Notable Alumni of West Virginia Wesleyan College

Okey L. Patteson 1898–1989

23rd governor of West Virginia

John Swan 1935–2026

Premier of Bermuda from 1982 to 1995

Robin Davis 1956–

Former West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals justice

Also attended: West Virginia University

William Eli Baker 1873–1954

Federal district judge, Northern District of West Virginia

Stephen Skinner 2000–

Former West Virginia House of Delegates member

Matt Foreman 1950–

LGBT rights lawyer and activist

Lewis C. Cantley 1949–

Biochemist who studied PI3-kinase and cancer metabolism

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1971

Also attended: Harvard University, Cornell University

L. J. Hanifan 1879–1932

Credited with introducing the concept of social capital

Also attended: University of Chicago, Harvard University, West Virginia University

Ted Cassidy 1932–1979

Actor who played Lurch on The Addams Family

Also attended: Stetson University

Blanche Lazzell 1878–1956

Painter and printmaker known for white-line woodcuts

Also attended: West Virginia University

Pare Lorentz 1905–1992

Filmmaker known for New Deal documentaries

Attended until 1923

Also attended: West Virginia University

Maggie Anderson 1948–

Poet and editor with Appalachian roots

Also attended: West Virginia University

Irene McKinney 1939–2012

Poet laureate of West Virginia

Also attended: University of Utah, West Virginia University

Jean Lee Latham 1902–1995

Writer of biographies for children

Also attended: Cornell University, Ithaca College

Jim Brogan 1958–

Retired basketball player

Cliff Battles 1910–1981

Pro Football Hall of Fame tailback

Greasy Neale 1891–1973

American football and baseball player and coach

Len Barnum 1912–1988

NFL quarterback for the Giants and Eagles

Jason Koon 1985–

Professional poker player

Oscar Lambert 1890–1970

American football and baseball player, and lawyer

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Anthony Peters 1983–

Soccer player

William Flanagan 1901–1975

Early NFL football player

Ken Ash 1901–1979

Former Major League Baseball pitcher

Nelson Peterson 1913–1990

Former NFL running back