This page is intended to serve as a list of
notable alumni of
The Citadel.
Military
Colonel
Charles C. Tew CSA (1846) first graduate of the college; served as professor and Commandant of the Citadel Academy and Superintendent of the Arsenal Academy, founded
Hillsborough Military Academy in North Carolina. Killed in action at the
Battle of Antietam in 1862 on the eve of his promotion to brigadier general.
BrigGen
Johnson Hagood CSA (1847) commanded Confederate forces in Charleston during the attack on
Fort Wagner depicted in the movie
Glory.
Governor of South Carolina 1880–82 and instrumental in reopening The Citadel after occupation by Federal troops at the end of the Civil War,
Johnson Hagood Stadium, where The Citadel plays its home football games, is named for him.
BrigGen
Micah Jenkins CSA (1854) First Honor Graduate of his class, one of the "boy generals" aged 26; he was a favorite of General
Robert E. Lee, killed in action at the
Battle of the Wilderness. Jenkins Hall, which houses the Military Sciences and Commandant's Office is named in his honor
LtGen
James T. Moore USMC (1916) early Marine aviator who held important command positions in USMC aviation during World War II, famous as Pappy Boyington's boss in the South Pacific air war and featured in the 1970s TV show Baa Baa Black Sheep.
MajGen
Lewie G. Merritt USMC (1917) pioneer in Marine aviation who developed tactics of dive bombing and close air support, commanded several major flying units in World War II. Namesake of
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina.
General
William O. Brice USMC (1921) another early Marine flier who led units during World War II and Korea. Commanding general,
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; assistant commandant for air and Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Marine Aviation. Youngest Marine Corps general in World War II, first Marine aviator four-star general.
General
Edwin A. Pollock USMC (1921)
Navy Cross winner at
Guadalcanal in 1942, led the
2d Marine Division during combat in Korea. Also commanded
1st Marine Division and only Marine to have commanded both the Pacific and Atlantic Fleet Marine Forces. Instrumental in founding the
Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas; served as first president and commandant. Chairman of The Citadel board of visitors and named chairman emeritus upon retirement.
Major
Thomas D. Howie USA (1929) Immortalized during World War II as “The Major of St. Lo”; leader of the battalion that captured the strategic city of
Saint-Lô, France (where he was killed). Inspiration for the character of Captain John Miller in
Saving Private Ryan[1]
General
William Westmoreland USA (1935) Commander of US forces in Vietnam,
Chief of Staff of the United States Army; father James R. (1900) served as chairman of the board of Visitors in the 1940s and son James A. graduated in 1961 (attended one year, USMA graduate)
LtCol
George Bray McMillan USAAF (1938) Pilot with the
Flying Tigers, squadron commander in the
51st Fighter Group, combat ace with 8.5 aerial victories. Shot down and killed near Pingsang, China in June, 1944
LtCol
Horace Ellis Crouch USAF (1940) Bombardier/navigator on crew #10 of the
Doolittle Raid, also flew combat missions in China later in World War II and in Korea
MajGen
James Grimsley Jr. USA (1942) combat veteran of World War II and Vietnam earning 2 Silver Stars, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. President of The Citadel 1980–89 and president emeritus 1989–2013
MajGen
David Wilson USA (1991) current Commanding General,
United States Army Sustainment Command; first black Alumni to attain 2 star rank in any of the Armed Services and the first black General Officer Alumni on active duty in the United States Army.
SFC
Christopher Celiz USA (2008) posthumously awarded the Congressional
Medal of Honor for heroic actions in Afghanistan while assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment in 2018 (attended 2 years)
Business
Charles E. Daniel (1918), R. Hugh Daniel (1929) – co-founders of
Daniel International Corporation, at one time the largest construction company in the world. Major Citadel benefactors for whom Daniel Library is named.
Alvah Chapman Jr.(1942) CEO and Chairman of
Knight Ridder, at one time the largest newspaper publishing company in the U.S.
Eugene Figg (1958) Founder and CEO of Figg Engineering Group, one of the world's largest bridge building companies. Nationally prominent structural engineer and designer of the
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Paul Maguire (1960) Led the nation in touchdown receptions by a tight end as a senior in 1959, 3d Team Associated Press All American. Tight end and punter with Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers and
Buffalo Bills 1960–70. Played on 3 consecutive AFL championship teams and in 6 of 10 championship games; one of only 20 players who were members of the
American Football League from its inception in 1960 until its merger with the NFL in 1970. Longtime color commentator for college and NFL games with NBC and ESPN, member of The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame
Fred Jordan (1979) Head baseball coach, The Citadel 1992 – 2017. Winningest coach in school and
Southern Conference history with 831 victories; 13 regular season and tournament conference championships, 7 NCAA tournament appearances, 4-time Southern Conference Coach of the Year, 36 players selected in MLB draft.[5]
Lyvonia "Stump" Mitchell (1981) holder of school records for season and career rushing yards; 3d Team 1-A All American, Southern Conference Player of the Year and #2 rusher in the country in 1980, Southern Conference Male Athlete of the Year and South Carolina Amateur Athlete of the Year. Running back and kick returner for
St Louis Cardinals/
Phoenix Cardinals 1981–89,
Kansas City Chiefs 1990; second on Cardinals career all purpose yardage list (11,985), second in career rushing yards and career 100 yard rushing games. Assistant Coach
San Antonio Riders 1992, head coach
Morgan State University 1996–98, running backs coach
Seattle Seahawks 1999–2007 and assistant head coach and running backs coach
Washington Redskins 2008–09; head coach of
Southern University 2010–12, Running Backs Coach
Arizona Cardinals 2013–17,
New York Jets 2017–19 and
Cleveland Browns 2019-. One of only 6 Citadel players to have jersey retired, inducted into The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame and
South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
Greg Davis (1987) kicker for Oakland, San Diego, New England, Minnesota, Atlanta, and Arizona 1987–98; co-holder of NFL record for most 50+ yard field goals in a game (3), third on Cardinals all-time scoring list with 484 points. Member of The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame
Tony Skole (1991) Current Head Baseball Coach, The Citadel; head baseball coach
East Tennessee State University 2000–2017. Starter on baseball and football teams who played in
College World Series and on 2 1-AA playoff teams, member of Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame.
Lester Smith Jr. (1992) 2 time 1-AA All-American and 3 time All Southern Conference selection at Safety; CFL player with
Baltimore Stallions 1994–95,
Toronto Argonauts 1996–98 and
Montreal Alouettes 1999–2001; CFL All-Star and member of 2
Grey Cup Champions. Had Citadel jersey retired and member of Athletic Hall of Fame
Dan McDonnell (1992) Head baseball coach,
University of Louisville 2007– ; rivals.com National Coach of the Year, 2007. 5 appearances in College World Series, member of The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame.
Chris Lemonis (1992) Current head baseball coach
Mississippi State University, won the 2021 National Championship in just his second season. Head baseball coach
Indiana University 2015-18. 6 appearances in the College World Series as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
Cliff Washburn (2002) All-Southern Conference selection in basketball and football, played in East-West Shrine Game and Hula Bowl. Offensive tackle for numerous teams in the NFL, World League of American Football, United Football League and CFL. Member of The Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame.
Hugh S. Thompson (1856) S.C. Superintendent of Education 1876–82,
Governor of South Carolina 1882–86, Assistant U.S. Treasury Secretary 1886–89, U.S. Civil Service Commissioner 1889–92. Thompson Hall is named for him.
Marion Hartzog Smoak (1938) S.C. State Senator 1966-68, United States
Chief of Protocol 1969-74, Presidential Transition Team for Ronald Reagan, 1980–81
Langhorne "Tony" Motley (1960) Alaska Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development 1975-77, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil 1981–83, Assistant Secretary of State 1983–85
CAPT
William J. Luti USN (1975) National Security Advisor to Vice President
Dick Cheney 2001, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense 2001–05, special assistant to President
George W. Bush 2005–09
Steve Buyer (1980) U.S. Congressman from Indiana 1992–2010. Buyer Auditorium in Mark Clark Hall is named for him.
Lt. Gen.
Hussein Al-Majali (1981) Jordanian Ambassador to Bahrain 2005–10, Interior Minister of Jordan 2013–15
Ellison Capers (1857) 1st President of
Sewanee University; CSA Brigadier General and Episcopal Bishop of South Carolina. Brother Francis W. Capers was SCMA Superintendent 1853-59 and Capers Hall, the main academic building on campus is named in honor of both men.
Colonel
Oliver James Bond, SCM (1886) Superintendent/President 1908-31; wrote the first detailed school history entitled The Story of The Citadel
Arland D. Williams Jr. (1957) – saved five other passengers following the crash of
Air Florida Flight 90 into the
14th Street Bridge and
Potomac River in
Washington, DC on January 13, 1982. Williams passed the lifeline lowered for him by a rescue helicopter to others, and died as a result. Posthumously awarded the Coast Guard Gold Lifesaving Medal by President Reagan, 14th Street Bridge over Potomac River named in his honor. [Note – Lt. Col. George Mattar (1963) also died in the Air Florida crash]
Morris Robinson (1991) 3 time All American football player and Grammy winning opera singer who has performed at
Carnegie Hall,
La Scala in
Milan, Italy and the
Sydney Opera House. First black artist to sign a recording deal with a major classical label, featured in the 2022 movie "The Magic Flute".