The Ozarks is home to a handful of higher-education institutions producing thousands of graduates a year. In the mix are students who persevere under pressure, students who shine in the spotlight and students who’ve gone on to make a name for themselves nationally.
We asked College of the Ozarks and Missouri State, Drury, Evangel and Southwest Baptist universities who topped their prominent alumni lists and the results could fill multiple pages.
Here’s a sampling of famous faces who got their start in the Ozarks.
—Emily Letterman, Features Editor
Bob Barker
Legendary television broadcaster and host of “The Price Is Right”
Drury, class of 1947
Si Siman
Record producer and country music executive, co-creator of the Ozark Jubilee
Drury, class of 1946
David Glass
Former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. CEO and current Kansas City Royals owner
MSU, class of 1960
Sherry Herschend
Co-owner of Herschend Family Entertainment
C of O, high school class of 1950
Johnny Morris
Founder of Bass Pro Shops
Drury, class of 1970
Roy Blunt
Current U.S. senator for Missouri and 14-year representative in the House
SBU, class of 1970; MSU, class of 1972
Beverly Lewis
New York Times best-selling Christian fiction novelist and author of over 80 books; three made into movies
Evangel, class of 1972
John Goodman
Actor best known as TV’s Dan Conner on “Roseanne” and in movies such as “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and “Big Lebowski”
MSU, class of 1975
Samuel Der-Yeghiayan
Federal judge in the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois in Chicago
Evangel, class of 1975
Stephanie Schierholz
Press secretary for NASA
SBU, class of 2000
Erin Hayes
25-year ABC News correspondent
C of O, class of 1979
Steve Poppen
Executive vice president and CFO of the Minnesota Vikings
Evangel, class of 1991
Adm. Vern Clark
U.S. Navy’s 27th Chief of Naval Operations
Evangel, class of 1967
