Phi Alpha Literary Society - Notable Honorary Members

Notable Honorary Members

Phi Alpha, in addition to its traditional membership, has granted honorary membership to those whom it feels exhibit the characteristics of a Phi Alpha member. Often, such a person is first invited to give a literary production to the Phi Alpha membership.

• Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President, 1861-1865, inducted February 4, 1859.
• Paul Simon, U.S. Representative, 1974-1985, U.S. Senator, 1985-1997, Democratic presidential nominee candidate, 1988, inducted 1997.
• Alison Weir, Freelance Journalist, inducted March, 2004. First woman to receive membership.
• David Herbert Donald, Professor and Author, two time Pulitzer prize winner, inducted November 19, 2002.
• Dr. Axel Steuer, President of Illinois College, 2003-, inducted April 25, 2005.
• Rami Khouri, Palestinian-Jordanian author, scholar, and commentator, inducted 2001.
• Ken Bradbury, Playwright, inducted November 6, 2006.
• Lee H. Hamilton, U.S. Representative, 1965-1999, Director, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, inducted April 24, 2008.
• Helen Thomas, Veteran White House correspondent, 1961-2010, inducted April 7, 2010.
• Khalaf Al Habtoor, Billionaire, inducted May 15, 2010.
• Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator, inducted April 2, 2012.