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. McHargue 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
|
|
2011
|
Dr. Kenneth Atwater '77 '78
|
Education
|
2013
|
|
|