Feb 9, 2014 2 min read

Those times when young people experience growing pains and the onset of puberty are often called the “awkward years.” But awkward is also a good word to describe clothing of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when fashions went a bit crazy.

That’s the period when we think this photo was taken, because it came from a box of negatives from the Observer-Reporter’s Canonsburg office, which was still operating at that time.

The students in this week’s Mystery Photo received some sort of award, presumably presented by the gentleman in the middle, but for what we do not know.

We’d like to know who they are, where they went to school, what sort of recognition they received and where they are now.

If you think you recognize them, email Park Burroughs, retired executive editor, at pburroughs@observer-reporter.com, or call him and leave a message along with your telephone number at 724-222-2200, extension 2400. With a little assistance from our readers, we’ll be able to solve this puzzle and publish our findings next Monday.

More on last week’s photo: We received several more telephone calls after our follow-up story on the previous Mystery Photo from the Washington County Fair. We’re pretty sure now that the man in the background is Francis McCauley, who raised miniature ponies. He is holding his granddaughter, Danielle, and his wife, Inez, is standing nearby.

We also received this email from Amanda Abel: “The man on the far left of Mystery Photo No. 53 with his arms folded is my father, W. Gene Abel of Finleyville, another master fiddler, and the son of Willis R. Abel of Finleyville, owner of Mineral Beach, former home of the Tri State Historical Steam Engine Association.”