READ Famous Luther College Alumni

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List Rules People on this list must have gone to Luther College and be of some renown.

List of famous alumni from Luther College, with photos when available. Prominent graduates from Luther College include celebrities, politicians, business people, athletes and more. This list of distinguished Luther College alumni is loosely ordered by relevance, so the most recognizable celebrities who attended Luther College are at the top of the list. This directory is not just composed of graduates of this school, as some of the famous people on this list didn't necessarily earn a degree from Luther College.

List features Henry Taube, Kurt Heinecke and more.

This list answers the questions “Which famous people went to Luther College?” and “Which celebrities are Luther College alumni?”

1

Howard Hanson Conductor, Educator, Music Theorist Howard Harold Hanson was an American composer, conductor, educator, music theorist, and champion of American classical music. As director for 40 years of the Eastman School of Music, he built a ...more

2

Henry Taube Chemist Henry Taube, Ph.D, M.Sc, B.Sc., FRSC was a Canadian-born American chemist noted for having been awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for "his work in the mechanisms of ...more

3

Jim Nussle Politician James Allen "Jim" Nussle is the president and chief executive officer of the Credit Union National Association. He is a former American politician. Nussle served as a member of the ...more

4

Dean Johnson Dean Elton Johnson is a former Minnesota politician and a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota. He is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and a ...more

5

Duane Hanson Artist Duane Hanson was an American artist and sculptor from Minnesota who worked in South Florida. He was known for his lifecast realistic works of people, cast in various materials, including ...more

6

Weston Noble Conductor Weston H. Noble is a American music educator and conductor. The Ervin and Phyllis Johnson Professor of Music Emeritus at Luther College since 2005, he is best known for his 57-year tenure on the ...more

7

Merlin Bartz Farmer Merlin Bartz was the Iowa State Senator from the 6th District, elected in 2008 for just one term. A Republican, he sat on the Appropriations, Human Resources, Natural Resources, and Ways and ...more

8

Clarence Norman Brunsdale Clarence Norman Brunsdale was the 24th Governor of North Dakota and United States Senator of the state of North Dakota.

9

Kurt Heinecke Film Score Composer, Songwriter, Actor Kurt Henry Heinecke is an American music composer, songwriter, voice actor and photographer. He is the music director at Big Idea Entertainment, creators of the computer-animated VeggieTales.

10

Adolph Herseth Trumpeter Adolph Sylvester "Bud" Herseth was principal trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1948 until 2001, and served as principal trumpet emeritus from 2001 until his retirement in

11

Brian Andreas Brian Andreas is an American writer, painter, sculptor, technologist and publisher widely known for an ongoing series of works presented by the author as StoryPeople. The Storypeople collection ...more

12

Drew Curtis Publisher, Actor Drew Curtis is the founder and an administrator of Fark.com, an Internet news aggregator. He is also the author of It's Not News, It's FARK: How Mass Media Tries to Pass off Crap as News in May ...more

13

Callista Gingrich Businessperson, Musician, Film Producer Callista Louise Gingrich is the President of Gingrich Productions. She is married to former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Newt

14

Jim Whitesell Coach Jim Whitesell is an assistant men's basketball coach for the St. John's Red Storm. Previously, he held the head coaching position at Loyola University Chicago and was an assistant coach for the ...more

15

Robert H. Lounsberry Politician Robert Horace Lounsberry was the Secretary of Agriculture for the state of Iowa from 1972 to 1987, a nationally known farmer advocate during the farming crises of the 1980s, and a powerful ...more

16

Arne M. Sorenson Businessperson Arne M. Sorenson was appointed as an Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Marriott International Inc. in 1998 and assumed the additional title of President, Continental ...more

17

David P. Werning David P. Werning is Senior Vice President, Commercial Segment, Worldwide Commercial Consumer Equipment Division, responsible for developing alignment between commercial mowing, golf turf, and ...more

18

Marty Haugen Marty Haugen, is an American composer of liturgical music.

19

Chuck Gipp Charles R. "Chuck" Gipp was the Iowa State Representative from the 16th District. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1990 to 2009 and was the majority leader in the ...more

20

Dave Senjem Legislator David Howard "Dave" Senjem is a Minnesota politician. He served as the Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate from 2011 to 2013. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he ...more

21

Eric Cutler Eric Cutler is an American tenor notable for his performances of bel canto repertoire and Mozart operas in particular. He is a native of Adel, Iowa, and a graduate of Luther College. Cutler is ...more

22

Katy Olson Farmer, Political Activist Catherina "Katy" Gaalswyk Olson was a Minnesota politician and was a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from southwestern Minnesota.

23

Leon Lillie Legislator Leon Michael Lillie is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, he represents District 43B, which ...more

24

Donovan W. Frank Judge Donovan W. Frank is a United States federal judge. Frank was born in Rochester, Minnesota. He received a B.A. from Luther College in 1973 and his J.D. from Hamline University School of Law in ...more

25

Matthew Busche Matthew Busche is an American professional road racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI ProTeam Trek Factory Racing. In 2009, he gained notoriety for his rapid rise from a Wisconsin-based ...more

26

Betsy Warland Writer Betsy Warland is a Canadian writer and poet.

27

Robert Jenson Robert W. Jenson is a leading American Lutheran and ecumenical theologian.

28

Bruce Tammen Bruce Tammen is a conductor and artistic director. Tammen holds degrees from Luther College, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago and has taught voice and directed choirs at ...more

29

Patrick Whitesell Talent agent Patrick Whitesell is an American talent agent and co-CEO of WME, an entertainment and media agency. He joined the Endeavor Talent Agency as a partner in February 2001, where he was a member of ...more

30

Terence E. Fretheim Terence E. Fretheim is an Old Testament scholar and the Elva B. Lovell professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary. His writings have played a major part in the development of process theology ...more

1 Howard Hanson Conductor, Educator, Music Theorist Howard Harold Hanson was an American composer, conductor, educator, music theorist, and champion of American classical music. As director for 40 years of the Eastman School of Music, he built a ...more

2 Henry Taube Chemist Henry Taube, Ph.D, M.Sc, B.Sc., FRSC was a Canadian-born American chemist noted for having been awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for "his work in the mechanisms of ...more

3 Jim Nussle Politician James Allen "Jim" Nussle is the president and chief executive officer of the Credit Union National Association. He is a former American politician. Nussle served as a member of the ...more

4 Dean Johnson Dean Elton Johnson is a former Minnesota politician and a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota. He is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and a ...more

5 Duane Hanson Artist Duane Hanson was an American artist and sculptor from Minnesota who worked in South Florida. He was known for his lifecast realistic works of people, cast in various materials, including ...more

6 Weston Noble Conductor Weston H. Noble is a American music educator and conductor. The Ervin and Phyllis Johnson Professor of Music Emeritus at Luther College since 2005, he is best known for his 57-year tenure on the ...more

7 Merlin Bartz Farmer Merlin Bartz was the Iowa State Senator from the 6th District, elected in 2008 for just one term. A Republican, he sat on the Appropriations, Human Resources, Natural Resources, and Ways and ...more

8 Clarence Norman Brunsdale Clarence Norman Brunsdale was the 24th Governor of North Dakota and United States Senator of the state of North Dakota.

9 Kurt Heinecke Film Score Composer, Songwriter, Actor Kurt Henry Heinecke is an American music composer, songwriter, voice actor and photographer. He is the music director at Big Idea Entertainment, creators of the computer-animated VeggieTales.

10 Adolph Herseth Trumpeter Adolph Sylvester "Bud" Herseth was principal trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1948 until 2001, and served as principal trumpet emeritus from 2001 until his retirement in

11 Brian Andreas Brian Andreas is an American writer, painter, sculptor, technologist and publisher widely known for an ongoing series of works presented by the author as StoryPeople. The Storypeople collection ...more

12 Drew Curtis Publisher, Actor Drew Curtis is the founder and an administrator of Fark.com, an Internet news aggregator. He is also the author of It's Not News, It's FARK: How Mass Media Tries to Pass off Crap as News in May ...more

13 Callista Gingrich Businessperson, Musician, Film Producer Callista Louise Gingrich is the President of Gingrich Productions. She is married to former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Newt

14 Jim Whitesell Coach Jim Whitesell is an assistant men's basketball coach for the St. John's Red Storm. Previously, he held the head coaching position at Loyola University Chicago and was an assistant coach for the ...more

15 Robert H. Lounsberry Politician Robert Horace Lounsberry was the Secretary of Agriculture for the state of Iowa from 1972 to 1987, a nationally known farmer advocate during the farming crises of the 1980s, and a powerful ...more

16 Arne M. Sorenson Businessperson Arne M. Sorenson was appointed as an Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Marriott International Inc. in 1998 and assumed the additional title of President, Continental ...more

17 David P. Werning David P. Werning is Senior Vice President, Commercial Segment, Worldwide Commercial Consumer Equipment Division, responsible for developing alignment between commercial mowing, golf turf, and ...more

18 Marty Haugen Marty Haugen, is an American composer of liturgical music.

19 Chuck Gipp Charles R. "Chuck" Gipp was the Iowa State Representative from the 16th District. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1990 to 2009 and was the majority leader in the ...more

20 Dave Senjem Legislator David Howard "Dave" Senjem is a Minnesota politician. He served as the Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate from 2011 to 2013. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he ...more

21 Eric Cutler Eric Cutler is an American tenor notable for his performances of bel canto repertoire and Mozart operas in particular. He is a native of Adel, Iowa, and a graduate of Luther College. Cutler is ...more

22 Katy Olson Farmer, Political Activist Catherina "Katy" Gaalswyk Olson was a Minnesota politician and was a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from southwestern Minnesota.

23 Leon Lillie Legislator Leon Michael Lillie is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, he represents District 43B, which ...more

24 Donovan W. Frank Judge Donovan W. Frank is a United States federal judge. Frank was born in Rochester, Minnesota. He received a B.A. from Luther College in 1973 and his J.D. from Hamline University School of Law in ...more

25 Matthew Busche Matthew Busche is an American professional road racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI ProTeam Trek Factory Racing. In 2009, he gained notoriety for his rapid rise from a Wisconsin-based ...more

26 Betsy Warland Writer Betsy Warland is a Canadian writer and poet.

27 Robert Jenson Robert W. Jenson is a leading American Lutheran and ecumenical theologian.

28 Bruce Tammen Bruce Tammen is a conductor and artistic director. Tammen holds degrees from Luther College, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago and has taught voice and directed choirs at ...more

29 Patrick Whitesell Talent agent Patrick Whitesell is an American talent agent and co-CEO of WME, an entertainment and media agency. He joined the Endeavor Talent Agency as a partner in February 2001, where he was a member of ...more

30 Terence E. Fretheim Terence E. Fretheim is an Old Testament scholar and the Elva B. Lovell professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary. His writings have played a major part in the development of process theology ...more