List of Mississippi State University people

The following is a list of notable people associated with Mississippi State University, located in the American city of Starkville, Mississippi.

Politics and government

 * Sharion Aycock, first female federal district court judge in Mississippi
 * Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator from Tennessee
 * Randy Boyd, forester who serves as a Republican in the Mississippi House of Representatives for District 19 in his native Itawamba County
 * Jenifer Branning, Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate
 * Videt Carmichael, Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate
 * Cynthia Cooper, whistleblower, 2002 Time Person of the Year
 * Leonard B. Cresswell, major general in the Marine Corps; World War II Navy Cross recipient
 * Jess Dickinson, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice
 * Charles D. Easley, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice
 * Josh Harkins, Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate
 * Horace Harned, former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
 * Bill Hawks, former USDA Undersecretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs
 * Todd Jordan, Mayor of Tupelo, Mississippi
 * Mark Keenum, USDA Undersecretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service
 * Rhonda Keenum, Assistant to President George W. Bush and director of White House Public Liaison
 * Billy McCoy, Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives
 * Troy H. Middleton, World War II corps commander (lieutenant general) and president of Louisiana State University
 * G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery, former U.S. Representative and author of the Montgomery G.I. Bill
 * Brandon Presley, former Democratic Public Service Commissioner for Mississippi's northern district
 * John C. Stennis, former U.S. Senator; "father of the Modern Navy"
 * Amy Tuck, Mississippi Lieutenant Governor
 * William Waller Jr., Mississippi Supreme Court Justice
 * Albert H. Wilkening, Adjutant General of Wisconsin

Academia

 * James E. Cofer, Fulbright Scholar and former president of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, and former president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe
 * Frances Lucas, vice president and campus executive officer of the University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Coast
 * Damir Novosel, Fulbright Scholar, founder and president of Quanta Technology in Raleigh, North Carolina, former vice president of ABB Automation Products, and former president of IEEE Power & Energy Society
 * Malcolm Portera, former chancellor of the University of Alabama System
 * Priscilla Slade, former president of Texas Southern University

Business

 * Richard Adkerson, CEO of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
 * George W. Bryan, senior vice president of Sara Lee Corporation, CEO of Sara Lee Foods, and founder of Old Waverly Golf Club
 * Toxey Haas, founder and CEO of Haas Outdoors, Inc. (Mossy Oak)
 * Martin F. Jue, amateur radio inventor; entrepreneur; founder of MFJ Enterprises
 * Hartley Peavey, founder of Peavey Electronics
 * Dalton Pritchard, early color television systems pioneer at RCA Laboratories
 * Arthur L. Williams, Jr., insurance magnate, #583 on Forbes' list of the world's billionaires

Media and arts

 * Kevin Benson, meteorologist for WPXI in Pittsburgh
 * Turner Catledge, former vice president of The New York Times
 * Jerry Clower, comedian
 * Bill Evans, meteorologist for WABC-TV, ABC affiliate in New York City
 * John Grisham, author of more than two dozen novels, many of which have been made into screenplays
 * Matthew F. Jones, novelist
 * Gregory Keyes, author
 * Donna Ladd, journalist
 * Sean McLaughlin, MSNBC Chief Meteorologist
 * Lewis Nordan, author
 * Audrey Puente, New York City meteorologist; daughter of salsa singer Tito Puente
 * Frank K. Spain, founder of Tupelo television station WTVA; broadcasting pioneer
 * Joe M. Turner, magician, mentalist, professional speaker
 * Brad Watson (born 1955), author

Athletics

 * Jim Ashmore, former NBA player
 * Denico Autry, DE, Oakland Raiders
 * Vick Ballard, NFL running back, Indianapolis Colts
 * Johnthan Banks, cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Korey Banks, CFL DB BC Lions
 * Kevin Bouie, NFL player
 * Timmy Bowers, professional basketball player, 2006 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP
 * Jimmy Bragan, former MLB coach with Cincinnati, Montreal, and Milwaukee 1967–1977
 * Jeff Brantley, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher; commentator for the Cincinnati Reds
 * Rickey Brown, C for Golden State, Atlanta Hawks
 * Titus Brown, NFL defensive end, Cleveland Browns
 * Shawn Byrdsong, football player
 * Van Chancellor, former head coach of women's basketball at Louisiana State University, at the University of Mississippi, and of the Houston Comets of the WNBA
 * Ed Chapman, P for the Washington Senators in 1933
 * Bubba Church, pitcher for the Phillies, Reds, and Cubs from 1950 to 1955
 * Will Clark, former first baseman for San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals, and Texas Rangers
 * John Cohen, Mississippi State University Head Coach
 * Keo Coleman, former NFL linebacker
 * Michael Connell, PGA golfer 2001–2006
 * Johnie Cooks, NFL linebacker, Super Bowl XXV Champion
 * Fletcher Cox, defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League
 * Hughie Critz, second baseman for Cincinnati Reds (1920s) and the New York Giants (1930s)
 * Quinton Culberson, NFL linebacker, St. Louis Rams
 * Erick Dampier, former NBA player
 * Charlie Davidson, football player
 * Art Davis, NFL player, college football coach
 * Brandon Davis, professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC
 * Harper Davis, NFL player, college football head coach
 * Anthony Dixon, NFL running back, San Francisco 49ers
 * Kevin Dockery, NFL Super Bowl XLII Champion
 * Dominic Douglas, NFL linebacker, Denver Broncos
 * Frank Dowsing, first black football player at MSU
 * Eric Dubose, P for Baltimore and Cleveland from 2002 to 2006
 * Sammy Ellis, former Major League Baseball pitcher, 7 seasons
 * Bobby Etheridge, former MLB player
 * Rags Faircloth, P for Phillies in 1919
 * Dave "Boo" Ferriss, former Major League Baseball player
 * Ronald Fields, NFL DT, Denver Broncos
 * Joe Fortunato, five-time Pro Bowler with the Chicago Bears
 * Steve Freeman, former Buffalo Bills defensive back for 13 seasons; NFL game official
 * Willie Gay, NFL linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs
 * Chuck Gelatka, NFL player
 * Matt Ginter, pitcher for the Houston Astros
 * De'Mon Glanton, football player
 * Tom Goode, former NFL center and Super Bowl veteran
 * Alex Grammas, former Major League infielder
 * Hoyle Granger, former NFL running back
 * Paul Gregory, pitcher in Major League Baseball, played 1932–1933 for the Chicago White Sox
 * Justin Griffith, NFL running back, Oakland Raiders
 * Michael Haddix, former NFL running back
 * Mario Haggan, NFL linebacker, Denver Broncos
 * Tang Hamilton, Miami Heat
 * Walt Harris, NFL cornerback, San Francisco 49ers
 * Bunny Hearn, former MLB player; college coach
 * Ron Hill, vice president of the NFL
 * John Hilliard, NFL player
 * Jim Howarth, Major League Baseball outfielder; played all or part of four seasons in the majors, 1971–1974, for the San Francisco Giants
 * Bailey Howell, NBA Hall of Famer
 * Kent Hull, former NFL C, Buffalo Bills
 * Kirby Jackson, NFL DB Buffalo Bills
 * Rickea Jackson, WNBA small forward, Los Angeles Sparks
 * Justin Jenkins, NFL wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
 * Morley Jennings, former head football coach of the Baylor Bears; former Athletic Director of the Texas Tech Red Raiders
 * Alan Johnson, Colorado Rockies
 * Chris Jones, NFL defensive tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
 * Chris Jones, American player of Canadian football
 * Dontae' Jones, Celtics
 * James Jones, NFL running back, Dallas Cowboys
 * Todd Jordan, football player
 * Tommy Kelly, NFL defensive end, Oakland Raiders
 * Tyrone Keys, NFL linebacker, Super Bowl XX Champion
 * Jon Knott, former Major League Baseball outfielder with the Padres and Orioles
 * Jack Lazorko, pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers and California Angels
 * Donald Lee, NFL tight end, Green Bay Packers; Super Bowl XLV Champion
 * D. D. Lewis, former All-Star linebacker Dallas Cowboys; member of the College Football Hall of Fame
 * Carlton Loewer, retired Major League Baseball player
 * Lance Long, NFL wide receiver, Arizona Cardinals
 * Jim Lyle, pitcher for the Washington Senators (now the Minnesota Twins) in 1925
 * Paul Maholm, LHP Atlanta Braves; formerly with Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs
 * Jeff Malone, two-time All-Star as a player; coached three teams in NBA D-League
 * Chris Maloney, Memphis Redbirds Manager (St. Louis Cardinals AAA)
 * James H. "Babe" McCarthy, college and professional basketball coach
 * Fred McCrary, NFL running back
 * Alvin McKinley, NFL defensive end, Denver Broncos
 * Bo McKinnis, sports agent
 * Pernell McPhee, linebacker, Chicago Bears; formerly with Baltimore Ravens
 * Brandon McRae, NFL wide receiver, St. Louis Rams
 * Brandon Medders, MLB player
 * John Miller, NFL linebacker, Green Bay Packers
 * Leland Mitchell, New Orleans Buccaneers of the ABA
 * Monroe Mitchell, Washington Senators
 * Willie Mitchell, Cleveland Naps/Indians and Detroit Tigers
 * Henry Monroe, NFL DB Green Bay Packers
 * Mitch Moreland, first baseman, Boston Red Sox
 * Eric Moulds, NFL wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
 * Arnett Moultrie, Philadelphia 76ers
 * Buddy Myer, Major League Baseball, two-time All-Star second baseman
 * Bob Myrick, LHP for the New York Mets
 * Tom Neville, former NFL offensive tackle, 14 seasons
 * Malik Newman (born 1997), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Jerious Norwood, NFL running back for the Atlanta Falcons
 * Romero Osby (born 1990), American basketball player for Maccabi Kiryat Gat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Walter Packer, NFL player
 * Rafael Palmeiro, former Major League Baseball player
 * Jonathan Papelbon, RHP Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies; All-Star in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009
 * Jackie Parker, former All-Star quarterback CFL; member of the College Football Hall of Fame
 * Wiley Peck, Spurs, Mavericks
 * Adam Piatt, played for the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Devil Rays
 * Jay Powell, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher, 11 seasons; World Series veteran
 * Dak Prescott, NFL quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
 * Gary Rath, Dodgers, Twins
 * Fred Reid, CFL running back, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * Lawrence Roberts, Memphis Grizzlies
 * Ray Roberts, played for the Philadelphia Athletics
 * DelJuan Robinson, NFL defensive tackle, Houston Texans
 * Jon Shave, former player for the Texas Rangers and the Minnesota Twins
 * Buck Showalter, former baseball manager
 * Renardo Sidney, former NBA player
 * Jeffery Simmons, NFL defensive tackle, Tennessee Titans
 * Barrin Simpson, NFL linebacker
 * Deontae Skinner, NFL player
 * Darius Slay, cornerback for the Detroit Lions
 * Don Smith, quarterback/running back for Buccaneers, Bills, and Dolphins
 * Truett Smith, football player
 * Fred Smoot, former NFL cornerback
 * Homer Spragins, former MLB player
 * David Stewart, NFL OT Tennessee Titans
 * Scott Stricklin, former athletic director for Mississippi State Bulldogs, athletic director for Florida Gators
 * Walter Suggs, former All-Star lineman for Houston Oilers
 * Montez Sweat, NFL linebacker, Washington Redskins
 * Craig Tatum, former MLB player
 * Ken Tatum, former MLB player
 * Bobby Thigpen, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher
 * Del Unser, former Major League Baseball outfielder
 * Jarvis Varnado, Miami Heat
 * Victoria Vivians, WNBA Guard Indiana Fever
 * Fred Walters, catcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1945
 * Kendell Watkins, NFL tight end, Dallas Cowboys
 * Quinndary Weatherspoon, NBA shooting guard, Golden State Warriors
 * Jimmy Webb, former NFL defensive lineman, 7 seasons
 * Floyd Womack, NFL OT Seattle Seahawks
 * Sid Womack, former MLB player
 * Marc Woodard, NFL linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles
 * Ellis Wyms, NFL LT, Super Bowl Champion with the Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders
 * Chris Young, pitching coach for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball
 * Pete Young, former MLB player
 * Derrick Zimmerman, New Jersey Nets

Other

 * Machine Gun Kelly, notorious criminal; studied agriculture at MSU for two years

Notable faculty

 * Anthony Sean Neal, author and philosophy professor at MSU
 * Horace M. Trent, noted physicist who taught at MSU in the 1930s