List of Mississippi State University people

The following is a list of notable people associated with Mississippi State University , located in the American city of Starkville, Mississippi.

Notable alumni

Politics and government

• Sharion Aycock, first female federal district court judge in Mississippi
• Donnie Bell, Mississippi state representative
• Andy Berry, Mississippi state senator
• Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator from Tennessee
• Hob Bryan, Mississippi state senator
• C. Scott Bounds, Mississippi state representative
• Andy Boyd, Mississippi state representative
• Nicole Akins Boyd, Mississippi state senator
• Randy Boyd, forester who serves as a Republican in the Mississippi House of Representatives for District 19 in his native Itawamba County ^[1]
• Jenifer Branning, Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate ^[2]
• Videt Carmichael, Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate ^[3]
• Kimberly L. Campbell, Mississippi state representative
• Cynthia Cooper, whistleblower, 2002 Time Person of the Year
• Sam Creekmore IV, Mississippi state representative
• Leonard B. Cresswell, major general in the Marine Corps; World War II Navy Cross recipient
• Jess Dickinson, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice ^[4]
• Charles D. Easley, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice ^[5]
• Jeremy England, Mississippi state senator
• Robert Evans, Mississippi state representative
• Josh Harkins, Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate ^[6]
• Horace Harned, former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
• Doc Harris, Mississippi state representative
• Bill Hawks, former USDA Undersecretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs
• Joey Hood, Mississippi state representative
• Mac Huddleston, former Mississippi state representative
• Todd Jordan, Mayor of Tupelo, Mississippi
• Kabir Karriem, Mississippi state representative
• Mark Keenum, USDA Undersecretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service
• Rhonda Keenum, Assistant to President George W. Bush and director of White House Public Liaison
• Brad Mattox, Mississippi state representative
• Billy McCoy, Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives ^[7]
• Troy H. Middleton, World War II corps commander (lieutenant general) and president of Louisiana State University
• Tom Miles, former Mississippi state representative
• G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery, former U.S. Representative and author of the Montgomery G.I. Bill
• Philip Moran, Mississippi state senator
• Bill Pigott, Mississippi state representative
• Brent Powell, Mississippi state representative
• Brandon Presley, former Democratic Public Service Commissioner for Mississippi's northern district
• Brian Rhodes, Mississippi state senator
• Rob Roberson, Mississippi state representative
• Fred Shanks, Mississippi state representative
• Cecil L. Simmons, Speaker pro tempore of the Mississippi House of Representatives
• John C. Stennis, former U.S. Senator; "father of the Modern Navy"
• Jody Steverson, Mississippi state representative
• Benjamin Suber, Mississippi state senator
• Amy Tuck, Mississippi Lieutenant Governor
• Angela Turner-Ford, Mississippi state senator
• William Waller Jr., Mississippi Supreme Court Justice ^[8]
• Albert H. Wilkening, Adjutant General of Wisconsin
• Bart Williams, Mississippi state senator
• Charles Young Jr., Mississippi state representative
• Charles Younger, Mississippi state senator

Academia

• James E. Cofer, Fulbright Scholar and former president of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, and former president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe
• Frances Lucas, vice president and campus executive officer of the University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Coast
• Damir Novosel, Fulbright Scholar, founder and president of Quanta Technology in Raleigh, North Carolina, former vice president of ABB Automation Products, and former president of IEEE Power & Energy Society
• Malcolm Portera, former chancellor of the University of Alabama System
• Charles Sallis, historian and history professor of Millsaps College ^[9]
• Priscilla Slade, former president of Texas Southern University

Business

• Richard Adkerson, CEO of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
• George W. Bryan, senior vice president of Sara Lee Corporation, CEO of Sara Lee Foods, and founder of Old Waverly Golf Club
• Toxey Haas, founder and CEO of Haas Outdoors, Inc. (Mossy Oak)
• Martin F. Jue, amateur radio inventor; entrepreneur; founder of MFJ Enterprises ^[10]
• Hartley Peavey, founder of Peavey Electronics
• Dalton Pritchard, early color television systems pioneer at RCA Laboratories
• Arthur L. Williams, Jr., insurance magnate, #583 on Forbes' list of the world's billionaires

Media and arts

Author John Grisham

• Kevin Benson, meteorologist for WPXI in Pittsburgh
• Turner Catledge, former vice president of The New York Times
• Jerry Clower, comedian
• Bill Evans, meteorologist for WABC-TV, ABC affiliate in New York City
• John Grisham, author of more than two dozen novels, many of which have been made into screenplays
• Matthew F. Jones, novelist
• Gregory Keyes, author
• Donna Ladd, journalist
• Sean McLaughlin, MSNBC Chief Meteorologist
• Lewis Nordan, author
• Audrey Puente, New York City meteorologist; daughter of salsa singer Tito Puente
• Frank K. Spain, founder of Tupelo television station WTVA; broadcasting pioneer
• Joe M. Turner, magician, mentalist, professional speaker
• Brad Watson (born 1955), author

Athletics

All-Star Buddy Myer

• Jim Ashmore, former NBA player
• Denico Autry, DE, Oakland Raiders
• Vick Ballard, NFL running back, Indianapolis Colts
• Johnthan Banks, cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Korey Banks, CFL DB BC Lions
• Kevin Bouie, NFL player
• Timmy Bowers, professional basketball player, 2006 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP
• Jimmy Bragan, former MLB coach with Cincinnati, Montreal, and Milwaukee 1967–1977
• Jeff Brantley, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher; commentator for the Cincinnati Reds
• Rickey Brown, C for Golden State, Atlanta Hawks
• Titus Brown, NFL defensive end, Cleveland Browns
• Shawn Byrdsong, football player
• Van Chancellor, former head coach of women's basketball at Louisiana State University, at the University of Mississippi, and of the Houston Comets of the WNBA
• Ed Chapman, P for the Washington Senators in 1933
• Bubba Church, pitcher for the Phillies, Reds, and Cubs from 1950 to 1955
• Will Clark, former first baseman for San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, and Texas Rangers
• John Cohen, Mississippi State University Head Coach
• Keo Coleman, former NFL linebacker
• Michael Connell, PGA golfer 2001–2006 ^[11]
• Johnie Cooks, NFL linebacker, Super Bowl XXV Champion
• Fletcher Cox, defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League
• Hughie Critz, second baseman for Cincinnati Reds (1920s) and the New York Giants (1930s)
• Quinton Culberson, NFL linebacker, St. Louis Rams
• Erick Dampier, former NBA player
• Charlie Davidson, football player
• Art Davis, NFL player, college football coach
• Brandon Davis, professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC ^[12]
• Harper Davis, NFL player, college football head coach
• Anthony Dixon, NFL running back, San Francisco 49ers
• Kevin Dockery, NFL Super Bowl XLII Champion
• Dominic Douglas, NFL linebacker, Denver Broncos
• Frank Dowsing, first black football player at MSU ^[13]
• Eric Dubose, P for Baltimore and Cleveland from 2002 to 2006
• Sammy Ellis, former Major League Baseball pitcher, 7 seasons
• Bobby Etheridge, former MLB player
• Rags Faircloth, P for Phillies in 1919
• Dave "Boo" Ferriss, former Major League Baseball player
• Ronald Fields, NFL DT, Denver Broncos
• Joe Fortunato, five-time Pro Bowler with the Chicago Bears
• Steve Freeman, former Buffalo Bills defensive back for 13 seasons; NFL game official
• Willie Gay, NFL linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs
• Chuck Gelatka, NFL player
• Matt Ginter, pitcher for the Houston Astros
• De'Mon Glanton, football player
• Tom Goode, former NFL center and Super Bowl veteran
• Alex Grammas, former Major League infielder
• Hoyle Granger, former NFL running back
• Paul Gregory, pitcher in Major League Baseball, played 1932–1933 for the Chicago White Sox
• Justin Griffith, NFL running back, Oakland Raiders
• Michael Haddix, former NFL running back
• Mario Haggan, NFL linebacker, Denver Broncos
• Tang Hamilton, Miami Heat
• Walt Harris, NFL cornerback, San Francisco 49ers
• Bunny Hearn, former MLB player; college coach
• Ron Hill, vice president of the NFL
• John Hilliard, NFL player
• Jim Howarth, Major League Baseball outfielder; played all or part of four seasons in the majors, 1971–1974, for the San Francisco Giants
• Bailey Howell, NBA Hall of Famer
• Kent Hull, former NFL C, Buffalo Bills
• Kirby Jackson, NFL DB Buffalo Bills
• Rickea Jackson, WNBA small forward, Los Angeles Sparks
• Justin Jenkins, NFL wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
• Morley Jennings, former head football coach of the Baylor Bears; former Athletic Director of the Texas Tech Red Raiders
• Alan Johnson, Colorado Rockies
• Chris Jones, NFL defensive tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
• Chris Jones, American player of Canadian football
• Dontae' Jones, Celtics
• James Jones, NFL running back, Dallas Cowboys
• Todd Jordan, football player
• Tommy Kelly, NFL defensive end, Oakland Raiders
• Tyrone Keys, NFL linebacker, Super Bowl XX Champion
• Jon Knott, former Major League Baseball outfielder with the Padres and Orioles
• Jack Lazorko, pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers and California Angels
• Donald Lee, NFL tight end, Green Bay Packers; Super Bowl XLV Champion
• D. D. Lewis, former All-Star linebacker Dallas Cowboys; member of the College Football Hall of Fame
• Carlton Loewer, retired Major League Baseball player
• Lance Long, NFL wide receiver, Arizona Cardinals
• Jim Lyle, pitcher for the Washington Senators (now the Minnesota Twins) in 1925
• Paul Maholm, LHP Atlanta Braves; formerly with Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs
• Jeff Malone, two-time All-Star as a player; coached three teams in NBA D-League
• Chris Maloney, Memphis Redbirds Manager (St. Louis Cardinals AAA)
• James H. "Babe" McCarthy, college and professional basketball coach
• Fred McCrary, NFL running back
• Alvin McKinley, NFL defensive end, Denver Broncos
• Bo McKinnis, sports agent
• Pernell McPhee, linebacker, Chicago Bears; formerly with Baltimore Ravens
• Brandon McRae, NFL wide receiver, St. Louis Rams
• Brandon Medders, MLB player
• John Miller, NFL linebacker, Green Bay Packers
• Leland Mitchell, New Orleans Buccaneers of the ABA
• Monroe Mitchell, Washington Senators
• Willie Mitchell, Cleveland Naps/Indians and Detroit Tigers
• Henry Monroe, NFL DB Green Bay Packers
• Mitch Moreland, first baseman, Boston Red Sox
• Eric Moulds, NFL wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
• Arnett Moultrie, Philadelphia 76ers
• Buddy Myer, Major League Baseball, two-time All-Star second baseman
• Bob Myrick, LHP for the New York Mets
• Tom Neville, former NFL offensive tackle, 14 seasons
• Malik Newman (born 1997), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Jerious Norwood, NFL running back for the Atlanta Falcons
• Romero Osby (born 1990), American basketball player for Maccabi Kiryat Gat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Walter Packer, NFL player
• Rafael Palmeiro, former Major League Baseball player
• Jonathan Papelbon, RHP Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies; All-Star in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009
• Jackie Parker, former All-Star quarterback CFL; member of the College Football Hall of Fame
• Wiley Peck, Spurs, Mavericks
• Adam Piatt, played for the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Devil Rays
• Jay Powell, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher, 11 seasons; World Series veteran
• Dak Prescott, NFL quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
• Gary Rath, Dodgers, Twins
• Fred Reid, CFL running back, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• Lawrence Roberts, Memphis Grizzlies
• Ray Roberts, played for the Philadelphia Athletics
• DelJuan Robinson, NFL defensive tackle, Houston Texans
• Jon Shave, former player for the Texas Rangers and the Minnesota Twins
• Buck Showalter, former baseball manager
• Renardo Sidney, former NBA player
• Jeffery Simmons, NFL defensive tackle, Tennessee Titans
• Barrin Simpson, NFL linebacker
• Deontae Skinner, NFL player
• Darius Slay, cornerback for the Detroit Lions
• Don Smith, quarterback/running back for Buccaneers, Bills, and Dolphins
• Truett Smith, football player
• Fred Smoot, former NFL cornerback
• Homer Spragins, former MLB player
• David Stewart, NFL OT Tennessee Titans
• Scott Stricklin, former athletic director for Mississippi State Bulldogs, athletic director for Florida Gators
• Walter Suggs, former All-Star lineman for Houston Oilers
• Montez Sweat, NFL linebacker, Chicago Bears
• Craig Tatum, former MLB player
• Ken Tatum, former MLB player
• Bobby Thigpen, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher
• Del Unser, former Major League Baseball outfielder
• Jarvis Varnado, Miami Heat
• Victoria Vivians, WNBA Guard Indiana Fever ^[14]
• Fred Walters, catcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1945
• Kendell Watkins, NFL tight end, Dallas Cowboys
• Quinndary Weatherspoon, NBA shooting guard, Golden State Warriors
• Jimmy Webb, former NFL defensive lineman, 7 seasons
• Jordan Westburg, MLB All-Star infielder, Baltimore Orioles
• Floyd Womack, NFL OT, Seattle Seahawks
• Sid Womack, former MLB player
• Marc Woodard, NFL linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles
• Ellis Wyms, NFL LT, Super Bowl Champion with the Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders
• Chris Young, pitching coach for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball
• Pete Young, former MLB player
• Derrick Zimmerman, New Jersey Nets

Other

• Machine Gun Kelly, notorious criminal; studied agriculture at MSU for two years ^[15]
• Jaelyn Young and Muhammad "Moe" Dakhlalla, pleaded guilty to offenses related to their attempts to join ISIS in Syria ^[16]

Notable faculty

• Roger Lee King, engineer and Fellow at the IEEE
• Anthony Sean Neal, author and philosophy professor at MSU
• Horace M. Trent, noted physicist who taught at MSU in the 1930s

References

1. "Randy Boyd". Ballotpedia . Retrieved March 4, 2015.
2. "Jenifer B. Branning". Mississippi State Senate. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
3. "Videt Carmichael". Mississippi State Senate. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
4. Supreme Court of Mississippi. "State of Mississippi Judiciary – Supreme Court" . Retrieved May 8, 2010.
5. Soylent Communications. "Charles D. Easley" . Retrieved May 8, 2010.
6. "Josh Harkins". Mississippi State Senate. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
7. "William McCoy's Biography – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. August 14, 1942. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
8. "State of Mississippi Judiciary – Supreme Court". Courts.ms.gov. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
9. "MC Seminar Sets Sallis As Speaker". The Clarion-Ledger . Jackson, Mississippi. June 18, 1972. p. 6. Retrieved April 6, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
10. "Nine named BCoE Distinguished Alumni Fellows". Mississippi State University. March 31, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
11. "Michael Connell – Career Earnings, Tournament Wins, Stats, Awards and more". databaseGolf.com. February 7, 1975. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
12. "Brandon Davis". September 14, 2018.
13. Maraniss, Andrew (August 31, 2017). "Frank Dowsing, Mississippi State's first black football player, is almost unknown today" . Retrieved July 24, 2018.
14. "Victoria Vivians". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
15. "The story behind Starkville" . Retrieved March 21, 2017.
16. Green, Emma (May 1, 2017). "How Two Mississippi College Students Fell in Love and Decided to Join a Terrorist Group". The Atlantic . Retrieved September 15, 2017.