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Spring 2018 Edition
Alumni & Friends Magazine

OHIO in 1968

It takes a village to produce OHIO’s annual Athena yearbook. The same held true for the 1968 Athena yearbook staff, members of the letterpress and darkroom era. Led by Editor Ronald Beno, BFA ’68, the 50-plus staff members—from copy editor to sales manager, production manager to art director—held their own to create a timeless piece of OHIO nostalgia while chalking up experience in the real world of publishing. Today’s Athena staff step up just like their predecessors, capturing OHIO moments each fall to spring, only 21st century-style.

Staff report | May 9, 2018

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This photo from the 1968 Athena is like many others over the decades, proving “The Monument” on College Green as one of the most favored meeting spots on the Athens Campus.

This photo from the 1968 Athena is like many others over the decades, proving “The Monument” on College Green as one of the most favored meeting spots on the Athens Campus.

“The rains came; dams broke, and students stumbled around picking up their blankets and brains while piecing together this Felinni movie with sandbags.” —Excerpt from the 1968 Athena.

“The rains came; dams broke, and students stumbled around picking up their blankets and brains while piecing together this Felinni movie with sandbags.” —Excerpt from the 1968 Athena.

These students practiced “DIY”—in the form of making a water-worthy craft to navigate the Hockhocking River—long before it became today’s cultural phenomenon.

These students practiced “DIY”—in the form of making a water-worthy craft to navigate the Hockhocking River—long before it became today’s cultural phenomenon.

In 1966, marching band Director Gene Thrailkill introduced the high-energy style of today’s Marching 110, and eliminated women from the band. This photo from the 1968 Athena shows the band, which got a new name the same year: the 110 Marching Men of Ohio.

In 1966, marching band Director Gene Thrailkill introduced the high-energy style of today’s Marching 110, and eliminated women from the band. This photo from the 1968 Athena shows the band, which got a new name the same year: the 110 Marching Men of Ohio.

Feature photograph: The 1968 Athena photographers escaped Athens for the county’s backroads on sweet rides to capture their staff photo. Each student photog had a nickname, says the yearbook’s photo caption, notably, “Buffalo,” “Sergeant Rat,” and “the Kid.” Photos courtesy of the Mahn Center for Archives & Special Collections