I remember I was studying with the JWs at this time and going out door-to-door with this Awake! Of course, I bought the whole thing hook, line and sinker at the time.
I remember that when this magazine came out the Los Angeles Times did an article on this issue. I believe that William Cetnar (who lived in Orange County at the time) was the impetus behind the article. I remember reading the article and thinking it was part of Satan's strategy against the truth since it seemed well written against what we were teaching the people. (How deceived I was!) Perhaps someone living in the LA area might be able to find the article from the LA Times from that era. My guess the author of the article was either John Dart, Russell Chandler or William Farr. Might be interesting to read again.