Notable Alumni

Allison Thomas Stanislaus “Pooley” Hubert is remembered as one of the South’s greatest college football players. Hubert had a prolific football and coaching career that spanned more than 40 years — a career that began in the early 1920s at Missouri Military Academy. 

MMA alumni Maj. Gen. Judd Lyons ʼ80 shares how structure and discipline have been the keys to his ascent up the ladder of success. Currently serving as deputy assistant secretary of defense for reserve integration, Lyons has taken these constants to heart as he embodies the mission of Missouri Military Academy.

Ever the entrepreneur, teenage Bill Hankes knew what he wanted and discovered Missouri Military Academy was the way to get it. The decision he made 40 years ago to attend MMA has paid him back in spades over the course of his career, evidenced last summer with his appointment as chief communications officer at Forbes.

Attending Missouri Military Academy inspired a lifetime of following twin passions for Ned Thanhouser '68 — a successful career in high technology and later renown as a film preservationist.

Known as the first test pilot for the original Cessna 172 prototype, Emil “Fritz” Feutz ’41 was a pilot, aerodynamicist and flight test engineer. His lifelong ambition was to be a pilot, and his notable career spanned decades in the sky. 

Named one of America’s top 20 CEOs of 2020, alongside Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, Missouri Military Academy (MMA) alumnus Charles “Chase” Hughes ’99 is a leading military and intelligence behavior expert with 20 years of experience creating the most advanced behavior skills courses and tactics available worldwide.

Jess Larson ʼ22 lived his life in service to his country and fellow citizens. An accomplished attorney, he served as mayor of Chickasha, Oklahoma, and rose to the rank of major general in the U.S. Air Force, also filling roles by presidential appointment as administrator of the War Assets Administration and the General Services Administration.

Starting his career as an Army infantry officer, Casselle has risen to work some of the nation’s highest-profile security assignments over the past two decades. He currently works as the director of counterterrorism on the National Security Council staff at The White House.

Jesús Guzmán is a famous standup comedian who has applied his talent and creativity to multiple facets of the entertainment industry. Throughout his career, he has served as a television writer, actor and talk show host; radio personality, voice actor and DJ; writer; producer; and translator for Broadway adaptations in Mexico.

Mark Ledford ’78 was an accomplished trumpeter, vocalist and guitarist who regularly contributed to smooth jazz and jazz fusion albums throughout the 80s and 90s.

"MMA was the perfect environment preparing me for the unexpected crucible of war I experienced during the majority of my life and service to our great country!" - Lieutenant Colonel Ian Wolfe (USAF, Ret) ’91

A successful pilot, veteran, big game hunter, businessman, Formula One race car driver and author – Burt Avedon ’41 led a life full of duty, excitement and adventure.

As a three-star general, Jack C. Fuson ’39 is among the highest U.S. military ranking Missouri Military Academy alumni. A true patriot, his active duty service extended over three wars, and even in his retirement, Fuson served his country as a military advisor and preserver of American history

Missouri Military Academy alumnus Paul Callaway was a distinguished composer, performer, choirmaster and musical leader known and recognized around the world. 

A World War II veteran, Robert M. White II ’33 was a nationally recognized reporter, editor and publisher; a first amendment rights activist and a pioneer in cable television who served in leadership roles for several major news agencies and associations. 

A successful actor and singer, Thomas “Christopher” Connelly ’59 starred in several television series and movies between 1963 and 1988. 

Dr. William Burch ’89 is a successful doctor and leader in the emergency medical field — the medical director of Methodist North Hospital in Tennessee and program medical director of the Sound Emergency Medicine Fellowship in Texas and Louisiana.

Accomplished journalist, editor and photojournalist William “Bill” Battle ’86 was recently nominated for the Missouri 2019 Photojournalism Hall of Fame. He will receive his award on October 17, 2019.

The retired president of Iowa Southern Utilities, an energy company headquartered in Centerville, Iowa, and later of IES Utilities, René Malès ’50 credits Missouri Military Academy with providing both strong academics and lessons in discipline that helped lead him to success. 

William Berry from MMA’s Class of 1930 was a dedicated patriot who served as county attorney, solider, Oklahoma County judge and Supreme Court judge. He was also an active member of several veteran organizations, a humanitarian who served in leadership roles of major organizations such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and was an initial organizer of the Big Brothers of Oklahoma.

Lorenzo Zambrano '59 was a world-renown businessman and philanthropist. As CEO, he transformed Cemex, a Mexican cement company originally founded by his grandfather, into one of the largest cement producers in the world.

Cody Fowler from Missouri Military Academy’s Class of 1908 was a prominent attorney, mayor and civil rights activist during the height of the civil rights movement and desegregation in the southern United States.   

I was a budding juvenile delinquent growing up without discipline or guidance. MMA saved me, and this short story is what happened.