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He's not exactly a strong candidate for brand ambassador for the city or university. Back to Top Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame General User Member Since: 7/30/2010 Post Count: 4,718 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/4/2026 1:01:05 PM  SBH wrote: Yeah. He's not exactly a strong candidate for brand ambassador for the city or university. Which part of that was bad? Back to Top MonroeClassmate General User Member Since: 8/31/2010 Post Count: 2,360 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/7/2026 10:19:29 PM  "The Thirteen" by James Patterson I recently read this book and enjoyed the town of Athens and campus references. Perhaps someone on BA already pointed out it is about going to OHIO during the 1950's. Not growing up in Athens but not too far away by a kid who had a knack for art and grew up on the Ohio River near Hocking Port. I think it would be considered historical fiction. Back to Top BillyTheCat General User Member Since: 10/6/2012 Post Count: 10,855 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/9/2026 6:24:21 PM  The dislike some still have for people who have success and do good things is quite comical. Especially when it comes from those who only spent their college years in the community and did not grow up here. Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,913 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/10/2026 12:28:45 AM  BillyTheCat wrote: The dislike some still have for people who have success and do good things is quite comical. Especially when it comes from those who only spent their college years in the community and did not grow up here. I grew up in Athens, and I don't disagree with a thing he said. I witnessed the change in Athens from a conservative, heavily Republican city, to a Hippie Paradise. The first time Athens County voted for a Democrat for president since formation of the Republican party a few years before the Civil War was Johnson over Goldwater. So, I have a slightly deeper historical perspective than Joey, but what he said is completely accurate. I like Joey! The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top Alan Swank General User Member Since: 12/11/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 7,386 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/13/2026 1:30:31 PM  OhioCatFan wrote: BillyTheCat wrote: The dislike some still have for people who have success and do good things is quite comical. Especially when it comes from those who only spent their college years in the community and did not grow up here. I grew up in Athens, and I don't disagree with a thing he said. I witnessed the change in Athens from a conservative, heavily Republican city, to a Hippie Paradise. The first time Athens County voted for a Democrat for president since formation of the Republican party a few years before the Civil War was Johnson over Goldwater. So, I have a slightly deeper historical perspective than Joey, but what he said is completely accurate. I like Joey! OCF - I'd be interested to hear your take on the factors that led to the change. I often look at plaques on buildings to see who was in office when they were built. Many of those plaques show and who's who of the Athens business community. Granted they are all white men, but they were what I perceive to be the pillars of local society. Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,913 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/14/2026 11:17:35 AM  Alan Swank wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: BillyTheCat wrote: The dislike some still have for people who have success and do good things is quite comical. Especially when it comes from those who only spent their college years in the community and did not grow up here. I grew up in Athens, and I don't disagree with a thing he said. I witnessed the change in Athens from a conservative, heavily Republican city, to a Hippie Paradise. The first time Athens County voted for a Democrat for president since formation of the Republican party a few years before the Civil War was Johnson over Goldwater. So, I have a slightly deeper historical perspective than Joey, but what he said is completely accurate. I like Joey! OCF - I'd be interested to hear your take on the factors that led to the change. I often look at plaques on buildings to see who was in office when they were built. Many of those plaques show and who's who of the Athens business community. Granted they are all white men, but they were what I perceive to be the pillars of local society. That's a very complex question. Some of the factors I think were (in no particular order): the student vote, aftermath of Vietnam War protests, Great Society Welfare Programs (which despite good intentions were counterproductive), the increasingly left-wing leaning professorate, the effective mayorships by Donald Barrett and Rick Abel. This is not by any means a comprehensive list, but just some of the things I think that pushed Athens in a leftward direction. The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top giacomo General User Member Since: 11/20/2007 Post Count: 2,788 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/14/2026 6:09:50 PM  I love to read murder mysteries and didn't know about this book! I'm buying it! Thanks for the info. Back to Top Alan Swank General User Member Since: 12/11/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 7,386 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/15/2026 2:00:57 PM  OhioCatFan wrote: Alan Swank wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: BillyTheCat wrote: The dislike some still have for people who have success and do good things is quite comical. Especially when it comes from those who only spent their college years in the community and did not grow up here. I grew up in Athens, and I don't disagree with a thing he said. I witnessed the change in Athens from a conservative, heavily Republican city, to a Hippie Paradise. The first time Athens County voted for a Democrat for president since formation of the Republican party a few years before the Civil War was Johnson over Goldwater. So, I have a slightly deeper historical perspective than Joey, but what he said is completely accurate. I like Joey! OCF - I'd be interested to hear your take on the factors that led to the change. I often look at plaques on buildings to see who was in office when they were built. Many of those plaques show and who's who of the Athens business community. Granted they are all white men, but they were what I perceive to be the pillars of local society. That's a very complex question. Some of the factors I think were (in no particular order): the student vote, aftermath of Vietnam War protests, Great Society Welfare Programs (which despite good intentions were counterproductive), the increasingly left-wing leaning professorate, the effective mayorships by Donald Barrett and Rick Abel. This is not by any means a comprehensive list, but just some of the things I think that pushed Athens in a leftward direction. The student vote has often been cited as having a big effect on the outcome of city elections. Lately, the vote has been minuscule at best especially in the primaries which happen after the spring "fake" semester. I wonder what the records show back in the 60s and 70s. The Barrett and Abel mentions - can you please elaborate? Back to Top SBH General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 4,725 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/15/2026 8:42:05 PM  OhioCatFan wrote: Alan Swank wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: BillyTheCat wrote: The dislike some still have for people who have success and do good things is quite comical. Especially when it comes from those who only spent their college years in the community and did not grow up here. I grew up in Athens, and I don't disagree with a thing he said. I witnessed the change in Athens from a conservative, heavily Republican city, to a Hippie Paradise. The first time Athens County voted for a Democrat for president since formation of the Republican party a few years before the Civil War was Johnson over Goldwater. So, I have a slightly deeper historical perspective than Joey, but what he said is completely accurate. I like Joey! OCF - I'd be interested to hear your take on the factors that led to the change. I often look at plaques on buildings to see who was in office when they were built. Many of those plaques show and who's who of the Athens business community. Granted they are all white men, but they were what I perceive to be the pillars of local society. That's a very complex question. Some of the factors I think were (in no particular order): the student vote, aftermath of Vietnam War protests, Great Society Welfare Programs (which despite good intentions were counterproductive), the increasingly left-wing leaning professorate, the effective mayorships by Donald Barrett and Rick Abel. This is not by any means a comprehensive list, but just some of the things I think that pushed Athens in a leftward direction. Damn you, LBJ. Early childhood education (Head Start) is counterproductive! Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,913 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/15/2026 9:02:36 PM  SBH wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: Alan Swank wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: BillyTheCat wrote: The dislike some still have for people who have success and do good things is quite comical. Especially when it comes from those who only spent their college years in the community and did not grow up here. I grew up in Athens, and I don't disagree with a thing he said. I witnessed the change in Athens from a conservative, heavily Republican city, to a Hippie Paradise. The first time Athens County voted for a Democrat for president since formation of the Republican party a few years before the Civil War was Johnson over Goldwater. So, I have a slightly deeper historical perspective than Joey, but what he said is completely accurate. I like Joey! OCF - I'd be interested to hear your take on the factors that led to the change. I often look at plaques on buildings to see who was in office when they were built. Many of those plaques show and who's who of the Athens business community. Granted they are all white men, but they were what I perceive to be the pillars of local society. That's a very complex question. Some of the factors I think were (in no particular order): the student vote, aftermath of Vietnam War protests, Great Society Welfare Programs (which despite good intentions were counterproductive), the increasingly left-wing leaning professorate, the effective mayorships by Donald Barrett and Rick Abel. This is not by any means a comprehensive list, but just some of the things I think that pushed Athens in a leftward direction. Damn you, LBJ. Early childhood education (Head Start) is counterproductive! Did I say anything about Head Start? The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top SBH General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 4,725 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/15/2026 9:05:13 PM  Project Head Start was one of the Great Society programs, launched in 1965. Back to Top Alan Swank General User Member Since: 12/11/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 7,386 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/15/2026 9:27:44 PM  SBH wrote: Project Head Start was one of the Great Society programs, launched in 1965. It was actually 1964 and he first used the phrase "Great Society" from the west portico of Mem Aud. As for programs, Medicare, Medicaid, the elementary and secondary education act, the civil rights act and the voting rights acts weren't too bad either. Back to Top SBH General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 4,725 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/15/2026 9:38:03 PM  Yes, the Great Society initiative was launched in 1964. Project Head Start a year later. Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,913 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/16/2026 12:21:21 AM  I know that this may be too subtle for some of you, but it's possible for a politician to be responsible for some good things and also be responsible for some less than stellar ideas as well. Take a good look at the poverty level in Athens County in 1960 and compare it with today. The dependency created by our welfare system has done more damage than good. The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top SBH General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 4,725 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/16/2026 9:01:23 AM  You made a blanket statement that Great Society programs were counterproductive. I gave you one (of several) programs that have done amazing work in spite of repeated funding cuts. Please explain how early childhood education creates welfare dependency. It actually does quite the opposite. Back to Top Alan Swank General User Member Since: 12/11/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 7,386 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/16/2026 9:24:21 AM  OhioCatFan wrote: I know that this may be too subtle for some of you, but it's possible for a politician to be responsible for some good things and also be responsible for some less than stellar ideas as well. Take a good look at the poverty level in Athens County in 1960 and compare it with today. The dependency created by our welfare system has done more damage than good. Can't argue with your first sentence. History bares that out. But to focus the conversation, which programs do you feel did the damage? Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,913 Status: Offline     RE: Growing up in Athens    Posted: 9/16/2026 10:40:56 AM  SBH wrote: You made a blanket statement that Great Society programs were counterproductive. I gave you one (of several) programs that have done amazing work in spite of repeated funding cuts. Please explain how early childhood education creates welfare dependency. It actually does quite the opposite. No, I did not, my exact words were "Great Society Welfare Programs (which despite good intentions were counterproductive)." Note the word "welfare." I did not cast aspirations on all Great Sociery programs. I added the word "welfare" quite deliberately. The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. 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