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24 notable alumni

Notable Alumni of Niagara University

Notable alumni of Niagara University include John O'Hara (Writer known for short stories), William J. Donovan (Head of the OSS, founding father of the CIA) and Jim Hutton (Actor best known as Ellery Queen).

College data and admissions

Alumni list

Politics and law

  • William J. Donovan 1883–1959

    Head of the OSS, founding father of the CIA

    Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

  • John Katko 1962–

    Former U.S. Representative from New York

    Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1984

    Also attended: Syracuse University

  • Nick Langworthy 1981–

    U.S. representative, former New York Republican chair

  • Daniel Schaefer 1936–2006

    U.S. representative for Colorado from 1983 to 1999

    Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1961

  • Walter C. Young 1922–2016

    Educator and politician

    Also attended: Barry University, University of Miami

  • Leo William O'Brien 1900–1982

    Congressman from New York and former journalist

Arts and media

  • John O'Hara 1905–1970

    Writer known for short stories

    Child: C. D. B. Bryan (Yale University)

  • Jim Hutton 1934–1979

    Actor best known as Ellery Queen

    Also attended: Syracuse University

  • Eric Gale 1938–1994

    Jazz and jazz fusion guitarist

  • Bill Press 1940–

    Talk radio host and liberal pundit

Sports

  • Calvin Murphy 1948–

    Former NBA guard for the Rockets

  • Joe Arlauckas 1965–

    Former professional basketball player

  • Hubie Brown 1933–

    Two-time NBA Coach of the Year and analyst

  • Venla Hovi 1987–

    Finnish ice hockey player and coach

    Spouse: Amanda Pelkey (University of Vermont)

  • Larry Costello 1931–2001

    NBA player, head coach of Bucks and Bulls

  • Tremmell Darden 1981–

    Professional basketball player

  • John Beilein 1953–

    Basketball coach, former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach

    Also attended: Wheeling University

  • Frank Layden 1932–2025

    Utah Jazz coach and executive, 1984 Coach of the Year

Other fields

  • Michael J. McGivney 1852–1890

    Catholic priest, founder of Knights of Columbus

  • Donald Walter Trautman 1936–2022

    Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Erie

    Also attended: Catholic University of America

  • David M. O'Connell 1955–

    Bishop of Trenton and former Catholic University president

    Also attended: Catholic University of America

  • Octavio Cisneros 1945–

    Catholic bishop, former auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn

  • Michael Joseph Murphy 1915–2007

    Catholic bishop of Erie, Pennsylvania, 1982–1990

    Also attended: Catholic University of America

  • Edmund Gibbons 1868–1964

    Catholic bishop of Albany, 1919–1954

From Wikidata “educated at” records (including people who attended without graduating), ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions. Degrees and years follow Wikidata and are left out where it has none.

Alumni network

Colleges that share the most alumni with Niagara University (people who attended both).