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.
Miller and the Beavers are pictured here playing against Indiana at the Far West Classic tournament in Portland. Ralph Miller was one of the most successful basketball coaches in OSU and college basketball history. His OSU record was 359-186 (1971-1989), and his career collegiate record was 657-382.
What is now known as Gill Coliseum was opened in 1949. The arena is named after Amory T. "Slats" Gill, who coached basketball at Oregon State from 1928 to 1964.