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Memories

A crowd in a coliseum with blue and red lighting
Winter 2023

Memories of Beasley Coliseum

Beasley Coliseum was completed in 1973 for $8 million. To celebrate its fiftieth year, Washington State Magazine asked readers to share their favorite memories of the iconic event space via email and Facebook.

 

Wes Morrill
Grew up on College Hill in Pullman
(I remember) the hill that was there with married student housing, and we would ski down the backside across to the golf course to ski on the old No. 9 hole circa 1953 or so.

Beverly Brantner
Retired staff, former parent
Summer 1970. Scale model of the upcoming coliseum in the Johnson Hall main entrance atrium … » More …

Fish Fans
Summer 2022

Splish splash: Memories of Fish Fans

Fish Fans entertained audiences at Washington State University for 70 years. Here are a few more memories of Cougar synchronized swim club.

 

Kay (Huson) Johnson (x’58 Phys. Ed.)  
Fish Fans, 1957 to 1958

“I only went to WSU for one year, freshman year. My sister, Carol Huson (’59 Ed.), was already in Fish Fans. She was three years ahead of me. We were raised in Castle Rock, in western Washington, one block from the swimming pool and one block from the Cowlitz River. We were at the swimming pool day in and day out. We were both lifeguards there. … You had to … » More …

woman in a t-shirt that looks like the wall of The Coug
Summer 2022

90 Years of Memories of The Coug 

It’s been a Coug tradition since 1932.

The Cougar Cottage, widely and simply known as The Coug, celebrates 90 years this year. Festivities begin in August with the annual painting of the interior east wall for a new class of Cougs to make their marks.

Here, fans of The Coug share some of their favorite memories of the Pullman institution.

 

Birthday Facetime

Grace Johnson grew up going to The Coug.

She’s been coming to Pullman—her dad’s old stomping grounds—for as long as she can remember. During those family weekend trips—usually for a football game and the chance for her father, Eric Johnson (’84 … » More …

Where were you logo with Mount St. Helens in background
Summer 2020

“It was raining ash”

The angry-looking ash cloud billowing above Mount St. Helens is one of the most iconic images in state history.

And it is etched in our collective memory.

Those living in the state of Washington at the time of the May 18, 1980, eruption all have a where-were-you-when-it-blew moment. Here are some of them.

 

Don Swanson

Volcanologist Don Swanson (’60 Geology) agreed to man the mountain’s forward observation post for a few days to replace a geologist who needed to travel out of town. But Swanson himself needed a replacement for a night—that night.

David A. Johnston, a younger U.S. Geological Survey colleague, agreed … » More …

Where were you logo with Mount St. Helens in background
Summer 2020

Reader memories of Mount St. Helens

Washington State Magazine asked readers to share their memories of the eruption of Mount St. Helens 40 years ago. Here are their recollections of that fateful day.

 

Long drive home

For whatever reason, we decided that May 18, 1980, was an excellent day to leave campus and go to the motocross races in Clarkia, Idaho. We were watching the races when a large, ominous thunderstorm appeared over the ridge. As we got ready to head for the cars to avoid the rain, it started to snow. Except it wasn’t snow. We hopped into the car and started the long drive back to Pullman. The … » More …