Payton, who played at OSU from 1986 to 1990 and started every game of his OSU career, is likely the greatest basketball player in OSU history. Among his honors were consensus All-American First Team (1990), Pac-10 Player of the Year (1990), Sports Illustrated Player of the Year (1990), Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (1987), Olympic gold medals for the United States team in the 1996 and 2000 games, and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2013). He is the all-time leading scorer at OSU (2,172 points) and the Pac-12’s all-time leader in assists (938) and steals (321). Professionally, he played most of his career with the Seattle Supersonics.
The natatorium, completed just before this photograph was taken, was the second phase of the recreation center. Phase one opened in 1976, and phase three was completed in 2004. The natatorium was named for George Stevens, Memorial Union director from 1963 to 1990 and a strong proponent of recreational sports at OSU.
The Spring Thaw is a logging sports competition between different colleges that was sponsored for many years by the OSU Forestry Club. This event was held at Peavy Arboretum.