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Longtime U-M Photographer Shares Over 60 Years Of Favorite Pictures & Stories Before Saturday Game

Dick Gaskill

Dick Gaskillhas been taking pictures of the University of Michigan football teamand marching bandsince 1953 when he was a student and worked for the Michigan Daily.  He has only missed one home game in Ann Arbor in 62 years.

He talks about his many memories and photography experiences with 89.1 WEMU’S Lisa Barry.

Gaskill says his favorite picture was taken on the Michigan Stadiumsidelines in the 50’s during the U of M- Ohio State football game.  He says Howard“Hopalong" Cassadyfrom Ohio State and Ron Kramer, both All Americans, ran into him during a play.

He says he was knocked down and his camera went in two different directions, but he still got a great picture!

Credit Dick Gaskill
Howard "Hopalong" Cassidy (left) of Ohio State and Ron Kramer (right) of Michigan. Both were All Americans. “The ball sailed over their heads and past me and then they hit me and knocked me into the next county,” says Gaskill. “My one and only play in the big ten. Decided not to try out for football. Those guys are huge.” Photo from 1956.

Other highlights include taking a picture in 1994 from a helicopter as it hovered above the USS Kitty Hawk as marching band members formed a block M on the aircraft carrier below.

Credit Dick Gaskill
Photo taken from a helicopter of the U of M band making a block 'M' on the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk in 1994.

He reminisces about the three different Michigan Stadium press boxes he’s been in over the past six decades.

Credit University of Michigan
Dick Gaskill

The 81 year-old owns 42 cameras and has transitioned from film to digital photography in all the years he’s been taking photos at U of M home games.

Credit Dick Gaskill

The only home game he ever missed in 62 years was for his son’s wedding, which, to his dismay, was planned on a home football Saturday.

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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu

Lisa Barry was a reporter, and host of All Things Considered on 89.1 WEMU.
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