List of Phi Kappa Tau members

The following is a list of notable members of Phi Kappa Tau, a college fraternity in the United States.

National presidents

 * deceased

Chief executives
* deceased
 * Ralph K. Bowers, Mount Union 1917–1929 *
 * Richard J. Young, Miami 1929–1961 *
 * Jack L. Anson, Colgate 1961–1970 *
 * William D. Jenkins, Bowling Green 1970–1978 *
 * John W. Meyerhoff, Colgate 1978–1987 *
 * John M. Green, Nebraska Wesleyan 1987–1998 *
 * Joel S. Rudy, Bethany 1998–2002 *
 * C. Steven Hartman, Muskingum 2002–2013
 * W. Tim Hudson, Truman State 2014–2022
 * Samuel W. Medley, Transylvania 2022-23 (interim)
 * Matt Arnold, Southern Illinois 2023-

Notable members
(dates following college names are fraternity initiation dates)

Law, politics, and government



 * Jeffrey L. Amestoy (Hobart College 1965), former chief justice, Vermont Supreme Court; former Attorney General of Vermont
 * C. Clyde Atkins (University of Florida 1935), Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 1966–99
 * Spencer Bachus (Auburn University 1967), U.S. House of Representatives, Alabama
 * Guy K. Bard (Franklin and Marshall 1921), Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1937, 1939–1952
 * David Baria (University of Southern Mississippi), Mississippi State Senator 2008–2011, Mississippi House of Representatives, 2011–present
 * John Barrasso (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1971), U.S. Senator, Wyoming
 * Ray C. Bliss (University of Akron 1938), Chairman of the Republican National Committee, 1965–1969
 * John Y. Brown, Sr. (Centre College 1917), U.S. House of Representatives, Kentucky, 1933–35
 * Randy Christmas (University of Miami 1948), Mayor of Miami, Florida
 * E. Virgil Conway (Colgate University 1948), chairman of the board of the MTA, New York City
 * John F. Cosgrove (University of Florida 1968), attorney; member of the Florida House of Representatives; mayor of Cutler Bay, Florida
 * C. Welborn Daniel (University of Florida 1947), member of the Florida House of Representatives, 1956–1964; member of the Florida Senate, 1963–1966, 1968–1971
 * Mike Dovilla (Baldwin–Wallace College 1994), member of the Ohio House of Representatives, 2011–present
 * Gerald A. Drew (University of California, Berkeley 1922), U.S. Ambassador to Haiti and Bolivia
 * John T. Elfvin (Cornell University 1938), Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
 * Richard Ervin (University of Florida 1926), Chief Justice, Florida Supreme Court, 1964–1975
 * Lawrence H. Framme III (Centre College 1968), former chair, Democratic Party of Virginia
 * Ralph M. Freeman (University of Michigan 1923), Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, 1954–1990
 * John M. Gerrard (Nebraska Wesleyan University 1973), Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska; former Nebraska Supreme Court Judge
 * Fred Hall (University of Southern California 1935), Governor of Kansas, 1955–1957
 * William Gardner Hewes (University of Southern Mississippi 1981), Mayor of Gulfport, Mississippi; Mississippi State Senate, 1982–2012; Mississippi Senate President pro tempore, 2008–2012
 * Robert E. Holmes (Ohio University 1941), Justice, Ohio Supreme Court, 1978–1992
 * David L. Huber (University of Louisville 1962), United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky
 * Harry Huge (Nebraska Wesleyan University 1956), internationally known trial attorney
 * David M. Ishee (University of Southern Mississippi 1982), Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Mississippi
 * Trent Kelly (University of Mississippi 1987), U.S. House of Representatives, Mississippi 2015-
 * James Lawrence King (University of Florida 1946), Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
 * Richard G. Kopf (University of Nebraska-Kearney 1966), Senior Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
 * William C. Lantaff (University of Florida 1931), U.S. House of Representatives, Florida, 1951–55
 * Joseph M. Martinez Jr. (Florida State 1949), member Florida House of Representatives
 * Mitch McConnell (University of Louisville 1961), U.S. Senator, Commonwealth of Kentucky
 * William E. McVey (Ohio University 1915), U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois, 1951–58
 * Ken Mehlman (Franklin and Marshall College 1985), Republican National Committee Chairman, 2005–07
 * James B. Milliken (Centre College 1918), Judge, Kentucky Court of Appeals (now Kentucky Supreme Court), 1951–75; chief justice, 1956–57, 1963–64, 1971–73
 * Robert Moak (University of Mississippi 1979), Member Mississippi House of Representatives
 * James Moeller (Nebraska Wesleyan University 1952), Vice Chief Justice, Arizona Supreme Court, 1987–1998
 * Hugh M. Morris (University of Delaware 1930), Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, 1919–30
 * James D. Oberweis (University of Illinois 1966), member, Illinois Senate; owner of Oberweis Dairy
 * Theodore Olson (University of the Pacific 1961), former Solicitor General of the United States
 * Robert J. Parrillo (University of Colorado 1960), personal injury attorney
 * Verle A. Pope (University of Florida 1962), president of the Florida Senate, 1966–68
 * John Redwine (University of Kansas 1969), former member, Iowa Senate
 * Kenneth L. Ryskamp (University of Miami 1954), Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
 * Thomas C. Sawyer (University of Akron 1966), U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio, 1987–2003
 * Lee Solomon (Muhlenberg College 1972), Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
 * Albert Lee Stephens, Sr. (University of Southern California Hon.), Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1937–1965
 * Albert Lee Stephens, Jr. (University of Southern California 1933), Judge, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, 1961–2001
 * George V. Voinovich (Ohio University 1956), former US Senator, Ohio
 * Joseph R. Wright (University of Kentucky 1959) Kentucky Senate 1976–92, owner of Wright Implement

Military



 * Robert Arter (Ohio University 1947), retired major general, U.S. Army; commanding general, Sixth United States Army
 * Donald V. Bennett (Michigan State University 1934), general, U.S. Army; 47th superintendent of the United States Military Academy, 1966–69
 * Leonard F. Chapman, Jr. (University of Florida 1932), Commandant United States Marine Corps, 1968–1972
 * Donald R. Delauter (University of Maryland, College Park 1952), retired brigadier general, U.S. Air Force
 * George S. Howard (Ohio Wesleyan University 1928), former commander and music director of The United States Air Force Band
 * Paul Robert Ignatius (University of Southern California 1938), Secretary of the Navy, 1967–1969; former president of The Washington Post
 * James G. Jones (Miami University 1953), retired major general, U.S. Air Force
 * Rodney P. Kelly (Southern Illinois University-Carbondale 1963), retired major general, U.S. Air Force
 * Robert J. Meder (Miami University 1936), member of the Doolittle Raiders of World War II
 * Carl E. Mundy, Jr. (Auburn University 1955), retired general, Commandant, United States Marine Corps, 1991–1995
 * Jerry D. Page (University of Southern California 1936), major general, U.S. Air Force; commandant, Air War College
 * Virgil A. Richard (Oklahoma State University 1957), retired brigadier general, U.S. Army
 * Cornelius E. Ryan (University of California-Berkeley 1931), major general, United States Army
 * Joseph K. Spiers (North Carolina State University 1956), retired major general, U.S. Air Force; commander of Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base
 * Colonel Walbrook D. Swank, (Ohio State University 1933), command personnel officer, USAF
 * Walter H. Yates, Jr. (University of Southern Mississippi 1962), retired major general, U.S. Army; deputy commanding general, Fifth United States Army

Education

 * Jack L. Anson (Colgate University 1947), former executive director of the North American Interfraternity Conference; editor of Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities
 * William Brantley Aycock (North Carolina State University 1934), chancellor of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1957–1964
 * Rev. George O. Bierkoe (Muhlenberg College 1920), co-founder and first president of Endicott College, 1939–1971
 * Edgar Ewing Brandon (Miami University 1906), acting president, Miami University, 1909–10, 1926–7
 * Paul William Brosman (University of Illinois 1919), dean of the Tulane Law School, 1937–51
 * Charles F. Chapman (Cornell University 1930), founder of Charles F. Chapman School of Seamanship
 * Ward Darley, MD (University of Colorado 1924), president, University of Colorado, 1953–1956
 * Benjamin Hudson, Ph.D., (Penn State 1974) professor of history and medievalist, Penn State University
 * Walter S. Gamertsfelder (Ohio University 1952), president, Ohio University, 1943–1945
 * William N. Johnston (Westminster College 1969), president of Wesley College (Delaware)
 * Grayson L. Kirk (Miami University 1921), president of Columbia University, 1953–1968
 * Richard Kneedler (Franklin and Marshall 1962), president of Franklin and Marshall College, 1988–2002
 * Paul Moyer Limbert (Franklin and Marshall 1921), Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs; president of Springfield College
 * J. Sterling Livingston (University of Southern California 1937), professor of Harvard Business School, 1941–71
 * Charles F. Marsh (College of William and Mary 1933), president of Wofford College, 1958–1968
 * Robert Lee Mills (University of Kentucky 1935), president of Georgetown College, 1959–1978
 * William H. Shideler, Ph.D (Miami University 1906), founder and chair of the Department of Geology, Miami University, 1910–1957
 * William Strunk Jr. (Cornell University; member of local fraternity that became Alpha Tau Chapter), author of Elements of Style
 * Paul B. Thompson (Georgia Tech 1972), philosopher and Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University
 * James J. Whalen (Franklin and Marshall 1947), president of Ithaca College, 1975–1997

Science, technology, and medicine



 * William F. Ballhaus, Jr. (University of California, Berkeley 1964), president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation
 * Charles Bassett (Ohio State University 1951), NASA astronaut
 * Kenneth N. Beers, M.D. (Muhlenberg College 1949), NASA flight surgeon; professor emeritus at Wright State Medical School
 * Everett Smith Beneke (Miami University 1937), professor at Michigan State University; noted mycologist
 * Leroy Chiao (University of California, Berkeley 1979), NASA astronaut
 * Vincent T. DeVita, Jr., MD (College of William and Mary 1955), leading oncologist
 * John R. Dunning (Nebraska Wesleyan University 1926), key player in the Manhattan Project to create the atom bomb
 * Paul H. Emmett, Ph.D (Oregon State University 1925), chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University; member of the Manhattan Project
 * John E. Fryer, M.D. (Transylvania University 1954), pioneering psychiatrist and gay rights advocate
 * Paul C. Lauterbur (Case Western Reserve 1951), 2003 Nobel Laureate in medicine for work in developing the MRI
 * Roger Morse, Ph.D. (Cornell University 1948), chair of the Cornell department of entomology; expert on beekeeping
 * Lee Oras Overholts (Miami University 1910), mycologist and professor, Penn State University
 * Clyde Roper, Ph.D. (Transylvania University 1956), zoologist at the Smithsonian Institution
 * M. Frank Rudy (Case Western Reserve 1948), inventor of Nike "Air" sole
 * Richard C. Starr (Indiana University 1955) phycologist; professor at Indiana University and University of Texas; National Academy of Sciences; Guggenheim Fellow
 * John G. Webster (Cornell University 1950), pioneer in biomechanical engineering

Arts and entertainment



 * Ralph Arlyck (Colgate University 1959), independent filmmaker
 * Frank P. Austin (University of Cincinnati 1957), celebrity interior designer, designed Playboy Mansion interiors
 * Joseph M. Bachelor (Miami University 1911), poet (pen name Joseph Morris), professor
 * Lennie Baker (Northeastern University 1966), co-founder and retired president of the group Sha Na Na
 * Bob Balaban (Colgate University 1964), actor, director, author
 * Richard Barsam (University of Southern California 1956), author and film historian
 * John Beradino (University of Southern California 1936), actor, General Hospital (played Dr. Steve Hardy) (also see sports)
 * Shelley Berman (University of Southern California Hon. 2005), actor and comedian
 * Ned Brooks (Ohio State University 1922), moderator of NBC's Meet the Press, 1953–1965
 * Marc Butan (Ohio State University 1992), film producer and founder of MadRiver Pictures
 * Joseph W. Clokey (Miami University 1910), composer
 * Jerry Clower (Mississippi State University 1949), comedian and member of the Grand Ole Opry
 * Robert Dalva (Colgate University 1961), Academy Award-nominated film editor
 * Frank Dungan (Bowling Green State University 1964), Emmy Award-winning TV writer/producer
 * John Dykstra (Cal State-Long Beach 1966), winner of Academy Awards for visual effects and special effects
 * Rick Evans (Nebraska Wesleyan University 1961), writer of In the Year 2525 as part of the group Zager and Evans
 * Bob Heil (University of Illinois), noted rock sound engineer and inventor of the Heil Talk Box
 * Lew Hunter (Nebraska Wesleyan University 1952), screenwriter; chair emeritus of UCLA screenwriting program
 * Ben Johnston (William & Mary 1949), composer and professor of music
 * Fred Knoth (University of Colorado 1927), special effects head at Universal Studios; 1954 Academy Award for Technical Achievement
 * John McCallum (Washington State University 1946), writer
 * Paul Newman (Ohio University 1943), actor, philanthropist, director, race car driver, founder of Newman's Own
 * Patton Oswalt (College of William & Mary 1989), actor, comedian
 * Basil Poledouris (University of Southern California 1964), composer and conductor
 * Stephen Sommers (University of Southern California 1983), movie director. producer and screenwriter
 * John Stirratt (University of Mississippi 1986), bassist with the band Wilco
 * Bruce Sussman (Franklin and Marshall College 1971), songwriter and librettist
 * Ernest Vajda (University of Southern California 1938), playwright, novelist and screenwriter
 * Kitt Wakeley (East Central Oklahoma 1987), Grammy Award-winning composer, songwriter, musician, and music producer
 * Jackie Walker, (University of California Los Angeles 1957), singer and songwriter
 * Chad Warrix, Eastern Kentucky University 2012 (honorary), musician and songwriter
 * Guy Williams, (Mississippi State University 1989), 3-time Academy Award nominee for visual effects
 * Matthew Yuricich (Miami University 1946), Academy Award winner for visual effects

Religion

 * O. Frederick Nolde (Muhlenberg College 1918), dean of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia; first director of the World Council of Churches Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA); contributor to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
 * Charles Lynn Pyatt (Transylvania University 1921), dean of the College of the Bible
 * Martin Scott Field (Bethany College 1975) Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri
 * David Moyer (Muhlenberg College 1970), former Anglican bishop

Business and philanthropy

 * Ewing T. Boles (Centre College 1914), chairman of the Ohio Company
 * E. Garrett Bewkes IV (Colgate University 2007), publisher, National Review
 * Nickolas Davatzes (St. John's 1960), President Emeritus of A&E TV network
 * Malcolm Forbes (Miami University, Hon. 1982), former publisher of Forbes magazine
 * William F. Kerby (University of Michigan, 1927), former Chairman, of Dow Jones and Company; editor of The Wall Street Journal
 * Mark Mandala (University of Southern California, 1956), former president ABC Television
 * Lee Miglin (University of Illinois, 1950), Chicago real estate developer and philanthropist
 * Floyd R. Newman (Cornell University), founder, Allied Oil Co.
 * David A. Ricks (Purdue University), chairman, president and CEO, Eli Lilly & Co.
 * William Schwendler (New York University 1932), Chairman of the Grumman Aircraft Corporation
 * Ernest H. Volwiler (Miami University, 1912), former chairman of Abbott Laboratories; co-inventor of Pentothal
 * George Wedgworth (Michigan State 1947), Florida agriculture executive and leader

Sports



 * Elliott Avent (North Carolina State University 1975), head baseball coach, NC State
 * Johnny Baker (University of Southern California 1929), 1931 All-American football player at USC; athletic director at Sacramento State
 * Babe Barna (West Virginia University 1934), professional baseball player, 1937–43
 * Al Barry (University of Southern California 1953), pro football player with the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Chargers
 * Dick Bass (Miami University 1927), pitcher with the Washington Senators
 * John Beradino (University of Southern California 1936), baseball player with the St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates (also see entertainment)
 * Rob Bironas (Eastern Kentucky University 2012 (honorary), kicker with the Tennessee Titans
 * Paul O. Bixler (Mount Union 1925), head football coach at Ohio State University, Colgate University; assistant coach and director of player personnel for the Cleveland Browns
 * William R. "Bob" Boyd (University of Southern California 1949), men's basketball coach at University of Southern California, 1967–79
 * Roger Counsil (Southern Illinois University 1957), national champion gymnastics coach, Indiana State University
 * Dave Davis (University of Southern California 1958), Olympic shot-putter
 * Paul Dekker (Michigan State University 1953), pro football player with the Washington Redskins and Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * Otis Douglas (College of William and Mary 1929), player with the Philadelphia Eagles, 1946–49; college football coach at Akron and Arkansas; pro coach at Akron, Baltimore and Calgary Canada
 * Johnny Edwards (Ohio State University 1957), baseball player with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros; All-Star Team, 1963, 1964, 1965
 * Byron Gentry (University of Southern California 1929), football player with the Pittsburgh Pirates (now Pittsburgh Steelers), 1937–1939
 * Bob Goin (Bethany College 1956), athletic director at Florida State University and University of Cincinnati
 * Marc Guley (Syracuse University 1936), head basketball coach at Syracuse University, 1951–62
 * Hal Herring (Auburn University 1947), football player with the Buffalo Bills, 1949, and Cleveland Browns, 1950–52; assistant coach at Auburn University, Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers
 * Mike Hudock (University of Miami 1957), College All-Star center; professional player with the New York Titans and New York Jets
 * Dave Hyde (Miami University 1980), sports columnist for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
 * Darrall Imhoff (University of California, Berkeley 1958), former NBA player; Olympic gold medalist
 * Martin Kottler (Centre College 1930), charter member of the 1933 Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Walt Kowalczyk (Michigan State University ), professional football player
 * Wendell Ladner (The University of Southern Mississippi 1970), pro basketball player, ABA (Memphis Pros) and NBA (New York Nets)
 * Keith Lincoln (Washington State University 1959), football player with the San Diego Chargers
 * Dale Livingston (Western Michigan University 1965), football player with the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers
 * Ted Leitner (Oklahoma State University 1967), Play-by-play broadcast announcer, San Diego Padres
 * Bill Mallory (Miami 1954), retired head football coach at Indiana University
 * Matthew Mann (University of Michigan 1926), swimming coach, University of Michigan and 1952 Summer Olympics men's team
 * Ray B. McCandless (Nebraska Wesleyan University 1923), college football, baseball and basketball coach
 * Bud Metheny (College of William and Mary 1935), baseball player with the New York Yankees, 1943–46; coach, Old Dominion University
 * Jess Mortensen (University of Southern California 1928), captain of the 1930 national champion track team at USC; coach of seven national champion track teams at USC
 * Pete Newell (University of California, Berkeley 1958), retired general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers
 * Bob Osgood (University of Michigan 1934), world champion hurdler
 * Richard O. Papenguth (University of Michigan 1923), swimming coach, Purdue University and 1952 Summer Olympics women's team
 * Otto Peltzer (University of California, Berkeley 1928), world record holding runner, 800 meters, 1000 meters and 1500 meters
 * Richard R. Poling (Ohio Wesleyan University 1928), developer of the Poling System of football rankings
 * Leo Raskowski (Ohio State University 1929), All-American tackle, 1926 and 1927
 * Ernie Steele (University of Washington 1942), pro football player with the Philadelphia Eagles
 * Tony Steponovich (University of Southern California 1927), professional football player
 * Wes Stock (Washington State University 1954), pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Athletics; pitching coach for the Oakland A's and Seattle Mariners
 * Roger Theder (Western Michigan University 1962), head football coach at the University of California, Berkeley, 1978–81
 * Charlie Tyra (University of Louisville 1955), basketball player with the American Basketball League
 * Rick Villarreal (Southern Mississippi 1976), former Athletic Director, University of North Texas
 * Sam Voinoff (Purdue University 1933), NCAA champion golf coach, Purdue University
 * Norbert "Nobby" Wirkowski (Miami University 1948), quarterback and coach with the Toronto Argonauts; football coach and athletic director at York University
 * Curtis Youel (University of Southern California 1931), college football coach and athletic director

Other

 * Ernie Allen (University of Louisville 1965), president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
 * David M. Brugge (University of New Mexico 1948), anthropologist, expert on the Navajo
 * Carmen Cincotti (The College of New Jersey 2012), champion competitive eater
 * Arthur A. Ford (Transylvania University 1919), psychic and spiritualist
 * Jeffrey Miller (Michigan State University), transferred to Kent State University and was one of four students killed there by the Ohio National Guard in 1970