List of Theta Xi members
Theta Xi is a North American social college fraternity. It was founded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1864 as an engineering fraternity, but later changed to a social fraternity.[1] The following list of Theta Xi members includes initiated and honorary notable members of Theta Xi. Members are listed by name and chapter.
Academia
- Vladimir Karapetoff, professor of electrical engineering at Cornell University[1][2]
- Palmer C. Ricketts (Alpha 84), Ninth president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute[1]
- Charles F. Scott, electrical engineer and professor at Yale University[1]
- Homer L. Shantz, botanist and president of the University of Arizona[1]
- William F. Sharpe (Alpha Zeta 402), Awarded the 1990 Nobel Prize for Economics and emeritus professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business[3]
- Raymie Stata (Delta), assistant professor of computer science at the Baskin School of Engineering at University of California, Santa Cruz
- Frederick E. Turneaure, professor and dean of engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison[1]
Art and architecture
- Jay Alders (Gamma Mu 11), visual artist
- Jim Davis (Kappa Kappa 159), creator of Garfield comic strip[4][5]
- Emil Praeger (Alpha 272), architect and civil engineer[6]
Business and nonprofits
- Marshall Goldsmith (Kappa 721), executive leadership coach and author
- Charles Hayden (Delta 24), senior partner of Hayden, Stone & Co., industrialist, and philanthropist[7]
- David Hirsch (Alpha Beta 1078), founder 21st Century Dads Foundation[8]
- Travis Kalanick (Alpha Zeta 1223), founder and CEO of Uber[9]
- Ray Klinginsmith (Beta Iota 1), world president of Rotary International[10]
- Jack Lindquist (Alpha Nu 263), former president of Disneyland (1990–1994)[5]
- Benjamin H. Oehlert Jr., president of Minute Maid, vice-president of The Coca-Cola Company, and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan[2]
Entertainment
- Philip Bartholomae, playwright, lyricist, screenwriter, and theatre director[1]
- Richard Boone (Tau, former), Emmy-winning actor[5]
- Bruce Davison (Lambda 715), Golden Globe Award winning actor
- Bill Doleman (Alpha Epsilon), studio analyst for Root Sport Southwest
- Buddy De Sylva (Alpha Nu 78), Oscar-nominated composer, producer, and executive
- Henderson Forsythe, Tony Award-winning actor and one of the actors who has played Colonel Sanders for KFC
- Ferde Grofé (Alpha Nu 340), composer[11]
- Charles Lederer, film screenwriter, Tony Awards double winner, producer
- Dudley Nichols, Oscar-winning screenwriter
- Patrick Simmons (Beta Beta 272), founding member of The Doobie Brothers
Government
- James Hall (Alpha 38), New York State Paleontologist
- Eric O'Neill (Beta Zeta 707, Auburn University), FBI operative, subject of the movie Breach
Law
Literature and journalism
- Bill Dedman (Iota 1089), Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and bestselling author
- Richard Reeves (Gamma 722), Author and syndicated columnist
Military
- Ronald L. Burgess Jr. (Beta Zeta 409), 17th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and United States Army lieutenant general
- William L. Haskin, U.S. Army brigadier general[1]
- John S. McCain Jr. (Kappa Lambda 82 - alumni initiate), United States Navy admiral
Politics
- Alva B. Adams (Beta 209), U.S. Senator from Colorado[1]
- Truman H. Aldrich, U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama[1]
- Butler Ames, U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts[1]
- Frank Church (Tau), U.S. Senator from Idaho 1957-1981[5]
- Jim Donelon (Beta Xi 27), Louisiana Insurance Commissioner and Louisiana House of Representatives
- Mayson Foster (Beta Pi 42), Mayor of Hammond, Louisiana
- Claude Harris Jr. (Alpha Lambda 421), U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama (1987–1993); Circuit Judge, 1977–1985
- Donald H. Magnuson (Upsilon), U.S. House of Representatives from Washington[2]
- John Morroni, Florida House of Representatives[2]
- W. Aubrey Thomas, U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio[1]
- William H. Wiley (Alpha 11), U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey[12]
Science and technology
- Edwin Howard Armstrong (Epsilon 70), electrical engineer and inventor who developed FM (frequency modulation)
- Allen B. DuMont (Alpha 349), scientist and inventor
- James S. Voss (Beta Zeta 312), astronaut[13]
- Frederick Winslow Taylor (Gamma 53), father of scientific management
Sports
- Al Brosky (Alpha Beta 563), member of the College Football Hall of Fame
- Ray Clay (Gamma Kappa 35), Chicago Bulls announcer
- Lee Eilbracht (Alpha Beta 463), professional baseball player with the Chicago Cubs and scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks
- Ryan Mathews (Kappa Sigma 1141), NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver for Bill Davis Racing
- Tom Penders (Alpha Pi 573), head men's basketball coach at the University of Houston
- Frank Quilici (Beta Theta 54), former manager of the Minnesota Twins
- Bob Schaefer (Alpha Pi 570), former manager of the Kansas City Royals
- Jerry Tagge (Alpha Epsilon 916), professional football player with the Green Bay Packers.
- Steve Wright (Alpha Lambda 430), professional football player with the Chicago Fire (WFL)
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Shepardson, Francis Wayland, ed. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 12th edition. Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press/George Banta Publishing Company, 1930. pp. 256-258. via Hathi Trust.
- ^ a b c d "Theta Xi Politicians". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "Nobel laureate and UCLA alumnus William Sharpe speaks at Theta Xi's dinner meeting". Daily Bruin. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "Jim Davis Cartoonist, Garfield, Life & Career". Britannica.
- ^ a b c d e "Alumni Body". Theta Xi. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "Alumni Of The Alpha Chapter Of Theta Xi University". alpha6294alumni.
- ^ Garfinke, Simson (February 23, 2022). "The man no one knows who changed Boston". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "Meet the Team". USB Hirsch Kelly Group. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "UCLA Dropout Travis Kalanick Has One Hell Of A Ride - Key Executives". January 7, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "Ray Edward Klinginsmith Obituary January 17, 2024". Playle-Rimer-Millard Family Funeral Chapel. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "Ferde Grofé Collection Guides to Special Collections in the Music Division of the Library of Congress" (PDF). Music Division, Library of Congress. 1994. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "The Founding of Theta Xi". Theta Xi. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "Head in the Clouds". Alabama Living Magazine. June 24, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2025.