Taking a look back at 1976
The NEOMED community is invited to share part of its history with the Time Capsule Opening event on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. The event will feature the unveiling of items that were buried in a time capsule on campus in 1976, as the University was preparing to open its doors for the first time.
Additionally, we're inviting the entire NEOMED community to help create the next time capsule. Share your favorite NEOMED memory or message for future generations and consider making a symbolic $50 gift to help shape the next chapter of NEOMED's story.
A look back
Let’s take a look back at what was happening in the summer of 1976 as NEOMED was preparing to welcome its first class of students the following fall:
- The song Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee topped the charts.
- Hank Aaron hit his 755th and final home run of his career, retiring as the all-time home run leader in Major League Baseball history.
- The United States celebrated its bicentennial, marking 200 years since the founding of the nation. Celebrations were held throughout the U.S., including one in Ravenna.
- The 1976 Summer Olympic Games were held in Montreal, Canada. The Olympics were highlighted by a gold medal performance by boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, a stunning upset by the U.S. Women’s Swim Team 4x400 relay over the heavily favored East German squad, and Romania’s Nadia Comăneci becoming the first person to score a perfect 10.0 in an Olympic gymnastics event at just 14 years old.
- Kent State University hosted the International Liquid Crystal Conference, bringing scientists from throughout the world to Portage County.
- NASA's Viking 1 successfully touched down on Mars, sending back the first color photos of the planet.
- The first recognized outbreak of Legionnaires' disease occurred at an American Legion Conference in Philadelphia.
- The Omen, starring Gregory Peck, was the #1 film at the box office. Taxi Driver, Dog Day Afternoon, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The Bad News Bears were also hits on the silver screen that year.
Share your memories and sign up to join us for the Time Capsule Opening at noon on Monday, Aug. 24!