1949–1962 Martha Serpas (BA), poet, professor of creative writing in University of Houston Creative Writing Program Robert B. Stobaugh (PhD), retired professor of Harvard Business School and currently at Rice University Virgil Suárez (MFA 1987), professor of English at Florida State University, award-winning writer Ivory A. Toldson (BS 1995), educational scholar, counseling psychology professor at Howard University, and award-winning author. Olympia Vernon (MFA 2002), author, Hallie Ford Chair in Writing at Willamette University Richard M. Weaver (PhD English), professor of English at the University of Chicago, known for the book, Ideas Have Consequences Allen Wier (MA), professor at University of Tennessee Dara Wier, director of MFA Program for Poets & Writers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, award-winning poet John D. Winters (BA, MA, PhD), historian, Louisiana Tech University Business, economics, entrepreneurs Clarence P. Cazalot, Jr., president and chief executive of Marathon Oil Corporation Pollyanna Chu, Hong Kong businesswoman Lod Cook, co-chairman of the board of Global Crossing Ruth Fertel, founder of Ruth's Chris Steak House Todd Graves, founder and CEO of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Starr Long, game producer at the companies Origin Systems (1992–2000), Destination Games (2000–2008), and Portalarium (2013–present). William S. Patout, III, Iberia Parish sugar grower L. J. Sevin, Founder of Mostek and of Sevin Rosen Funds, 1930–2015 (D) Patrick F. Taylor, founder and CEO of Taylor Energy Company; educational philanthropist, founder of the TOPS college tuition program Entertainment, actors, models Elizabeth Ashley, actress Kirk Bovill, actor, writer, songwriter Kenneth Brown, interior designer, host of HGTV show reDesign Lenora Champagne (BA 1972), playwright, theatre performer, and director. Christina Cuenca, Miss Louisiana USA 2006 Greg Tarzan Davis, actor Jennifer Dupont, Triple Crown winner, Miss Louisiana Teen USA 1998, Miss Louisiana USA 2000, Miss Louisiana (America) 2004 Katherine Haik, Miss Louisiana Teen USA 2015 and Miss Teen USA 2015 Eddie Jemison, actor Ali Landry, actress, model, Miss USA 1996 Amanda Joseph, Miss Louisiana (America) 2007 Rod Masterson (Class of 1967), actor Elizabeth McNulty, Miss Louisiana USA 2007 Lindsey Pelas, glamour model Shelley Regner, actress Joanne Woodward, actress Fine arts, design Malaika Favorite, visual artist and writer J. G. Jones, comic book artist Fonville Winans, photographer Will Wright, game designer, The Sims creator Robert Yarber (MFA 1973), painter, Professor of Art at Pennsylvania State University Music Mose Allison, jazz pianist, vocalist and songwriter Les Beasley, Southern Gospel musician Better Than Ezra, alternative rock band, formed at Louisiana State Tom