Theodore L. Mesang was Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands from 1949-1957. Mesang became Associate Professor in 1957, then professor in 1964. Mesang published over 250 compositions and directed the marching and concert bands.
The pyramid play, used in blocking kicks, originated as a prank at an OAC football practice, according to Bill Tomsheck, a player on the 1933 football team. To the amazement of the pranksters, the play worked. It did not escape Coach Lon Stiner's attention and subsequently it developed into an authorized play. The play consisted of hoisting the 6'5" center, Clyde Devine, onto the shoulders of 6'2" tackles Harry Fields and Ade Schwammel, from which point he could reach out and knock down any ball headed for the goal posts. The first official use of the play was successfully executed against the University of Oregon in Multnomah Stadium (now Civic Stadium) in Portland. According to Tomsheck, "In that era of college football, a place kick was infrequent. We had no audible signal to call this defensive play. When an opponent went into a place kicking formation, eye contact or the nod of the head was all that was necessary." This photograph of the first official attempt was made by Oregon Journal photographer, Ralph Vincent. It was not until the film was developed that Vincent realized he had recorded history. The photograph was published in the Saturday Evening Post and the play became nationally renowned. For the remainder of the season, the OAC players reproduced it for the media in railroad stations, on the street, at hotels, and during practice sessions. The Pyramid was banned by the NCAA rules committee within a year.
Jim Dixon played from 1924-26 and was an All-American and All-Coast left tackle selection as a senior. He served as an assistant coach at Oregon State from 1933-51. The Dixon Recreation Center on campus is named in his honor.
Nancy Dewey was an alumna and a corporal in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps who served as a cook for a WAC detachment in New Guinea during World War II. She was later employed by the State Department and stationed in Iran, among other locations.
Novelist Bernard Malamud was an English professor at Oregon State College from 1949 to 1961. During this time he wrote three novels: The Natural (1952), The Assistant (1957), and A New Life (1961) as well as a collection of short stories, The Magic Barrel (1959) for which he received the National Book Award. He was presented OSU's Distinguished Service Award in 1969.