I never wanted to miss a chance to see Art play.. Or would he have gotten on the plane himself? It forever changed my life, Smith said. Tri-State airport installed a glide slope using federal funds in 1972. The 6500 lb, 13 ft-high (2900 kg, 4 m-high) sculpture was completed within a year and a half. On Nov 14, 1970, 75 people died in the worst sports related air tragedy in U.S. history, when a Southern Airways DC-9 crashed into the hillside nearby. Marshall fans and residents of Huntington, W.V. Loria became Marshall's defensive backs coach in 1970. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Mom and her intuition won. Charles Kautz is third from right, with tie. December 10, 2006 Herald-Dispatch [Huntington]. Frank Loria is third from left. An unfathomable 37 families were forced to mourn the death of their sons that fateful day. Plane Crash Memorial - Accident Report - Special Collections "It made you wretch," Brunner said, "and I did several times.". This plaza and this fountain are the heart of Marshall University, university President Jerome Gilbert said. There are gravesites at Spring Hill Cemetery bearing the remains of six Marshall players from the crash who could never be identified. We Are Marshall.. The aircraft was a 95-seat, twin-jet engine Douglas DC-9-30 with tail registration N97S. Harris Jr. was named to The Bergen Records All-Century team for Passaic County. Gone were sons, fathers, mothers, classmates and fraternity brothers. history.[6]. Anniversaries are supposed to be happy, Slezak said from his home in New Mexico. These are some of their stories, 50 years later. 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. Virginia Tech's coach had a plan for the pregame. I told him, 'I'm afraid those guys are going to hate you because you're so hard on them.' The two had breakfast together and talked for hours. Charles A. On Nov. 14, 1970, the chartered jet crashed in fog and rain into a hillside upon approach to an airport near Huntington as the team was returning from a game at East Carolina, killing all 75 on board. About 10 years ago at a reunion, Mary Jane glanced across the room. 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. Never forget. The weather conditions were poor, mist and light rain with broken clouds at 500 feet. Of course, she misses her husband. William Alfred "Red" Dawson, Acting Head Coach, 1971 Young Thundering Herd MU Football team, 1st spring practice, April 1971, b&w. Plane Crash Memorial - Special Collections Charles Kautz, MU A/D and coaches, 1970 MU football team, b&w. He was 37. Al Carelli, Jr., Assistant coach, 1970 MU Football team, b&w. It really sort of shapes the fiber in you, of what you are.. The two played in the same defensive backfield for Virginia Tech in the late 1960s. A week later, he died at age 66 as a result of the injury. One day, the wife of the head coach was in class. 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." > On the way down, he realized -- only by the light of a fire -- that the log was actually a body. [10], The crash of Flight 932 so devastated the local community that it almost led to the discontinuation of Marshall's football program. This site is a memorial to the lives that were lost on that evening; to honor those men and women who made a mark in the hearts of a school, a community and a nation. "That's something I've never been able to get over because it was so wrong.". Coach, 1971 Young Thundering Herd, Al Carelli, Jr., Assistant coach, 1970 MU Football team, Allen Gene Skeens, #59,1970 MU Football team, Barry W. Nash, #35, 1970 MU Football team, Bobby Joe Hill, #41, 1970 MU Football team, Center Dennis Foley (#55) centers ball to Bob Harris (#12),1970 MU Football team, Charles A. In the transcript of their cockpit communications in the final minutes, the pilots briefly debated that their autopilot had "captured" for a glide slope descent, although the airport was only equipped with a localizer. They had met in Roanoke, Virginia, where she taught. ". "He was a tremendous athlete who could do it all. Jack Lengyel was hired as the new coach in 1971. 6-keys: media/spln/collegefootball/reg/free/stories, at Prior to the state Senate's unanimous vote Wednesday, the chamber held a moment of silence for the crash victims at . The tragedy shocked the town of Huntington in the worst way imaginable. "In my case, it became clear four years later. "As I listened to the scriptures," Carter said, "the Lord has purpose for each one of our lives.". _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-16729709-1']); "It wasn't losing faith," she said. He was a defensive end for Marshall in 1970, and was on the chartered plane when it crashed at Tri-State Airport on November 14, 1970. If you play football at Marshall University, you have a role to make sure that's never forgotten.". He was taken away way too soon.". Suddenly, then-Lucianne Kautz was without a father. So why would anyone living with all that baggage intentionally go up in the air? Yes, we grieve. Once again, on Saturday, Dawson will speak at the fountain ceremony. The Ceredo and Kenova fire departments were recognized at the event. Dawson's brother had been recruited by Bryant, so there was a relationship. What good is it going to do anybody?' The House of Delegates passed the bill last month. He has followed Marshall football all his lifeand makes a video tribute for his friend every year. They became friends and fished together. Trademarked and copyrighted images and insignia are the exclusive property of Marshall University. In 2000, at age 50, Call became a flight attendant with USAir Express. Featured speakers were Chancellor Steve Ballard, Athletic Director Terry Holland, Pirates' broadcaster Jeff Charles, and Marshall president, Stephen Kopp. The co-pilot, monitoring the altimeter, called out, "It's beginning to lighten up a little bit on the ground here at seven hundred feet We're two hundred above [the descent vector]," and the charter coordinator replied, "Bet it'll be a missed approach." I don't think I believed it.. Offering Aviation History & Adventure First-Hand! Im glad that were going to honor them for each year in this way from here on out.. In 2006, Hollywood turned that inspiring slogan into one of the greatest sports movies ever made. Marshall decided to continue the football program. The airliner's crew was Captain Frank Abbot (47), First Officer Jerry Smith (28), plus two flight attendants. Allen Gene Skeens, #59, 1970 MU Football team, b&w. Skeens was killed in the plane crash. Slezak originally agreedbut said it would mean breaking a date. She has all of them, including an image of offensive guard John "Jimo" Adams, whose daughter Patricia was born the day her father was buried. Four of the crash victims were students in her class, and Marshall faculty were sent to attend the funerals. 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. After the crash, Red Dawson helped bring together a group of players who were on the junior varsity football team during the 1970 season, as well as students and athletes from other sports, to form a 1971 football team.[12]. Yes, we hurt, Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick said. Marshall won just two games, and the first winning season didnt come for another 13 years. He went to work one day and didn't come home.". Barry W. Nash, #35,1970 MU Football team, b&w. Shops and government offices closed; businesses on the town's main street draped their windows in black bunting," History.com reported. 75 members, coaches, and fans were killed in November 1970 plane crash. Shannon died in the plane crash. His football will didn't come back quickly, but something has changed over the years. Thats what we are doing today.. In its second season under head coach Rick Tolley . That game did not occur due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. All were qualified for the flight. "[7]:36 At least one source says that water that had seeped into the plane's altimeter could have thrown off its height readings, leading the pilots to believe the plane was higher than was actually the case. She traveled to Washington, D.C. for the hearings that were supposed to explain the crash. All were on the travel squad list before the plane crash. But as a freshman in 1970, Oliver didn't travel. history". Yolanda Shoebridge, the mother ofTed Shoebridge, called the Harris home on Linden Street. We each lost one or more family members, said Call, the ceremonys keynote speaker. About Memorial newspaper page from The Herald-Advertiser. [13][14], The Marshall University football team only won two games during the 1971 season, against Xavier and Bowling Green. A look at the 1970 Marshall University plane crash - New York Daily News Does FSU or any ACC power actually have options? Find a Grave Memorial - Find A Grave They arrived shortly before sunrise. 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. Slezak bought a wreath and some rose petals for the crash site and remembers how the store didnt want to let him pay for the items when he said what they were for. MU plane crash historical marker, Wayne County, W.Va., col. (low-res digital image only). God's providence? Art Shannon, #34, 1970 MU Football team, b&w. At 7:36pm on November 14, 1970, the aircraft crashed into a hill just short of the Tri-State Airport, killing all 75 people on board in what has been recognized as "the worst sports-related air tragedy in U.S. Digital Collections Carter read his own obituary the next day in the local newspaper. "All these guys, about 50 of them, came out for football. Bobby Joe Hill, #41,1970 MU Football team, b&w. [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. Rick played football at nearby Virginia Tech. var _gaq = _gaq || []; She spoke of her husband's early days as an assistant at Ferrum Junior College in Virginia. [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. 75 members, coaches, and fans were killed in November 1970 plane crash. Page 1. "At 1 o'clock in the morning, a detective came to the door. 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. 75 members, coaches, and fans were killed in November 1970 plane crash. 75 members, coaches, and fans were killed in November 1970 plane crash. All three were killed in the plane crash. 75 members, coaches, and fans were killed in November 1970 plane crash. The town died. 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. (function() { 1970 Marshall Thundering Herd football team - Wikipedia At 7:34pm, the airliner's crew reported passing Tri-State Airport's outer marker. "God has a time for each one of us," Carter said. I try to think about all the good times and the memories we made, Slezak said. The two didn't get along, according to Dawson. As part of an annual rite, the fountain was turned off at the end of the service and will be turned back on in the spring. The team and residents of the town still gather together every year in memorial of the fallen fellows. (East Carolina is located nearby in Greenville.) In 2011, Frank Beamer directed the Virginia Tech team buses to detour on their way to Marshall's Joan C. Edwards Stadium. 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. "That was the biggest farce you've ever seen," she said. Loria had been a two-time All-American at Virginia Tech. Two weeks before the release of the movie, Call was diagnosed with colon cancer. White roses were laid by the fountain as each victims name was read at the ceremony. Manifest of Southern Flt 932 - Check-Six White roses are placed along the edge of the Memorial Fountain to honor the 75 lives lost in the 1970 plane crash during the 50th Annual Memorial Fountain Service Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at the Memorial Student Center in Huntington, W.Va. Marshall commemorated the 50th anniversary of the worst disaster in U.S. sports history, when 75 people, including most of the football team, were killed in a Nov. 14, 1970, plane crash. Mary Jane was persistent. Beamer had brought a special Hokie Stone inscribed with Loria's name. On the flight, were 37 members of the football team, several coaches, fans and crew members totaling 75. 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. [3] The team was returning home after a 1714 loss to the East Carolina Pirates at Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina. 75 members, coaches, and fans were killed in November 1970 plane crash. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. Former Marshall cheerleader Lucianne Kautz Call lost her father, Charlie E. Kautz, who was the universitys athletic director. Middle guard Ed Carter was back in Wichita Falls, Texas, that terrible day to bury his father. I dont know what to call it.. Marshall plane crash was 50 years ago; victim's friend can't forget That is certainly what was going to happen.". Hill died in the 1970 plane crash. Charlie Kautz had lived long enough to give away Lucianne at her wedding only five months earlier. But for the university and the entire community, it left a huge void. W.Va. State historical marker 75 members, coaches, and fans were killed in November 1970 plane crash. They left behind six children who were being babysat by Dan DAntoni, a 23-year-old assistant with the Marshall basketball program in 1970. One year later, the unthinkable happened. I had 75 angels there.". She would just listen to the game on the radio. It was real big-time negligence. Dawson was retained by Tolley. All 75 passengers on the team plane were killed in the crash, including 37 members of the Marshall University football team, eight football coaches, including head coach Rick Tolley, athletic director Charlie Kautz, 25 boosters and five flight crew members. I realized I had been wrong about that.". The victims included 36 football players and 39 school administrators, coaches, fans, spouses and flight crew. The Hokies were in town to play the Herd. Dave Griffith, #81, 1970 MU Football team, b&w. Some who were left off the flight and did not make the trip or lost loved ones spent the next five decades with crippling questions that had no answers. There was no reason to be around. Marshall is ranked No. He has accomplished that goal. At age 69, the former Marshall defender calls himself a "traveling preacher." Officials at the site of the Nov. 14, 1970, Marshall University plane crash at Tri-State Airport in Kenova, W.Va., secure a charred engine for removal to an airport hangar. He was the Athletic Director for MU. After the crash, Carter took a bus back to West Virginia. "At 21, you haven't been familiar with death. 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. Report: Big 12 in recent contact with Pac-12 schools, Rules committee proposes change to speed up games, Saban unhappy over proposed permanent rivals, USC coach Lincoln Riley builds the perfect QB. He was well-liked by his teammates not a rah-rah kid, but one who led by example.". The rebuilding was the subject of the 2006 movie We are Marshall starring Matthew McConaughey as Lengyel. Six weeks before the Marshall tragedy, a plane carrying members of the Wichita State football team crashed in Colorado, killing 31 people.