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Rhodes Scholars

  • C. F. Tucker Brooke, 1904, received an A.B. from WVU at the age of 18, and an M.A. one year later; he was a member of the first group of Rhodes Scholars from around the world.
  • Robert P. Strickler, 1907, he matriculated at Oxford in 1908 and began a teaching career at Davis and Elkins College in 1919.
  • Thomas P. Hardman was the first Rhodes Scholar to return for an academic career at WVU as dean of the College of Law in 1930.
  • Van Wagenen Gilson, 1910, studied at Queen’s College, followed by a successful business career with Standard Oil, Goodyear, and Seiberling Rubber.
  • Frederick M. Smith, 1913, after receiving a B.A. from Oxford, he returned to WVU in 1927 as an assistant professor of English and stayed until 1965.
  • Rexford B. Hersey, 1917, served in the US Army field artillery 1918-19 before receiving degrees from Oxford and Berlin University.
  • Julian L. Hagen, 1919, earned the first recorded law degree from Oxford awarded to a West Virginia Rhodes Scholar.
  • John E.F. Wood earned a B.A. and M.A. in jurisprudence from Christ Church College, Oxford, and spent his legal career in New York City.
  • John D. Phillips, 1930, served as president of the West Virginia Bar Association in 1955 and was a member of the West Virginia State Board of Law Examiners for 20 years.
  • Charles R. Sleeth majored in Old and Middle English at Oxford and went on to careers in teaching and editing, specializing in etymology.
  • Guy O. Farmer, 1936, studied at Brasenose College, Oxford, and became a senior partner in Farmer, Shibley, McGuinn and Flood.
  • Ford L. Battles did not begin his studies at Oxford immediately upon receipt of his scholarship; in 1941 he joined the US Army Air Corps and later studied church history at Oxford.
  • Jack B. Justice was WVU student body president 1951-52, earned a B.A. in jurisprudence from Oxford in 1954, and practiced law in Philadelphia, PA.
  • Richard E. Stewart had the unique position of being the son of a WVU President and serving as the student body president; he studied law at Queen’s College, Oxford.
  • Roger W. Tompkins returned to West Virginia after receiving a B.A. and M.A. from Oxford and his L.L.B. from Yale, serving as state attorney general (1989-90).
  • David C. Hardesty Jr. , 1967, was student body president when he received the award; he rowed for Queen’s College, held several important positions in the state, and became WVU President in 1995.
  • Peter J. Kalis, like so many other WVU Rhodes Scholars, was student body president his senior year; he received two doctorates, a D.Phil. from Oxford and a J.D. from Yale.
  • Daniel W. Williams III was a WVU chemistry major and varsity football quarterback planning to go to medical school when he was chosen as a Rhodes Scholar.
  • Craig H. Underwood, 1980, a student body president who lobbied for a local health and safety code, majored in economics, political science, and philosophy at Oxford.
  • Barbara Ann Harmon-Schamberger was the first woman from WVU to receive a Rhodes Scholarship, and studied for three years at St. Catherine’s College.
  • Brian A. Glasser, 1987, earned a B.A. in politics, philosophy, and economics from Oxford and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard University.
  • Brad M. Hoylman , 1988, a University Honors Scholar, Truman Scholar, and Marshall Scholar, he earned a master’s of philosophy in politics from Oxford.
  • Thomas A. Gaziano, an Honors Program scholar and Truman Scholar, studied philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford and attended Harvard Medical School.
  • John R. Unger II , 1993, studied philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford, and assisted Mother Teresa coordinate relief efforts in Calcutta.
  • Carolyn G. Conner , 1995, a mechanical engineering major, was a WVU University Honors Scholar and Foundation Scholar who studied physics and philosophy at Oxford.

To learn more, read about WVU's Rhodes Scholarship Faculty Advisor's trip to Oxford!