WE ARE . . . . REMBERING . . . MARSHALL

Sunday, November 14, 2010

40 years ago tonight will be etched in the memories for thousands of people from the Marshall University community. The plane carrying most of the team, coaches, staff, and fans, hit the hillside as they approached the Tri-State airport. All aboard the plane perished that fateful night. I remember that night, and remembering thinking this can't have happened. Many of the players had been or were classmates of mine at MU. Many were friends with John because he was taking the athletic classes in which most of the team was taking!

As I looked over the names of the coaches, players, and the fans, I shudder when I realize at how many I actually knew or had some special connection. The players such as Ted Shoebridge, Michael Blake, Marcelo Lajterman, Allen Skeens, David Griffith, and Barry Nash were members of some of the classes I had taken or were taking in education. Our family's medical doctor and his wife were on that plane, Dr. Joseph and Margaret Chambers. They had three daughters in which two were MU cheerleaders! Dr. Joe's father had been our pediatrician. We knew them well! Other fans on the plane were the parents of many who attended the same high school as I had.

It still makes me shiver when I think back about that night. I was watching my grandmother, who was living with us after my grandfather had passed away earlier that year. Mom and Dad had friends up and they were playing rummy in the kitchen and eating the cheese, pickle, and a cracker tray I had fixed. The boys were milling around watching the game and what ever we had on TV to entertain Mammaw. Then we got a phone call. The daughter of the lady visiting us called and said a plane had crashed out at the airport. Then they interrupted the program on the TV to say a plane had crashed and that there was the fear it was the Marshall plane!

Many people around town jumped into their vehicles to rush out to the airport to see what they could do to help. My brothers also went out to the crash site. Needless to say, there was nothing that could be done! What it did do was embed memories of that fiery plane crash in the minds of all who rushed out to be of assistance - including my brothers!

It was a very long week for the community. Funerals were being planned with many here in Huntington, while others were being sent home to Ohio, Alabama, New Jersey, and Georgia just to name a few of the states. Coach Dawson tried his best to attend all those funerals, because he had recruited many of those boys to come to Marshall. Each funeral had a representative from the coaching staff as well as a surviving team mate who had not been on the plane due to a variety of reasons.

The first day back in one of my classes, there were three black roses on three separate desk scattered about the room. The roses were placed on the desk of three of the players who had been on that plane! That was one of the hardest classes to concentrate in I believe I have ever had!!!

This tragedy did not just touch the lives of those who live in Huntington, or who went to Marshall. It also touched the lives of many sports fans from across the nation, and most definitely the family and friends of all aboard that plane. The flight crew, the coaches, and the players were from all around the United States. They all may be gone, but they will never be forgotten!

The 1970 Team and Coaches

The Coaches:

Rick Tolley – Head Coach
Al Carelli – Offensive Line
Jim “Shorty” Moss - Offensive Coordinator
Deke Brackett – Kicking Coach
Frank Loria – Defensive Backs
Carl Kokor – Defensive Line (was not on the plane)
Red Dawson – Defensive Coordinator (was not on the plane)
Gail Parker – Freshman Coach (was not on the plane)
Mickey Jackson – Offensive Backs (was not on the plane)

The Players:

Jim Adams
Mark Andrews
Michael Blake
Dennis Blevins
Willie Bluford
Larry Brown
Thomas Brown
Roger Childers
Stuart Cottrell
Rick Dardinger
David DeBord
Kevin Gilmore
David Griffith
Arthur Harris
Robert Harris
Bobby Hill
Joe Hood
Tom Howard
Marcelo Lajterman
Richard Lech
Barry Nash
Pat Norrell
Bob Patterson
Scotty Reese
Jack Repasy
Larry Sanders
Al Saylor
Art Shannon
Ted Shoebridge
Allen Skeens
Jerry Stainback
Robert Van Horn
Roger Vanover
Fred Wilson
John Young

Tom Zborill

The following players were not on the plane:
Tony Barile
Richard Brautigan
Jon Calvin
Dickie Carter
Ed Carter
Jack Crabtree
Dave Cyrus
Ed Deeds
Greg Finn
Dennis Foley
Fred Gaudet
Wes Hickman
Frank James
Felix Jordan
Gary Morgan
Pete Naputano
Paul Oden
Nate Ruffin
Jim Sly
Mike Swartley
Richard Taglang

David Withers

Other Athletic and Football Staff:
Charles E. Kautz – Director of Athletics
Gene Morehouse – Sports Information
Jim Schroer – Head Trainer
Donald Tackett – Assistant Trainer
Gary George – Student Assistant Statistician
The following were not on the plane:
Ed Starling – Assistant Director of Athletics
Jim Hodges – Business Manager
Eugene Jones – Assistant Football Manager
Gerald Sieber – Assistant Football Manager
John Hagan – Equipment Manager
Mervin G. Black – Assistant Equipment Manager
David W. Byrd – Student Equipment Manage
Joseph Wortham – Student Assistant Statistician

The Fans:
There were twenty-four of Marshall’s most diligent supporters who went with the team on that fateful trip.

Charles M. Arnold
Rachel Arnold
Donald Booth
Joseph Chambers
Margaret Chambers
Shirley Ann Hagley
Ray Hagley
Arthur L. Harris
Emmett O. Heath
Elaine Lois Heath
Cynthia Jarrell
James Jarrell
Kenneth Jones
Jeff Nathan
Brian O’Connor
Michael Prestera
Glenn H. Preston

Phyllis Preston

Courtney Proctor

Herbert D. Proctor

Helen Ralsten

Murrill Ralsten

Parker Ward

Norman Weichmann

The Flight Crew:

Captain Frank Abbott
First Officer Jerry Smith
Stewardess Charlene Poat
Stewardess Patricia Vaught
Charter Coordinator Danny Deese

The Headlines


The fountain which was designed as a memorial for the 75 who lost their lives. There are 75 points on top of this fountain! Each year on November 14 the fountain is turned off for the season!

WE ARE . . . . . . . MARSHALL

During the weeks following the crash I decided to clip all the articles and pictures from The Herald Dispatch and make a scrapbook. Why? I really don't know, but it was something I wanted/needed to do
The following pages are images that have stuck with me through the years

Coach "Red" Dawson was an inspiration to us all. He knew these players, coaches, and community leaders. He rode the plane down to the game, but was on acouting mission afterwards and drove back to WV! He was so strong and comforting the families of those who had lost their life. He himself was suffering as much grief as most of the families. They were his MU family!

The list of those who had perished that raining, foggy Saturday night.

The headlines were placed in the paper using red ink - this didn't happen often!

Just one of the daunting photos that was put into print.

Over 7,000 people were in attendance at the memorial services held at the Field House.

Another image that made an impact on me was this one . . . the family of those who had cherished were awaiting for some good news, but we know they never received!

This bulletin board was cover with messages from all our the county. Oresident Nixon sent a condolence note, many of the officials from WV sent notes as did many, many strangers

The fountain will be shu down on the 14th - as it is every year!!!

We pray that the survivors have adjusted and gone on to live a very productive life.

No, we will never forget those who lost their life that fateful day. But we will always remember!!

WE ARE . . . Marshall