Trademarked and copyrighted images and insignia are the exclusive property of Marshall University. Eventually, Rick won over their hearts and minds. "We got her when she was 6 weeks old. 75 members, coaches, and fans were killed in November 1970 plane crash. All were on the travel squad list before the plane crash. He was like a sounding board.". "'The phrase is about respect, and it makes you realize you can't take anything for granted. But football quickly drained from him after the crash. On a rainy hill side in Wayne County, West Virginia, the lives of 75 people were lost in the worst single air tragedy in NCAA sports history. The opponent was scheduled to be East Carolinathe same team that defeated Marshall before the disaster took place. [8], The board made three recommendations as a result of this accident, including recommendations for heads-up displays, ground proximity warning devices, and surveillance and inspection of flight operations. Because it was the Herd's only charter flight of the season, boosters and prominent citizens were on the plane, including a city councilman, a state legislator, and four physicians. An unfathomable 37 families were forced to mourn the death of their sons that fateful day. All Rights Reserved. That's German for "stormy." He played Defensive end. "It was horrible because it was a non-ending funeral. As a memorial to the 75 victims, the Marshall players wore the number 75 on their helmets. Following its plane crash, Wichita State was granted similar permission to use freshmen on the varsity to resume its 1970 season. Captain Frank H. Abbott, Jr. , aged 47, was employed by Southern Airways, Inc.. Marshall University Football Team Players: James Michael Adams, of Mansfield, Ohio - Guard, Mark Raeburn Andrews, of Cincinnati, Ohio - Offensive Guard, Mike Francis Blake, of Huntington, West Virginia - Linebacker, Dennis Michael Blevins, of Bluefield, West Virginia - Wide Receiver, Willie Bluford Jr., of Greenwood, South Carolina - Wide receiver, Larry Brown, of Atlanta, Georgia - Defensive Guard, Thomas Wayne Brown, of Richmond, Virginia - Defensive Guard, Roger Keith Childers, of St. Albana, West Virginia, Stuart Spence Cottrell, of Eustis, Florida - Defensive Back, Richard Lee Dardinger, of Mount Vernon, Ohio - Center, David Grant DeBord, of Quincy, Florida - Offensive Tackle, Kevin Francis Gilmore, of Harrison, New Jersey - Halfback, David Dearing Griffith, Jr, of Clarksville, Virginia - Defensive End, Arthur W. Harris, of Passaic, New Jersey - Halfback, Robert Anthony Harris, of Cincinnati, Ohio - Quarterback, Bob Wayne Hill, of Dallas, Texas - Defensive Back, Joe Lee Hood, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama - Halfback, James Thomas Howard Jr., of Milton, West Virginia - Offensive Guard, Marcelo H. Lajterman, of Lyndhurst, New Jersey - Kicking Specialist, Richard Adam Lech, of Columbus, Ohio - Defensive Back, Barry Winston Nash, of Accoville, West Virginia - Tight End, Patrick Jay Norrell, of Hartsdale, New York - Offensive Guard, James Robert Patterson, of Louisburg, North Carolina - Offensive Tackle, Scottie Lee Reese, of Waco, Texas - Defensive End, John Anton Repasy Jr., of Cincinnati, Ohio - Wide Reciever, Larry Sanders, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama - Defensive Back, Charles Alan "Al" Saylor, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio - Defensive End, Arthur Kirk Shannon, of Greensboro, North Carolina - Linebacker, Lionel Ted Shoebridge, of Lyndhurst, New Jersey - Quarterback, Allen Gene Skeens, of Ravenswood, West Virginia - Center, Jerry Dodson Stainback, of Newport News, Virginia - Linebacker, Donald Tackett, Jr., of Paden City, West Virginia, Robert James Van Horn, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama - Tackle, Roger Arnie Vanover, of Russell, Kentucky - Defensive End, Freddie Clay Wilson, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama - Tackle, John Patton Young, of Buckhannon, West Virginia - Tight End, Thomas Jonathan Zborill, of Richmond, Virginia - Defensive End, Charles Arnold, of Huntington, West Virginia, Rachel Lynette Arnold, of Huntington, West Virginia, Dr. Joseph Chambers, of Huntington, West Virginia - Local physician, Margaret Chambers, of Huntington, West Virginia, Dr. Ray Hagley, of Huntington, West Virginia - Local physician, Shirley Ann Hagley, of Huntington, West Virginia, Arthur L. Harris, of Passaic, New Jersey - Father of player Art Harris, E.O. What they witnessed was dystopian. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A bill has won final legislative approval in West Virginia that would establish an annual day of recognition for the worst sports disaster in U.S . Rick, he ran them off. David Debord, #76, 1970 MU Football team, b&w. 1970 Marshall Thundering Herd football team, 1970 NCAA University Division independents football records, 1970 NCAA University Division football season, "Memories of Marshall; ex-player says shock of crash never ends", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1970_Marshall_Thundering_Herd_football_team&oldid=1109112752, 1970 NCAA University Division independents football season, Marshall Thundering Herd football seasons, Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using CFB schedule with named parameters, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 September 2022, at 01:19. Carter will be thinking about "thanking the Lord for his grace and mercy, watching over me and sparing my life." [15], Marshall University President John G. Barker and Vice President Dedmon appointed a memorial committee soon after the crash. Yes, we hurt, Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick said. The inspiring story even made it to the big screen in 2006. var _gaq = _gaq || []; Dedication of Memorial Fountain to MU plane crash victims, Nov. 12, 1972. "He was a tremendous athlete who could do it all. var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; Roy Slezak refuses to call it an anniversary. Marshall Plane Crash Site Marker. The aircraft was a 95-seat, twin-jet engine Douglas DC-9-30 with tail registration N97S. The Ceredo and Kenova fire departments were recognized at the event. It has been so long that the tragedy has been memorialized that Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick has calculated that the date falls on a Saturday every seven years. W.Va. State historical marker 75 members, coaches, and fans were killed in November 1970 plane crash. "I'm sure you can pretty much figure that one out," said Mary Jane Tolley, wife of head coach Rick Tolley, who died in the crash. > Not only that, she happened to be on a flight during 9/11. All three were killed in the plane crash. He was an incredible all-around athlete. [12] Lengyel was named to take Tolley's place on March 12, 1971, after Dick Bestwick, the first choice for the job, backed out after just one week and returned to Georgia Tech. Forty years from the time they had last seen each other -- the day before the crash -- the teacher saw the student and asked, "Soletta, is that you?". Following a 17-14 loss, he was driving down with a graduate assistant to recruit a linebacker -- out of Ferrum of all places -- Billy Joe Mantooth. Scott Jenkins. Charlie Kautz was Marshall's athletic director in 1970. The tragedy was depicted in the movie We Are Marshall (2006) and the documentary film Marshall University: Ashes to Glory (2000). The 1970 Marshall Thundering Herd football team was an American football team that represented Marshall University as an independent during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. Center Dennis Foley (#55) centers ball to Bob Harris (#12) in a scrimmage,1970 MU Football team, b&w. [16] The committee decided upon one major memorial within the campus, a plaque and memorial garden at Fairfield Stadium, and a granite cenotaph at the Spring Hill Cemetery; the Memorial Student Center was designated a memorial as well.[17]. [7], The airliner continued on final approach to Tri-State Airport when it collided with the tops of trees on a hillside 5,543ft (1,690m) west of runway 11 (now runway 12). Southern Airways Flight 932 was a chartered Southern Airways Douglas DC-9 domestic United States commercial jet flight from Stallings Field (ISO) in Kinston, North Carolina, to Huntington Tri-State Airport/Milton J. Ferguson Field (HTS) near Kenova and Ceredo, West Virginia. The late Jack Hardin, then a Huntington Herald-Dispatch reporter, once recalled stepping over a log on his way up the hill to cover the story. Before the trip, they were scheduled to go on a recruiting mission to Ferrum College after the ECUMarshall game, in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to recruit junior college linebacker Billy Joe Mantooth. Aircraft and crew. Never forget. It all began with a three-year long losing streak from season 1966-69. Police reported a few hours after the crash that "15 bodies had been recovered," but the fire was so intense that they were unable to get into the plane to examine further, The News wrote that year. Druid High School football players sign grants-in-aid with Marshall in the spring of 1969. "They were all crying, all these huge linemen," Mary Jane said. "They were just so wonderful. MU plane crash historical marker, Wayne County, W.Va. Southern Airways DC-9, similiar to plane that crashed with MU football team, Dedication of Memorial Fountain to MU plane crash victims, Nov. 12, 1972, William Alfred "Red" Dawson, Asst. Huntington, West Virginia: The four remaining starters from the 1970 first string team of Marshall University take time out to pause at flower arrangement placed at Marshall Field following the devastating plane crash that killed all 75 aboard. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A bill has won final legislative approval in West Virginia that would establish an annual day of recognition for the worst sports disaster in U.S. history, a plane crash that killed most of Marshall Universitys football team. When he passed, Loria's wife was pregnant with Frank Loria Jr. Beamer guided the buses to the memorial. Art Shannon, #34, 1970 MU Football team, b&w. Memorial at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington, West Virginia to the victims of the 1970 plane crash. Inscription. Tottenham Hotspur players observe a minutes silence for the victims of the plane crash involving the Brazilian club Chapecoense prior to the Premier. To be honest, when she told me, I didn't believe her because we had never had a plane trip.". Libraries "Anniversaries are supposed to be happy," Slezak said . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 10:00 am ET. Art was All-State, he was sought out by every major college on the East Coast, Slezak remembered. Wichita Falls is 1,100 miles from Huntington. "It was just a little school in the hills," Mary Jane said. Back in 1970, he had already attended a pair of Marshall games with Harris Sr. (Huntington, W.Va. is about a nine-hour drive from Passaic) and was approached to go down to see the Thundering Herd play East Carolina. February 15, 2023, 10:43 AM. He was 37. [24], Marshall was scheduled to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the air disaster in their football season opener on August 29, 2020. "We stayed friends forever," Dawson said proudly. In its second season under head coach Rick Tolley . [2], The original proposal to charter the flight was refused because it would exceed "the takeoff limitations of their aircraft". Among those who were not on the Marshall plane were Red Dawson, an assistant coach who was driving on a recruiting trip and was heading home when he learned about the crash. It is the center of activity of the campus. Huntington, WV 25755. Mom and her intuition won. 37 of them were members of the football team. "In my case, it became clear four years later. Harris died in the 1970 plane crash. His body could not be identified, and with five other players, they were all buried. One day, the wife of the head coach was in class. "It wasn't losing faith," she said. Every one of the 75 people on board died in the crash. [16], Every year, on the anniversary of the crash, the fountain is shut off during a commemorative ceremony and not activated again until the following spring. We Are Marshall was the rallying cry for the Thundering Herds football program in 1970. At that time, I thought I was a pretty bad-ass man.". Prior to the state Senates unanimous vote Wednesday, the chamber held a moment of silence for the crash victims at the request of Upshur County Republican Sen. Bill Hamilton. "Red," Call said recently, "where you going to be buried?". Charles A. Another plaque memorializing the 1970 Marshall football team was unveiled at East Carolina University on the same day and can be seen at the guest team entrance of DowdyFicklen Stadium. Marshall fans and residents of Huntington, W.V. Roy Slezak refuses to call it an anniversary. William Alfred "Red" Dawson, Acting Head Coach, 1971 Young Thundering Herd MU Football team, 1st spring practice, April 1971, b&w. Dawson eventually became a successful construction company owner. Harris' father, Art Sr., was one of the fans on the plane. A memorial bell tower is being planned for a location on WV 75 near exit 1 along Interstate 64. Fr. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive), "'We Are Marshall' just stuck," Smith said. Authorities continually brought "old charred things" to her hoping to gain the identity of victims. Couldn't keep my voice straight. It was unveiled to thousands 90 minutes before the game with the Miami University RedHawks. Artwork by Eugene Payne, Staff Artist, The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, N.C.". ", "This was a city, the largest in the state, that literally went into a four-day state of shock," Brunner said. })(); (aka "The Marshall University Football Team Crash"). After the game, 37 members of the Marshall football team, its coaching staff, team doctors, University Athletic Director Charles E. Kautz, and some 25 team fans and boosters boarded Southern Airway Flight 932 and departed from Kinston, North Carolina at 6:38 p.m. en route to the Tri-State Airport outside Kenova, West Virginia. The Druid Four did and were all killed in the crash. Without any particular reason, Carter stayed. Featured speakers were Chancellor Steve Ballard, Athletic Director Terry Holland, Pirates' broadcaster Jeff Charles, and Marshall president, Stephen Kopp. All six players would later be put to rest underground at the Spring Hill Cemetery just near Marshall University. Rosanna Blake Library of Confederate History, Jim "Shorty" Moss (Offensive Coordinator), Ed Starling (Assistant Director of Athletics), Mark J. Smaha (Assistant Athletic Trainer), Louis A. Peake (Assistant Athletic Trainer), James H. Wilson (Assistant Athletic Trainer), Mervin G. Black (Assistant Equipment Manager), Eugene Jones (Assistant Football Manager), Gerald Sieber (Assistant Football Manager), David W. Byrd (Student Equipment Manager), Special Collections, Morrow Library, She has made it her responsibility to track down pictures of all 75 victims for Saturday's memorial. Gone were sons, fathers, mothers, classmates and fraternity brothers. Tolley's grave was moved up there a few years ago. [4], The NTSB investigated the accident and its final report was issued on April 14, 1972. "My wonder was, 'Why? "He definitely had pro potential, no question," formerPassaiccoach John Federici, told The Record in 2001. "It made you wretch," Brunner said, "and I did several times.". They met once a year, Red Dawson and the sycamore tree he picked out that was large enough to hide behind. ", "I just generally felt we lost a great Hokie that day," Beamer said. Some who were left off the flight, did not make the trip or lost loved ones spent the next five decades with crippling questions that had no answers. The college town agreed with him. The corresponding flight recorder shows that the craft descended another 220ft (67m) in elevation within these 12 seconds, and the co-pilot calls out "four hundred" and agrees with the pilot they are on the correct "approach." Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. During that ceremony, Gilbert spoke eloquently about the 75 souls again. The pair were listening to country music when the bulletin came across that a plane had crashed in Huntington. So why would anyone living with all that baggage intentionally go up in the air? "My mom got on the phone, and then she just passed out, said Carolyn Harris, the youngest daughter. The NCAA granted Marshall permission to use freshmen on the varsity squad, something which was not allowed at the time. "That's something I've never been able to get over because it was so wrong.". "I got a call from our operations guy. The 1970 Marshall University Football Team Plane Crash Mary Jane was the perfect coach's wife. Later in the season, Marshall also upset Bowling Green State, 12-10. There's no evidence any of those left behind were ever formally diagnosed with survivor's guilt, but you can hear it directly or indirectly when the incident is spoken about. "It was not a premonition. 75 members, coaches, and fans were killed in November 1970 plane crash. Two-and-a-half months ago, Dawson remarried. Former Marshall cheerleader Lucianne Kautz Call lost her father, Charlie E. Kautz, who was the universitys athletic director. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegefootball | pageType: stories | Never defeated. Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. On the 50th anniversary, they're both still around. Virginia Tech's coach had a plan for the pregame. I knew as soon as I saw the police car. Carter wants everyone to know God chose him to survive for that purpose. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Slezak originally agreedbut said it would mean breaking a date. He was 37. One year later, the unthinkable happened. I realized I had been wrong about that.". They turned around, headed back home and immediately got lost. So I think this is another step along in that healing process., FILE - A memorial plaque is displayed at the site of a 1970 plane crash that killed 75 people, including 36 Marshall football players, on Oct. 24, 2020, near Huntington, W.Va. A bill has won final legislative approval Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in West Virginia, that would establish an annual day of recognition for the worst sports disaster in U.S. history. "I'm still wondering why.". It is based upon ideas by John and Ann Krieger of Huntington. A look at the 1970 Marshall University plane crash - New York Daily News He will speak at the annual memorial on Saturday like he has now for years. That's why, when a vet recommended Mary Jane stay home that weekend of Nov. 14 because a tumor had developed in Sturmisch's toe, there was no hesitation. On November 14, 1970 a DC-9 airliner carrying the Marshall University football team, coaches, and supporters crashed on final approach to Tri-State Airport n. He went to work one day and didn't come home.". During the 1970 college football season, Marshall suffered a devastating loss to East Carolina in week 9 to drop the Thundering Herd to 3-6 on the year. Lucianne Call hasn't lost much of her cheerleading enthusiasm. In 2011, Frank Beamer directed the Virginia Tech team buses to detour on their way to Marshall's Joan C. Edwards Stadium. HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) Marshall University commemorated the 50th anniversary of one of the worst sports disasters in U.S. history Saturday, a plane crash that killed most of the football team. Wayne County Democratic Sen. Robert Plymale was 15 at the time and was with friends in Kenova, near the airport. Home After the crash, Carter took a bus back to West Virginia. The victims included 36 Marshall University football players, 9 coaches and administrators, 25 fans and crew of 5. Marshall decided to continue the football program. "I believe I want to be buried up there with my boys," Dawson said. Marshall plane crash was 50 years ago; victim's friend can't forget His close friend and neighbor, Art Harris Jr., was one of the Marshall players who died. 2023 Marshall University. If he had gone with Art Sr., would they have made the same mistake or would they have flown to the correct city? God's providence? The solemn ceremony was held around a fountain dedicated to the crash victims on Marshalls Huntington campus. She spoke of her husband's early days as an assistant at Ferrum Junior College in Virginia.