Notable Alumni of Creighton University

Leo Ryan 1925–1978

American politician, teacher and former mayor

Also attended: Bates College

Mike Johanns 1950–

Former Nebraska governor and U.S. senator

Juris Doctor · Class of 1974

Also attended: Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Paul Gosar 1958–

Arizona congressman and former dentist

Doctor of Dental Surgery, Bachelor of Science · Class of 1985

Barbara Cubin 1946–

First woman elected to Congress from Wyoming

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1969

Lee Terry 1962–

Former U.S. Representative from Nebraska

Juris Doctor · Class of 1987

Also attended: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Brad Ashford 1949–2022

Former U.S. Representative from Nebraska

Juris Doctor · Class of 1974

Also attended: Colgate University

Frank A. Barrett 1892–1962

Governor of Wyoming and U.S. senator

Juris Doctor · Class of 1916

Philip Klutznick 1907–1999

U.S. Secretary of Commerce under Carter

Also attended: University of Kansas

Jack Miller 1916–1994

U.S. Senator from Iowa and federal circuit judge

Also attended: Catholic University of America, University of Iowa, Columbia University in the City of New York

Edward Zorinsky 1928–1987

Former U.S. senator from Nebraska

Also attended: Harvard University, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Virginia Thomas 1957–

Conservative activist, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas

Attended until 1983

Also attended: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Spouse: Clarence Thomas (Yale University, College of the Holy Cross)

Symone D. Sanders-Townsend 1989–

Political strategist and commentator

Bachelor in Business Administration

John Albert Knebel 1936–

US Secretary of Agriculture under Gerald Ford

Also attended: American University, The United States Military Academy at West Point

Ray John Madden 1892–1987

Indiana congressman who served 17 terms

Bachelor of Laws · Class of 1913

Roman Hruska 1904–1999

Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska

Also attended: University of Chicago, University of Nebraska--Omaha

Ernie Chambers 1937–

Nebraska state senator and civil rights activist

Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Arts · Study of history · Class of 1979

Leo J. Dulacki 1918–2019

Lieutenant general in the U.S. Marine Corps

Also attended: George Washington University

Francis P. Matthews 1887–1952

50th US Secretary of the Navy

Mark Walter 1960–

CEO of Guggenheim Partners and TWG Global

Also attended: Northwestern University

Joe Ricketts 1941–

Billionaire American businessman

Child: Todd Ricketts (University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University Chicago)

Child: Pete Ricketts (University of Chicago)

Cathy Hughes 1947–

Entrepreneur and radio and television personality

Also attended: University of Nebraska--Omaha

Mother: Helen Jones Woods (Creighton University)

Andrew Higgins 1886–1952

Founder of Higgins Industries, boatbuilder

Michael P. Anderson 1959–2003

Astronaut killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

Also attended: University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Madeleine Leininger 1925–2012

Nursing theorist, developer of transcultural nursing

Also attended: Catholic University of America

Alejandro Portes 1944–

Sociologist, 1999 president of American Sociological Association

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1965

Also attended: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Nancey Murphy 1951–

Philosopher, theologian, professor at Fuller Theological Seminary

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, Graduate Theological Union

Tom Fadden 1895–1980

Stage, film and television actor

Ron Hansen 1947–

Novelist, essayist and professor

Also attended: Santa Clara University, University of Iowa, Stanford University

Uwem Akpan 1971–

Nigerian Jesuit priest and fiction writer

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Miles J. Breuer 1889–1945

Physician and science fiction writer

Also attended: University of Chicago

Donald E. Thorin 1934–2016

Cinematographer

Joe Nuñez 1950–

Actor and comedian

Kyle Korver 1981–

Former professional basketball player

Doug McDermott 1992–

Professional basketball player, Creighton scoring leader

Father: Greg McDermott (United States Sports University, University of Northern Iowa)

Bob Gibson 1935–2020

Major League Baseball pitcher

Willard Schmidt 1910–1965

Basketball gold medalist at the 1936 Olympics

Paul Silas 1943–2022

NBA player and head coach, two-time All-Star

Child: Stephen Silas (Brown University)

Anthony Tolliver 1985–

Former professional basketball player

Ethan Finlay 1990–

Former professional soccer winger

Duncan McGuire 2001–

Soccer striker for Houston Dynamo

Eric Miller 1993–

Professional soccer defender

Fabian Herbers 1993–

German footballer playing for CF Montréal

Baylor Scheierman 2000–

NBA player for the Boston Celtics

Communication

Also attended: South Dakota State University

Gregory Echenique 1990–

Venezuelan professional basketball player

Also attended: Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Benoit Benjamin 1964–

Former NBA center, third pick in 1985 draft

Justin Patton 1997–

Professional basketball player

Khyri Thomas 1996–

Professional basketball player

Brian Mullan 1978–

Former MLS soccer player

Rodney Buford 1977–

Former professional basketball player

Ryan Kalkbrenner 2002–

Basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets

Kevin McKenna 1959–

Former basketball player and assistant coach

Trey Alexander 2003–

Utah Jazz basketball player

Adam Koch 1988–

Former professional basketball player

Also attended: University of Northern Iowa

Paul Fitzgibbon 1903–1975

Football wide receiver turned neurologist

Will Artino 1992–

Taiwanese-American professional basketball player

Francis George 1937–2015

Cardinal and former Archbishop of Chicago

Also attended: Catholic University of America, Tulane University of Louisiana

James Golka 1966–

Archbishop of Denver

Peter John Uglietto 1951–

Auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston

Master's degree

Also attended: Boston University, Saint John's Seminary

William Joseph Dendinger 1939–

Former Catholic bishop of Grand Island, Air Force major general

Also attended: Aquinas Institute of Theology

Curtis J. Guillory 1943–

Former Catholic Bishop of Beaumont

Lambert Anthony Hoch 1903–1990

Catholic bishop of Bismarck and Sioux Falls

Also attended: University of St Thomas (MN)