Oak Hills grad featured in OSU calendar
O'Donnell applies on a lark, graces beefcake calendar's cover
Though he'd never modeled before, Jon O'Donnell, 20, of Western Hills ended up on the front cover of The Ohio State University's 1991 "Campus Men® of the Scarlet & Gray" calendar.
"I've never modeled before," said O'Donnell, an OSU sophomore. "I was asked to try out to be in the calendar."
The Oak Hills High School graduate said he was selected from about 500 applicants who applied for a spot in the calendar, which was shot in St. Petersburg, Fla. in July.
The political science major also appears inside the calendar, sans shirt, as Mr. February.
"We got to pick which month we wanted," he said. "I picked February because of my mom's birthday."
And what does his mother think?
"At first, both my mom and dad were a little leery," O'Donnell said. "But after they saw it, they said it was OK and are very supportive. "
Now that his modeling career has been launched, O'Donnell said he has signed with agencies in Columbus and Cleveland and has appeared in clothing advertisements.
He said he's not letting his newfound fame go to his head, though.
"I don't like walking by a store and seeing my picture in the front window," O'Donnell said. "It's neat, but it's not me. I've never been one for much attention."
For O'Donnell, modeling is a hobby, not his new career.
"It was a neat experience and I got to make a lot of new friends," he said. "But it's not going to be a career. I'm in school, and I'm here to study."
O'Donnell said after he finishes his undergraduate work, he plans to attend law school.
Originally published Jan. 2, 1991. Story © Western Hills Press. This text is exactly as published.
