The year 1972 brought the treasured television series M*A*S*H, the inspirational Olympic swimmer Mark Spitz and the unforgettable Watergate Scandal. 

Closer to home, Deck Hull resided as President of the Chamber of Commerce. His daughter, Anne, would become the first female Chair of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce in 1994.

Nationally, the popular television show M*A*S*H first premiered on September 17th, 1972 and by its season finale on February 28th, 1983, had 125 million Americans entranced. The show was adapted from the 1970 film MASH and followed a team of doctors and support staff stationed at the "4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" in South Korea during the Korean War. M*A*S*H ranked 25th on TV Guide's 50 Greatest Shows of all Time. Earlier that year, Mark Spitz, an American competitor in the summer Olympics, brought home 7 gold medals and set new world records in all 7 events. Spitz's record of 7 gold medals in a single Olympics was not surpassed until Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

Also, The Watergate Scandal came to play in 1972 after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. Former president Richard Nixon and his administration attempted to cover-up their involvement. 

After 19 years of American soldiers risking their lives in the Vietnam War, U.S. troops began the journey towards home in 1973. This was also the year abortion became legal in all 50 states and the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower) was completed. The 108 story skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois held the record for the tallest building in the world until 1998. Locally, Gerry Clemons was Chairman for the Chamber of Commerce and served as the Mayor of Panama City.

Two prominent resignations occurred between 1973 and 1974 when U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew and President Richard Nixon both left the Oval Office. 

On February 4, 1974 the Patty Hearst kidnapping took place. The 19 year old newspaper heiress and former actress was kidnapped from her apartment in California by a rebel group that called themselves the Symbionese Liberation Army. When the attempt to swap Hearst for jailed SLA members failed, the group of misfits demanded that the captive's family distribute $70 worth of food to every needy Californian. In response, Patty Hearst's father arranged for a donation of $6 million worth of food to be distributed. Later, Hearst joined the Symbionese Liberation Army and was imprisoned after taking part in a bank heist with other SLA members. She was later granted a presidential pardon by President Bill Clinton in his last official act before leaving office. 

Back here in Bay County, Johnny Patronis, one of the original owners of the beloved seafood restaurant, Captain Anderson's, served as the Chairman for the Chamber.

In 1975 Arthur Ashe became the first African American man to win the Wimbledon and Microsoft Corporation made its debut. The company was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4th, 1975. It is the world's largest software maker and one the world's most valuable companies. Nearby, C.L. Jinks, Jr. was holding the title of Chairman of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce.