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Cover Worthy

Charles Varner's art leads the 1971 yearbook and the Winter 2021 TCU Magazine.

By TCU Magazine

November 15^th, 2021

Charles Varner '71 was about to graduate with a double major in commercial art and sculpture when he took on the hefty task of depicting the 1970-71 academic year at TCU. Anti-war sentiment surged and technology was about to take over the world. The 1971 Horned Frog won the Printing Industry Award for best college yearbook.

Varner went on to create art for numerous clients such as Exxon, IBM, Microsoft, Tandy/RadioShack, 7-Up/Dr Pepper, Pepsi, Frito Lay and Bell Helicopter. He is an adjunct instructor of design in the TCU College of Fine Arts.

Charles Varner created the Winter 2021 TCU Magazine cover by hand. Photo by James Anger

The Original

Varner's illustration spanned the inside cover of the 1971 yearbook with a special foldout. An outline of the work completed the cover.

The Key

Lettered points in the illustration corresponds with contents of The Horned Frog, vol. LXVII, titled Goodyear '71. The illustration also spans pages 22 and 23 in the Winter 2021 issue of TCU Magazine.

A. The Administration

B. The Faculty

C. The Students

D. The Board of Trustees

E. Art and Literary Section

F. Maintenance

G. Greeks

H. Vigilantes and Cowboys

I. Ads and Indices

J. "The Voice of the Students"

K. Student Government

L. In loco parentis

M. TCU grounds and fountain

N. The Rudder (flapping freely)

O. Forward Pointing Fickle Finger of Fate

P. Student Activities Office

Q. Another deflating football season

R. "Divine Inspiration"

S. Brought to you by the 1971 Horned Frog

T. Red Tape Machine

U. A brake to slow things down

V. "Progress is Our Favorite Motto"

W. C.T.U. (which means TCU)

X. ROTC

Y. ROTC Artillery

Z. Personalities

TCU Magazine Cover

With nods to his work 50 years prior, Varner created an illustration covering the front and back of TCU Magazine.

TCU Magazine Cover Illustration Legend:

A. Our tagline

B. Our mascot

C. TCU’s incredible students

D. Awesome faculty and staff

E. Purple power machine

F. Maintenance

G. Fraternity member

H. Coffee power

I. 50 amazing years

J. UFO

K. Tuba valve

L. Purple power clean energy

M. Frog Fountain

N. The rudder

O. Forward-pointing fickle finger of fate

P. Education on an exciting plane

Q. Pure purple power

R. Frog football and divine inspiration

S. Every year is a good year at TCU

T. Smog control

U. Tail wheel suspension

V. Vision in Action: Lead On

W. Lost homework

X. Looking to the future from the back cover

Y. Where the West begins

Z. Leftover red tape from 1971

The Process

Varner created the illustration by hand, using tracing paper to lay out the initial design. The text changed a few times before the editors landed on a final decision.

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