Distinguished Graduates

The League recognizes as Distinguished Graduates those who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or Navy or Marine Corp Cross for Valor or have been recognized by unanimous consent of the Alumni League Board of Directors for exceptional acts of heroism, valor, and/or distinguished service to the United States of America. We honor them here.

Warren M. Christopher, 1945

- Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1981
- USA Secretary of State, 1993-1997
- USA Deputy Secretary of State, 1977-1981
- USA Deputy Attorney General, 1967-1969
- Surface line officer Pacific Theater, WWII: USS Tomahawk (AO-88), USS Fayette (APA-43). In Tokyo Bay for Japanese surrender signing on 2 SEP 1945.
- Graduated magna cum laude from USC in Feb. 1945. Commissioned ENS, USNR

CAPT William McGonagle, USN, 1947

Congressional Medal of Honor
CO, USS Liberty (ACTR 5) in 1967 when repeatedly attacked by Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats. Severely wounded during the first air attack, CAPT (then CDR) McGonagle remained at his battle station on the badly damaged bridge and, with full knowledge of the seriousness of his wounds, subordinated his own welfare to the safety and survival of his command.
- CO, USS Kilauea (AE-26)

RADM David Cooney, USN, 1951

- Chief of Naval Information, CHINFO
- CEO of Goodwill Industries post retirement
- Captain of USC National Debate Team

RADM Paul Gibbons, Jr., USN, 1952

- Deputy CINC U.S. Naval Forces Europe
- Commander, Delta Naval Forces (VNM)
- CO, USS Providence (CLG-6)
- CO, USS Preble (DDG-46), embarked HSS-7 det. pilot awarded Medal of Honor for SAR mission into North Vietnam June 1968 launched from PREBLE.
- President, Kappa Sigma fraternity at USC