Paul Valenti (1920-2014) was integrally connected to Oregon State University for more that seventy years, beginning with his arrival on the Oregon State College campus as a student athlete in 1938. A member of the Beaver basketball squad during his undergraduate years, Valenti later served as freshman baseball coach, freshman basketball coach, head basketball coach and head tennis coach, spanning a time period from 1946-1970. He continued on as Assistant Athletic Director until retiring in 1982, and remained an enthusiastic ambassador for OSU until his death in 2014.
In front from left to right are: Cliff Crandall, Lou Beck, and Morrie Silver. In back from left to right are: Red Rocha and Evland Anderson. This photo appeared on the cover of the March 1947 Oregon Stater.
Better known for his 599 wins over 36 seasons as Oregon State's basketball coach, Gill was also the baseball coach from 1932-1937 while Ralph Coleman concentrated on other duties in the school's Division of Physical Education. Gill's teams were 56-70 during his six years as coach.
The 1932-1933 basketball team won the 1st Pacific Coast Conference title. From left to right: George Melvin Baldwin, manager; Forrest Lester O'Connell (Skeet); Julius Carl Lenchitsky, George Harry Hibbard; Fred Wayland Hill; William Fred MacDonald (Red); Edward Collins Lewis; Arthur Walfred Gustafson (Snowy); Everett Henry Davis; Clarence Edwin James; Robert Warren Lucas; Merle F. Taylor; Armory Tingle Gill (Slats), coach. The picture was in Heartwell Basketball History p.47.
Construction of the new coliseum was completed in late 1949 and the first Oregon State basketball game was held there against the University of Utah on December 16th. At the time, Gill Coliseum was the second largest suspended arch type of structure in the nation and was touted as the "finest basketball plant west of the Rockies."