Notable Alumni of South Carolina State University

Jim Clyburn 1940–

U.S. representative from South Carolina

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1961

Darline Graham 1964–

US senator from South Carolina

Master of Arts · Rehabilitation counseling · Class of 2009

Also attended: College of Charleston

Sibling: Lindsey Graham (University of South Carolina-Columbia)

Matthew J. Perry 1921–2011

First African-American federal judge in South Carolina

Stephen Twitty 1963–

Retired U.S. Army lieutenant general

Henry Doctor, Jr. 1932–2007

Army lieutenant general, 2nd Infantry Division commander

Bachelor of Science · Agriculture

Also attended: Georgia State University

Clifford L. Stanley 1947–

Former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania

Ernest A. Finney, Jr. 1931–2017

First African-American South Carolina Supreme Court justice since Reconstruction

Also attended: Claflin University

Charles McDew 1938–2018

Civil rights activist, SNCC chairman 1960–1963

Alma Levant Hayden 1927–1967

Chemist and early African-American woman scientist at NIH

Also attended: Howard University

Ernest Everett Just 1883–1941

Biologist who studied the cell surface

Also attended: University of Chicago, Dartmouth College

Child: Margaret Just Butcher (Boston University)

Houston Person 1934–

Jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer

Also attended: University of Hartford

Essie Mae Washington-Williams 1925–2013

Teacher and author, eldest child of Strom Thurmond

Also attended: University of Southern California, New York University

Father: Strom Thurmond (Clemson University)

Sibling: James Strom Thurmond Jr. (University of South Carolina-Columbia)

Armstrong Williams 1959–

Conservative political commentator and talk show host

Ron Westray 1970–

Jazz trombonist, composer and educator

Also attended: Eastern Illinois University

Tom Boswell 1953–

Former professional basketball player in the NBA

Emma Wade 1980–

Belizean sprinter at the 2004 Olympics

Roderick Blakney 1976–

Basketball player naturalized as Bulgarian

K'zell Wesson 1977–

Former professional basketball player

Marion Motley 1920–1999

Fullback and linebacker for the Cleveland Browns

Also attended: University of Nevada-Reno

Travis Williams 1969–

Former pro basketball player, Charlotte Hornets

Julius Keye 1946–1984

ABA forward and center

Also attended: Alcorn State University

Donnie Shell 1952–

Pittsburgh Steelers safety

Kára McCullough 1991–

Winner of Miss USA 2017

Benjamin Mays 1894–1984

Baptist minister, educator and civil rights leader

Also attended: University of Chicago, Dillard University, Bates College