List of Phi Delta Theta members

This is a list of prominent alumni of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Names are listed followed by the school attended and their graduation year.

Academia

Presidents

Guy Potter Benton, Ohio Wesleyan, 1886 – president of Miami University (1902–1911); president of University of the Philippines (1921–1925) John R. Conniff, Tulane University, 1893 – educator; 7th president of Louisiana Tech University Frederick W. Hinitt, Westminster College (Missouri), 1889 – president of Parsons College (1900–1904); president of Centre College (1904–1915); president of Washington & Jefferson College (1915–1918) Robert Khayat, University of Mississippi, 1960 – chancellor of the University of Mississippi (1995–2009) Charles Boynton Knapp, Iowa State University, 1967 – president of the University of Georgia (1987–1997) John D. Millett, DePauw University – president of Miami University (1953–1964) James Milliken, University of Nebraska–Lincoln – chancellor of the University of Texas System (2018–present); chancellor of the City University of New York (2014–2018); president of the University of Nebraska system (2004–2014) Santa J. Ono, University of British Columbia – incoming president of the University of Florida, president of University of Michigan (2022–2025); president and vice-chancellor of University of British Columbia (2016–2022); President University of Cincinnati (2012–2016) Walter Riggs, Auburn University, 1892 – president of Clemson University (1910–1924) Andrew Sledd, Randolph-Macon College, 1893 – founding president of the modern University of Florida (1905–1909); president of Southern University (1910–1914) John J. Tigert, Vanderbilt University, 1902 – president of Kentucky Wesleyan College (1909–1913); US Commissioner of Education (1921–1928); third president of the University of Florida (1928–1947) William G. Tight – president of the University of New Mexico (1902–1909) T. K. Wetherell, Florida State University, 1968 – president of Florida State University (2003–2009)

Deans

Liberty Hyde Bailey, Michigan State University, 1882 – horticulturist, founded and first dean of the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University Charles E. Chadsey, Stanford University, 1892 - dean of the University of Illinois College of Education William Harding Mayes, Vanderbilt University, 1881 – founder and dean of the University of Texas School of Journalism Don K. Price, Vanderbilt University, 1931 – political scientist and founding dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government

Professors Paul Morton Gaston, Swarthmore College, 1952 -- civil rights activist and professor of southern history at the University of Virginia. While at Swarthmore, he attended the fraternity’s national conference in Chicago in an unsuccessful attempt to overturn their policy agains admitting Jews and Blacks.Gaston, Paul M. (2010). Coming of Age in Utopia: The Odyssey of an Idea. Montgomery, AL: NewSouth Books. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-58838-225-2. Steve Hanke, University of Colorado, 1964 – economist and professor of applied economics at the Johns Hopkins University Vernon Lyman Kellogg, University of Kansas, 1889 – entomologist who established the Department of Zoology at Stanford University Frederic Brewster Loomis, Amherst College, 1896 – paleontologist at Amherst College Adam G. Riess, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1992 – Nobel Prize Recipient for Physics, 2011; astrophysicist and Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University and the Space Telescope Science Institute

Aerospace and astronomy Neil Armstrong, Purdue University, 1955 – Commander of Apollo 11 and first man to walk on the Moon William F. Durand, Michigan State, 1880 – first civilian chair of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the forerunner of NASA Jon McBride, West Virginia, 1964 – NASA astronaut, Space Shuttle Columbia F. Story Musgrave, Syracuse University, 1958 – NASA astronaut, Space Shuttle Challenger, Space Shuttle Columbia Thomas Jefferson Jackson See, University of Missouri, 1889 – astronomer for the United States Navy Joel Stebbins, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, 1899 – astronomer

Art and architecture Francis Chapin, Washington & Jefferson College, 1921 – painter Julian Franklin Everett, University of Wisconsin, 1894 – architect known for his work in Seattle Hank Ketcham, University of Washington, 1941 – cartoonist, creator of Dennis the Menace comic strip Frank Lloyd Wright, University of Wisconsin, 1888 – architect

Business Robert Allen, Wabash College, 1957 – chairman of AT&T (1988–97) John Y. Brown, Jr., University of Kentucky, 1956 – co-founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken; former Kentucky Governor Tim Collins, Depauw University, 1978 – founder, senior managing director, and CEO of Ripplewood Holdings LLC Powel Crosley Jr., University of Cincinnati, 1909 – manufactured Crosley automobiles, pioneer in radio broadcasting, owner of Cincinnati Reds William H. Danforth, Washington University in St Louis, 1892 – founder of Ralston Purina Mills pet food company Robert Diamond, Colby College – president of Barclays PLC Charles W. "Chuck" Durham, Iowa State University, 1939 – former owner, CEO, and chairman emeritus of HDR, Inc. The Honourable Trevor Eyton, OC, QC, University of Toronto, 1956 – former president and chief executive officer of Brascan Limited William F. Harrah, UCLA, 1934 – founder of Harrah's Hotel and Casinos Josh Harris, Wharton School, 1986 – co-founder of Apollo Global Management and owner of several sports teams Drew Houston, MIT, 2006 – founder and CEO of Dropbox Clark Hunt, Southern Methodist University – chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs Ray Lee Hunt, Southern Methodist University – chairman and chief executive officer of Hunt Oil Company Mark Hurd, Baylor University, 1979 – former CEO of NCR Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, and Oracle Corporation F. Ross Johnson, University of Manitoba, 1952 – former CEO of RJR Nabisco John Willard Marriott, University of Utah, 1926 – founder of Marriott Corporation Charles Peter McColough, Dalhousie University, 1943 – former chairman and CEO of Xerox Edward Avery McIlhenny, Lehigh University, 1894 – son of Tabasco brand pepper sauce inventor Edmund McIlhenny James McLamore, Cornell University, 1942 – founder of Burger King Dave Morin, University of Colorado Boulder, 2003 – entrepreneur and angel investor Brian Niccol, Miami University, 1996 – chairman and CEO of Starbucks, former CEO of Chipotle and Taco Bell Ronald K. Richey, Washburn University, 1949 – president and CEO of the Torchmark Corporation Hermon Scott, M.I.T. 1930 – founder of H.H. Scott, Inc. Roger Smith, University of Michigan, 1946 – chairman of General Motors David Steiner, Louisiana State University, 1982—former CEO of Waste Management Mark Suster, University of California San Diego, 1991 – entrepreneur, angel investor, and venture capitalist with Upfront Ventures John H. Tyson, University of Arkansas, 1975 – chairman of Tyson Foods

Entertainment

Film and television Harry Ackerman, Dartmouth College, 1935 – Emmy Award winner; producer of Gidget, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, The Flying Nun, The Monkees, and The Partridge Family Joseph Ashton – actor, film and voice actor Gary Bender, Wichita State, 1962 – Fox Sports anchor Dirk Benedict, Whitman College, 1967 – actor, The A-Team Ted Bessell, University of Colorado, 1957 – actor, daytime Emmy Award winner Bill Bixby, University of California (Berkeley), 1956 – actor, director, writer, The Incredible Hulk, My Favorite Martian Prince Lorenzo Borghese, Rollins College, 1995 – bachelor in The Bachelor: Rome Kurt Caceres, Sacramento State University, 1998 – actor, The Shield, Prison Break Trey Callaway, University of Southern California, 1989 – writer of I Still Know What You Did Last Summer; producer of CSI: NY Brett Claywell, North Carolina State 2000 – actor, One Tree Hill Dabney Coleman, University of Texas, 1953 – actor, Tootsie, Stuart Little Mike Connors, UCLA, 1950 – actor; Golden Globe Winner; Emmy Award winner for Mannix Tim Conway, Bowling Green University, 1956 – actor, McHale's Navy, The Carol Burnett Show Mark DeCarlo, Drake University, 1984 – actor, host on the Travel Channel Colby Donaldson, Texas Tech, 1996 – actor, runner-up on Survivor: The Australian Outback Jonathan Drubner, Syracuse University, 1991 – television personality; writer, ESPNU College Road Trip; head writer for the ESPY Awards George Eads, Texas Tech, 1990 – actor, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Roger Ebert, University of Illinois, 1964 – film critic, author Willie Geist, Vanderbilt University, 1997 – NBC News personality, co-host of Morning Joe and Sunday Today with Willie Geist anchor Donald Gibb, University of New Mexico, 1976 – actor, played "Ogre" in Revenge of the Nerds Chris Hansen, Michigan State University, 1981 – journalist known for appearing on Dateline NBC and To Catch a Predator Dean Hargrove, Wichita State University, 1960 – producer, Emmy Award winner for Perry Mason, Matlock Van Heflin, University of Oklahoma, 1932 – Academy Award-winning actor Jeffrey Hunter, Northwestern University, 1950 – actor, King of Kings Richard Kelly, University of Southern California, 1997 – writer, producer, Donnie Darko Robert Kintner, University of Washington, 1944 – president of the ABC Francis D. Lyon, UCLA, 1928 – Academy Award-winning editor Al Mayer Jr., CSUN, 1991 – Academy Award, Emmy Award for Technical Achievement Michael McDonald, University of Southern California, 1987 – actor, MADtv Stan Moore, Baylor University – director, screenwriter, film producer, and two-time Emmy Award winner Michael Murphy, University of Arizona, 1960 – actor Brock Pemberton, University of Kansas, 1908 – founder of the Tony Awards James Pierce, Indiana University, 1920 – actor, Tarzan Burt Reynolds, Florida State, 1958 – actor, Golden Globe winner; star of Smokey and the Bandit Bob Schieffer, Texas Christian University, 1959 – CBS News anchor Zachary Scott, University of Texas, 1935 – actor Ted Shackelford, Westminster College, 1968 – actor, Knots Landing Sonny Shroyer, University of Georgia, 1958 – actor, Dukes of Hazzard Donald Simpson, University of Oregon, 1966 – producer, Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop, Days of Thunder, Bad Boys, The Rock Frank Stanton, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1937 – former president of CBS Josh Taylor, Dartmouth College, 1965 – actor, Days of Our Lives, The Hogan Family Trey Wingo, Baylor University, 1985 – ESPN commentator; host of NFL PrimeTime Hugh Wilson, University of Florida, 1965 – Emmy Award winner; producer of WKRP in Cincinnati Trey Wingo, Baylor, 1985 – ESPN anchor Robert Wise, Franklin College, 1936 – Academy Award-winning director/producer, West Side Story, Sound of Music

Music Josh Abbott, Texas Tech University – country musician, Josh Abbott Band Chris Cagle, Northwest Missouri State University, 2005 – country musician Frank Crumit, Ohio University, 1912 – singer and songwriter Casey Donahew, Texas A&M University – country musician, Casey Donahew Band Wayland Holyfield, University of Arkansas, 1964 – songwriter Bob James, University of Michigan, 1961 – jazz musician, Grammy Award recipient Werner Janssen, Dartmouth College, 1921 – conductor and composer Erich Kunzel, Dartmouth College, 1957 – symphony conductor; Grammy Award recipient Phil Pritchett, Southwestern University – country musician, singer, and songwriter Phil Walden, Mercer University, 1962 – founder of Capricorn Records Hudson Westbrook, Texas Tech University, 2023 - country musician

Radio Earle C. Anthony, UC Berkeley, 1903 – pioneer broadcaster; founder and owner of KFI and other radio stations Edgar White Burrill, Amherst College, 1906 – radio announcer and lecturer Elmer Davis, Franklin College, 1910 – radio news reporter, director of the U.S. Office of War Information in World War II, Peabody Award recipient