Murray State University Distinguished Alumnus
The University's Highest Honor
Recipients represent a variety of professions and include Pulitzer Prize winning journalists and renowned authors, research scientists and physicians, executives, entertainers and educators, military leaders and Emmy award-winning broadcasters.
Do you know a Murray State graduate who has held a responsible position and made significant contributions to his or her profession on the national, state and local levels? If so, click HERE to submit your nomination.
| YEAR |
RECIPIENT |
PROFESSIONAL AREA |
|
1962 |
Gene G. Graham '48 |
Author, Journalism |
|
1964 |
Dr. Forrest C. Pogue '31 |
Author, Historian |
|
1971 |
John Fetterman '48 |
Author, Journalism |
|
|
Dr. J. Paul Hogan '42 |
Science, Research |
|
|
Joe Torrence '36 |
Government |
|
1972 |
Dr. Adron Doran '32 |
Education, Government |
|
|
Max Hurt '27 |
Community Service, Government |
|
1974 |
Marion E. Burks '35 |
Law, Government |
|
|
Martha Robertson Ellison '45 |
Education |
|
|
Dr. Robert Cecil Gentry '37 |
Climatology Research |
|
|
Dr. James Hocker Mason '34 |
Education |
|
|
Dr. Richard Max Shackelford '36 |
Genetics, Research |
|
|
Harry Lee Waterfield '32 |
Fovernment, Business |
|
1975 |
Dr. Dorothy White Harkins '43 |
Education |
|
|
Dr. Joe Morgan '35 |
Education |
|
|
William Harold Riddle '42 |
Actor |
|
1976 |
Dr. Van Bogard Dunn '46 |
Education, Ministry |
|
|
Dr. L. J. Hortin '43 |
Education, Journalism |
|
|
Dr. Donald M. Prince '48 |
Business, Education |
|
1977 |
Frank Ellis '35 |
Agriculture, Government |
|
|
Dr. June August Ellis '40 |
Law, Government |
|
|
R. William Taylor '50 |
Business, Industry |
|
|
Samuel Rayburn Watkins '43 |
Business |
|
|
Harry W. Wilson Jr. '35 |
Law Enforcement, Education |
|
1978 |
Pat M. McCuiston '39 |
Governement, Community Service |
|
1979 |
Dr. John W. Hall II '58 |
Physicist, Research |
|
|
Thomas Wheeler Johnson M.D. '47 |
Medicine |
|
|
Dr. Charles Howard Story '61 |
Science, Education |
|
1980 |
Charles W. McDowell '62 |
Education, Public Services |
|
|
Dr. V. Jacque Voegeli '56 |
Education |
|
1981 |
Dr. Ray Mofield '43 |
Education |
|
|
Ed Norris '50 |
Law |
|
|
Dr. Gene Wells Ray '60 |
Research, Development |
|
|
Dr. Gayle Douglass Rayburn '61 |
Education |
|
|
Tom Rickman '65 |
Author, Playwright, Screenwriter |
|
1982 |
Alex Harvey '64 |
Songwriter, Singer, Actor |
|
|
Bill Morgan '50 |
Business, Military Service |
|
|
John C. Quertermous M.D. '38 |
Medicine |
|
1983 |
Lewis R. Applegate Sr. '39 |
Education, Government Relations |
|
|
Dr. Roy L. Pruett '44 |
Chemistry, Research |
|
1984 |
Robert G. Burton '62 |
Business, Publishing |
|
|
John Mack Carter '48 |
Journalism |
|
1985 |
MG Bobby F. Brashears '56 |
Military Service |
|
|
LTG John I. Hudson '71 |
Military Service |
|
|
BG (ret.) Mary Opdyke Marsh '51 |
Military Service |
|
|
Dr. Joseph Prince '59 |
Arts, Education |
|
|
Jerry Shields M.D. '60 |
Medicine |
|
1986 |
Jerry Don Crutchfield |
Music Industry |
|
|
Charles W. Mercer M.D. '56 |
Medicine |
|
1987 |
David L. Armstrong '66 |
Law, Government |
|
|
Thomas B. Logan M.D. '61 |
Medicine |
|
|
Dr. Jerry Pritchett Thornton '69 |
Education |
|
|
Jude Deveraux (Jude Gilliam White) '70 |
Author |
|
1988 |
Dr. Wanda Durrett Bigham'56 |
Education |
|
|
Dr. Douglas H. Harris '61 |
Business |
|
|
Frank C. Miller M.D. '58 |
Medicine |
|
1989 |
Dr. Ted Callicott '49 |
Public Service, Science |
|
|
Dr. John C. Snider '61 |
Education |
|
1990 |
Jackie Hays Bickel '79 |
Broadcasting |
|
|
Dr. Patrick I. Brown '65 |
Education |
|
|
Henry Earl Jones M.D. '61 |
Medicine |
|
|
Carl Mays '63 |
Communications |
|
1991 |
Thomas D. Hutchens '61 |
Business |
|
1992 |
Dr. Walter Bumphus '71 |
Education |
|
|
Tony Di Paolo '67 |
Education |
|
|
Ruby Krider '38 |
Education |
|
|
David Reed |
Business |
|
1993 |
Richard Hurt M.D. '66 |
Medicine |
|
|
Dr. Jack Rose '63 |
Education |
|
|
Dr. Ken Winters '57 |
Education |
|
1994 |
Richard Anderson '80 |
Business |
|
|
Jerry Shroat '63 |
Business |
|
|
A.B. Waters '41 |
Engineering |
|
1995 |
William Huston '74 |
Government |
|
|
Dr. William Wiles '53 |
Economics |
|
1996 |
Mac Anderson '68 |
Business |
|
|
Arthur Bauernfeind '60 |
Business |
|
|
Dr. Martha Ross Redden Ozer '66 '68 |
Education |
|
1997 |
Pamela Graham Anderson '80 |
Broadcasting |
|
|
Dr. Ricardo Artigas '72 |
Business |
|
|
Dr. Jimmy Clark '63 |
Education |
|
1998 |
Edward G. McFarland M.D. '78 |
Medicine |
|
|
Dr. Donald W. Oliver '67 |
Engineering |
|
1999 |
George Allbritten '55 |
Business |
|
|
Nick King '71 |
Business |
|
|
Scott Smith '85 '85 |
Business |
|
2000 |
Dr. Ed Cupp '64 |
Biology, Research |
|
|
Arthur Fields '67 '68 |
Business |
|
|
Stephen A. Williams '72 |
Business |
|
2002 |
David E. Alexander '75 |
Business |
|
|
Lana Garner Porter '65 '72 |
Business |
|
2003 |
Harold Ford '49 |
Agriculture |
|
|
Loretta Shearer M.D. '60 |
Medicine |
|
|
Dr. James Gantt '71 |
Technology |
|
2004 |
Rex Geveden '83 '84 |
Engineering Physics |
|
2005 |
Dr. Don I. Tharpe '73 '74 |
Public Affairs |
|
2006 |
Anna M. HarguMce M.D. '56 |
Medicine |
|
2007 |
W. Dwight Armstrong '71 |
Agriculture |
|
|
Judge Jerry Brown '54 |
Law |
|
|
Kris Robbins '81 '88 |
Business |
|
2008 |
MG Mark Graham '77 |
Military Service |
|
|
Col. Lyle Cayce '78 |
Military Service |
|
2009 |
Michael Hamilton '75 |
Business |
|
2010 |
|
|