List of Southern Methodist University people

This is a list of notable alumni, faculty, and students of Southern Methodist University.

Because of the group's size, most of the real governing was done by the 21-member board of governors.

In the aftermath of the 1987 football "death penalty" against SMU, the board of governors was eliminated and replaced with a smaller and more efficient board of trustees.

The changes were also designed to increase the independence and authority of the university president.

The new structure called for a board of trustees of 40 members and meeting four times a year instead of twice.

First Lady Laura Bush
US Senator John Tower of Texas
Former Governor and now US Senator Rick Scott of Florida
Craig R. McKinley , first general of the National Guard to gain four-star rank
Bob Dudley , BP executive in charge of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response
Lamar Hunt , principal founder of the American Football League and Major League Soccer
Jeffrey Skilling , CEO of Enron
Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Donald Holmquest , NASA astronaut
Mary Ellen Weber , NASA astronaut
Larry Faulkner , President of the University of Texas at Austin
Kathy Bates , Oscar -winning actress
Brian Baumgartner , actor on The Office
Bill Fagerbakke , the voice of Patrick Star
Kourtney Kardashian attended SMU, but did not graduate.
Doak Walker , Heisman Trophy winner
Honorary degree recipient George H. W. Bush