OTTERBEIN TOWERS:
A RETROSPECTIVE
May 20, 1926. Otterbein President William Clippinger opened Alumni Extra!, the first issue of the recurring periodical known as Otterbein Towers starting in May 1939, with a letter from the president. He included many themes familiar with today’s readers:
“The leafing of the trees, the blooming of the flowers, and the singing of the birds, indicate that spring is here and summer is near. The campus of Otterbein College was never so beautiful. The soft shades and the rippling leaves, with the cheerful chatter of her students and friends near and far, suggest the approach of the commencement season… One of the largest classes in the history of the college will be graduated.”
Those who wrote and designed that two-page document could not have known they were kicking off a century of storytelling that would span more than 365 issues and counting. In this issue, we are proud to honor those who have contributed to the pages of Otterbein Towers through the years — the editors, writers, designers, photographers, story subjects, and, of course, the readers.
I started writing for Towers in the Fall 1999 issue with a profile of Carl Becker ’49, who had recently authored Home and Away: The Rise and Fall of Professional Football on the Banks of the Ohio, 1919-1934. Since then, I have interviewed gracious and humble Otterbein alumni, including CEOs, actors, and even the former director of the Secret Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. I was honored to tell the stories of alumni who witnessed the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and survived Hurricane Katrina. I’ve enjoyed digging into Otterbein’s history, including its connection to Sierra Leone and the origins of its campus buildings.
Over the years, I have assigned countless Towers stories to current students, and those stories are some of my favorites. One of the most fulfilling aspects of my job is providing opportunities for these young professionals to write articles for thousands of readers.
Honestly, I can’t think about Towers magazine without a smile on my face and a sense of pride in my heart. I hope you enjoy this Towers retrospective as much as I have enjoyed working on the magazine for over 26 years as a writer, editor, and occasional photographer.
Jenny Hill ’05, Director of Communications
Towers Managing Editor 2024-present Associate Editor, 2014-2023
Assistant Editor, 2005-2013
Above, second from left: Jenny Hill ’05, pictured in the Towers Summer 2001 article Campus Beautification Day.
Above: Becky Fickel Smith ’81 wearing braids and leaning against library pillar, as pictured in the Summer 1972 Towers.
“Unbeknownst to me in May 1972, Towers magazine had a picture of me and my UMC confirmation class from Logan, Ohio, witnessing the opening of the Courtright Memorial Library. I was 13 years old. Through the decades, as an employee, when Towers magazine arrived in my campus mailbox, I stopped what I was doing, closed the door, and read the magazine cover to cover. I always beamed with pride in our alumni achievements, my alma mater’s successes, and the people/programs that have impacted others’ lives. Congratulations to the Towers magazine staff through its 100 years!”
– Becky Fickel Smith ’81, Executive Director of Alumni Relations Emerita, has served the Otterbein community since 1977.
“I had the privilege to serve on the Towers magazine advisory board for a number of years. What I came to realize and what I love most about the magazine is how thoughtful and caring the staff are in putting the magazine together. We would discuss in detail each article and what would resonate with all our alumni. We would discuss some controversial issues but still moved forward with the understanding that we see ALL our alumni including those on the margins. I admired the fact that staff took risks.
My favorite Towers magazine cover is obviously the Fall 2011 issue in which President Kathy Krendl, Rev. Monty Bradley, and a number of students recreated the Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving dinner.”
– Bob Gatti H’03, Vice President and Dean for Student Affairs Emeritus, served Otterbein’s students from 1978-2019
Above: Gatti is pictured in the bottom right corner of the cover.
Left: Cover Spring 1987 Towers. Jennifer Slager Pearce ’87, pictured right.
“During my senior year I was interviewed by the Towers staff about Greek life representing Sigma Alpha Tau. I loved the cover with all my Greek friends on it and my big ’80s hair picture on the inside. I held onto it for years and eagerly awaited the arrival of each issue to see who got a new job, who got married, and who had a baby. It was our form of social media!
Needless to say, it was a huge honor to come back to my alma mater from 2005-2017 and direct marketing and communications, including Towers operations with longtime editor Roger Routson. During this time, Otterbein said goodbye to President DeVore and hello to President Krendl; we created a Towers editorial team; and debuted a new cover and layout for a fresh look. Most impressive was the team’s coverage of the “Where We Stand Matters” campaign. The donor testimonial stories as to why they gave to Otterbein were so heartwarming and inspiring. Undoubtedly what makes Otterbein shine is its graduates, students, faculty, staff, and donors. Lucky for us, Towers will always tell their stories.”
– Jennifer Slager Pearce ’87, Former Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, 2005-2017
“Towers continues at a professional level to get better and better while reflecting the beauty of the campus, the enthusiasm of the students and staff and alumni,and the essence of what we love about Otterbein.”
–Nate Van Wey ’72