List of Franklin & Marshall College alumni facts for kids

This is a list of famous people who went to Franklin & Marshall College. This college is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. These people are called "alumni" because they are former students who graduated from the college.

Creative Arts and Entertainment

Many talented people from Franklin & Marshall College have made a name for themselves in the arts.

Film and TV Stars

• Franklin Schaffner, Class of 1942, was an Oscar-winning film director. He directed famous movies like Patton and Planet of the Apes.
• Roy Scheider, Class of 1955, was an actor nominated for an Academy Award. You might know him from Jaws or All That Jazz.
• Treat Williams, Class of 1973, was an actor who appeared in movies like Hair and Prince of the City. He was also in the TV show Everwood.
• Jennifer Gareis, Class of 1992, is an actress. She has been in popular TV shows like The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless.
• Jason Narvy, Class of 2002, is an actor. He is known for his role in Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.

Behind the Scenes in Arts

• Ed Flesh, Class of 1953, was an art director. He famously designed the big wheel for the game show Wheel of Fortune.
• James Lapine, Class of 1971, is a playwright who won a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award. He wrote plays like Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods.
• Richard Plepler, Class of 1981, used to be the CEO of HBO, a major TV network.
• Bruce Sussman, Class of 1971, is a songwriter and writer for musicals.

Music and Comedy

• Spliff Star, Class of 1996, is a rapper and hypeman for the famous MC Busta Rhymes.
• Mallika Dua is an Indian comic.
• Dominic Akena, Class of 2016, is a talented xylophone player. He was featured in an Emmy-winning documentary called War/Dance.

Government and Public Service

Many alumni have worked in government and law, helping to shape laws and lead communities.

Lawmakers and Judges

• John Weinland Killinger, Class of 1843, was a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania for several terms.
• J. Roland Kinzer, Class of 1896, also served as a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania.
• William I. Troutman, Class of 1927, was both a Judge and a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania.
• John P. Saylor, Class of 1929, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was known for his work protecting the environment.
• Edwin D. Eshleman, Class of 1942, served as a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania.
• William H. Gray, Class of 1963, was a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania. He also served as the House Majority Whip, which is a leadership role. Later, he became President of the United Negro College Fund.
• Mary Schapiro, Class of 1977, was the former Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This agency protects investors.
• Paula Dow, Class of 1977, was the Attorney General of New Jersey. This is the state's chief legal officer.
• Barry Finegold, Class of 1993, is a Massachusetts State Senator.
• Lloyd Smucker is a Congressman from Pennsylvania.

Other Government Roles

• Kenneth Duberstein, Class of 1965, served as the White House Chief of Staff for President Ronald Reagan. This is a very important role, helping the President manage daily operations.
• Patricia Harris, Class of 1977, was a First Deputy Mayor for the City of New York. She is now the CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies, which supports good causes.
• Evelyn Farkas, Class of 1989, was a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. She worked on issues related to Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia.
• Daniel Ragsdale was the former Acting Director of Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

Business Leaders

These alumni have achieved success in the world of business.

• George Frederick Baer, Class of 1861, was the President of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.
• Wanda Austin, Class of 1975, was the president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation. This company works on space technology.
• Rob Shepardson, Class of 1983, was a founding partner of a well-known advertising agency called SS+K.
• Jacob Clark Hennebberger, Class of 1913, helped start Weird Tales magazine in 1923.
• J. M. Lansinger, Class of 1914, also helped start Weird Tales and published College Humor magazine.

Science and Medicine

Alumni from Franklin & Marshall College have made important discoveries and contributions in science and health.

• Stanley Dudrick, Class of 1957, was a surgeon. He was a pioneer in using TPN, which is a way to feed patients through their veins when they can't eat normally.
• Charles M. Lieber, Class of 1981, is a chemist and a pioneer in nanoscience. This field deals with very tiny materials.
• Theodore E. Woodward, Class of 1934, was a medical researcher who was nominated for the Nobel Prize.
• David Simons, Class of 1943, was a NASA physician. In 1957, he set an altitude record in a helium balloon, testing equipment for astronauts.
• Michael J. Mumma, Class of 1963, works at NASA. He was the Founding Director of the Goddard Center for Astrobiology. This center studies life in the universe.
• Alan I. Leshner, Class of 1965, was the Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse.
• Justin B. Ries, Class of 1998, is a geoscientist and inventor. He is known for his discoveries about changes in the world's oceans.
• Anne Hultgren, Class of 1999, is a Physicist who works for the Department of Homeland Security.
• Clifford Pickover, Class of 1979, is an author and researcher at IBM.

Sports Stars and Leaders

Franklin & Marshall College has produced many athletes and leaders in the sports world.

• Frank Sprig Gardner, Class of 1930, was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
• Bowie Kuhn, Class of 1948, was the Commissioner of Baseball from 1969 to 1984. He was the top leader for Major League Baseball.
• Don Wert, who attended in 1957, was an MLB player for the 1968 World Series champion Detroit Tigers.
• Peter Schaffer, Class of 1984, is a sports agent. He helps athletes manage their careers.
• Michael T. Dee, Class of 1985, was the CEO of the San Diego Padres, a professional baseball team.
• Chris Finch, Class of 1992, is currently the head coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. He has also coached for other NBA teams.
• Rebecca Meyers, Class of 2021, is a Paralympic Games swimmer. She won three gold medals at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.

Academia and Education

These alumni have dedicated their careers to teaching and leading in colleges and universities.

• David Bowman Schneder, Class of 1880, was the second President of Tohoku Gakuin University in Japan.
• William Edwin Hoy, Class of 1882, was a founder of Tohoku Gakuin University. He was also a missionary in Japan and China.
• Andrew Truxal, Class of 1920, was the president of Hood College and Anne Arundel Community College.
• Richard J. Stonesifer, Class of 1944, was the fifth President of Monmouth University.
• James J. Whalen, Class of 1950, was the president of Ithaca College.
• Richard Kneedler, Class of 1965, is the President Emeritus of Franklin and Marshall College, meaning he is a former president who is still honored.
• Louise Burkhart, Class of 1980, is an ethnohistorian and scholar. She studies the history and culture of ancient Central American civilizations. She is a professor at the University at Albany, SUNY.
• Roderic Grupen, Class of 1980, is a Computer Scientist and Roboticist. He is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Military Service

Some alumni have served in the military, defending their country.

• Henry Kyd Douglas, Class of 1858, was a major in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was one of the youngest officers under General Stonewall Jackson.
• Richard Winters, Class of 1941, was a brave officer in World War II. He was part of major events like D Day and the Battle of The Bulge. He was also the main character in the book Band of Brothers.
• Richard P. Mills, Class of 1972, is a Lieutenant General in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Other Notable Alumni

• Bruce Bechdel, Class of 1955, was a high school teacher and funeral director. He became the subject of his daughter's graphic memoir Fun Home and a musical based on it.