamar Slay 1980–

Former NBA basketball player

Ajdin Penava 1997–

Bosnian professional basketball player

Byron Leftwich 1980–

Former NFL quarterback and football coach

Aaron Dobson 1991–

Former NFL wide receiver and football coach

Chantelle Handy 1987–

British basketball player, 2012 Olympian

George Stone 1946–1993

Former professional basketball player in the ABA

Troy Brown 1971–

Former NFL wide receiver for the Patriots

Dagoberto Peña 1988–

Dominican professional basketball player

Russ Lee 1950–

Former NBA player, sixth pick in 1972 draft

Sibling: Ron Lee (University of Oregon)