Athens, the city of love. Yes, rearrange the stereotype from Paris to fit this Classic City, because love is all around, and has been for some time now. Don’t believe it? Learn from the stories of years past.

The Ogletrees

It may not have actually taken place on campus, but without the University, Eileen and Jim Ogletree, married over 20 years, may never have met.

“My friends and I were at St. Simons to see the boys that were at fraternity rush parties,” Eileen said. “I noticed this really cute guy sitting on the beach, and I thought, ‘I need to meet this guy.’ I asked a friend to introduce us.”

Nothing too interesting came of that night until much later when Eileen and some friends decided to leave their condo to get food.

“We walked down the stairs, going to leave and found Jim and his friends were waiting outside our door. They had been trying to find us all night.”

Though it seemed to be a standard crush, Eileen knew from the beginning that Jim was different.

“I told all my friends that night that I was going to marry him.”

The couple has been together ever since, now living in Jackson. They return to Athens for at least one football game every year, and are sending a daughter up to the University this fall.

“It took a little while for our relationship to take off once we met,” Eileen said. “We met in front of the King and Prince hotel, but it was definitely a University event.”

The Harmans

A lot of pieces fell into place in 1969 when Charlie Harman met his future wife, Carol. As for how to approach Carol, Charlie had his own technique.

“I almost knocked her over,” he said.

“We were at a party, and he came through a door that I was on the other side of. It opened right into me!” Carol said. “He later explained he did that on purpose. We just started chatting and he then asked me out to our first date to get ice cream.”

Carol immediately agreed and the relationship blossomed quickly.

“He was one year older than me, so I sped up and graduated early. You get motivated.”

The sacrifice was definitely not one-sided. Charlie realized he couldn’t be away from his love over the summer.

“I told some mutual friends that I needed to work in [Washington] D.C., to be near Carol,” Charlie said.

Fate intervened from there.

“I took an internship with Richard Russell, and from there, I ended up on Capitol Hill. I’ve been chief of staff for three Senators now,” Charlie said. “I found my personal love in Carol, and my professional love in the US Senate.”

The couple now lives in Marietta, but are planning to move back to D.C.

The Coopers

When Jan came to the University, most of her friends wouldn’t have placed her to immediately start dating Bill – seeing as how Bill had already graduated.

Jan, however, was well connected to her favorite fraternity and frequently met the alums who would visit.

“I helped out with Founder’s Day, and part of the responsibility was to tend bar,” Jan said of her volunteer days with Chi Psi fraternity. “Bill had come back for Founder’s Day, I made him a Bloody Mary, which I knew nothing about, and he let me know I had made him the worst one he had ever had.”

Bill Cooper’s taste buds were the only thing that were turned off after meeting Jan.

“We started dating that spring and we married the June after I graduated,” Jan said.

Though they live in Griffin now, the memories they made together at the University were priceless.

“One fall we went to every single football game. Home and away games. I pulled lots of all-nighters,” Jan said.

Jan and Bill’s daughter, Katie Cooper, recently graduated from the University, giving them further excuse to stay near the city they love.

“We actually bought a little cottage just off of Five Points area. [The city is] fun even if it’s not football season . there are reasons enough to go to Athens.”