Since graduating its first class, Sam Houston State University has had many of its former students go on to garner recognition and accolades.
Science and academics Hiram Abiff Boaz – bishop; president of Polytechnic College 1902–1911, and of Southern Methodist University, 1920–1922 Willie Dee Bowles – historian of women's suffrage William "Bill" R. Brinkley – Professor and Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine Melinda Estes – neuropathologist and president and chief executive of the Fletcher Allen Health Care corporation
Arts and media David Adickes – painter; sculptor; creator of '65 Sam Houston statue, President heads at Presidents Park Jonathan Aibel – screenwriter of Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda 2 Dana Andrews – Hollywood actor and president of the Screen Actors Guild, 1963–1965 Frank Bielec – Trading Spaces designer Katie Rose Clarke – Broadway actor Roger Creager – country-western musician Brooke Daniels – Miss Texas USA 2009 Frank Q. Dobbs – writer, director, producer (Streets of Laredo, Gunsmoke) Dan Dunn – cartoonist, creator of Paintjam Lauren Galley – author, spokesperson Randy Galloway – writer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; radio personality ESPN 103.3 Greg Graham – Broadway choreographer James Havard – painter and sculptor Roy Hazelwood – FBI profiler and author Richard Linklater – Oscar-nominated film director Steven Long – true crime writer Debra Maffett – Miss America, 1983; now host of The Harvest Show on LeSea Broadcasting Network (RTF major) Joel McDonald – voice actor Emily Neves – voice actor Dan Rather – newscaster (1953, B.A. Journalism) James Surls – modernist artist Jack Tinsley – Fort Worth Star-Telegram executive editor who led the paper to two Pulitzer Prizes in the 1980s
Athletics Walt Anderson – NFL referee (1974) and head referee for Super Bowl XLV Michael Bankston – professional football player, defensive tackle; 3rd round draft choice in 1991 by the Arizona Cardinals; played ten years in the NFL for AZ, Wash., Cin. Stan Blinka – linebacker for the NFL's New York Jets Rhett Bomar – quarterback for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings Ronnie Carroll – offensive guard for the NFL's Houston Oilers Tina Chandler – IFBB professional bodybuilder Keith Davis – former safety for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys Johnnie Dirden – wide receiver for the NFL's Houston Oilers Matt Dominguez – wide receiver for the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders Keith Heinrich – tight end for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers Phil Hennigan – former Major League Baseball pitcher, Cleveland Indians and New York Mets Ben Hightower – tight end for the AFL's Cleveland Rams Hubbard Law – offensive guard for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers Josh McCown – backup quarterback for the NFL's Cleveland Browns Guido Merkens – quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and defensive back for multiple teams McNeil Moore – defensive back for the NFL's Chicago Bears Sam Moore – gridiron football player Monty Sopp, born Billy Gunn – professional wrestler Steve Sparks – professional baseball player (1987) D.D. Terry – running back for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars George Wright – defensive tackle for the NFL's Baltimore Colts
Politics Joseph A. Adame – mayor of Corpus Christi Kenneth Armbrister – former Texas state senator and director of legislative affairs Robert Gammage – former US congressman; former Texas Supreme Court justice Lyda Green – retired educator; Republican politician in Alaska John H. Hannah, Jr. – former United States federal judge Gibson D. Lewis – former Texas speaker of the House, the longest serving in state history Borris L. Miles – member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 146 Thaksin Shinawatra – former prime minister of Thailand (1979, PhD in Criminal Justice) Charlie Wilson – member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 2nd congressional district Ralph Yarborough – Texas Democratic politician who served in the United States Senate (1957–1971) Bill Zedler – member of the Texas House of Representatives from Tarrant County, 2003–2009 and since 2011 ('67 M.B.A.)
Armed services William F. Garrison – retired major general of the United States Army; commander of Operation Gothic Serpent, the military operation launched in 1993 to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid Hiram "Doc" Jones – deputy chief of chaplains of the United States Air Force Marcus Luttrell – Navy Cross recipient for his actions in 2005 facing Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wing; co-authored the New York Times bestseller Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 J. Michael Myatt – retired major general of the United States Marine Corps; commanded the 1st Marine Division during Operation Desert Storm in 1990–91; his division liberated Kuwait City; president and CEO of the Marines Memorial Association Larry Snook – former United States Army colonel; former Grimes County judge
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