Tommy Prothro coached football at Oregon State from 1955 through the 1965 Rose Bowl game. The Beavers lost the New Years Day bowl game to Michigan by a score of 34-7.
Johns attended OSU from 1970 to 1974. Though he came to OSU to study agriculture, he discovered a passion for photography. After graduating from Oregon State and earning a master’s degree at the University of Minnesota, Johns embarked on a successful career as a photojournalist. He was named the National Newspaper Photographer of the Year in 1979. After a number of years as a freelance photographer, he joined National Geographic’s staff in 1995. In 2003 he became editor-in-chief of National Geographic magazine. That same year he was also named as one of the twenty-five most important photographers in the world. Johns was OSU’s 2005 commencement speaker.
The Outdoor Program offered equipment rentals for outdoor activities to the OSU community, sponsored ski and rafting trips, and hosted lectures and clinics pertaining to outdoor activities. The program was located in a quonset hut near Moreland Hall for several years. Today similar equipment and programs are available through the Dixon Recreation Center’s Adventure Leadership Institute, which also offers bicycle, ski, and snowboard repair.
Dick Fosbury attended OSU from 1965-1969 and is remembered today as the inventor of the "Fosbury Flop" high jump technique. He won two national championships and an Olympic gold medal while revolutionizing the sport with his innovative approach to jumping higher.