Both organizations were service honorary societies for sophomores – Talons for women and Thanes for men. The organizations were created in the 1930s (Talons in 1933 and Thanes in 1937) from previously established groups. Their original focus was to ensure that freshman students upheld OSC’s traditions. Over time, both organizations focused more on service, and in the late 1960s their constitutions were changed to reflect their service emphasis.
Left to right: Norman Cousins, Bud Clark (Mayor of Portland), Linda Kaub, Linus Pauling, Mrs. Clark, and John Byrne. "OSU alumnus Linus Pauling, on my right, at a recognition dinner for Pauling in 1986. We were joined by Norman Cousins, optimistic author and longtime editor-in-chief of the Saturday Review." -John Byrne
Ulysses Grant Dubach was a Professor and Chair of Government and Business Law at OAC, and also the college's first Dean of Men. Frank Abbott Magruder was, in addition to Dubach, the second of two faculty members in what came to be known as Political Science at OAC. Magruder was the author of the textbook, "American Government: A Consideration of the Problems of Democracy," which was used in collegiate political science classes for several decades.
The three are posing with a trophy, presented by the City of Portland, that marks Oregon State's 25-13 victory over New York University. Paul J. Schissler (1893-1968) was head football coach at Oregon State from 1924 to 1932, compiling a career record of 48-30-2. He later coached professionally with the Chicago Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers football teams. Corvallis native Howard Maple played quarterback for Oregon State from 1927 to 1929, and went on to play professional football for the Chicago Cardinals and professional baseball for the Washington Senators. George Baker served as mayor of Portland from 1917 to 1933.
Paul J. Schissler (1893-1968) was head football coach at Oregon State from 1924 to 1932, compiling a career record of 48-30-2. He later coached professionally with the Chicago Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers football teams.