The Marshall Plane Crash

A tribute to the 75 men and women who lost their lives in the November 14, 1970 plane crash on a Wayne County, West Virginia hillside near Tri-State Airport.

The Marshall University Alma Mater
A Real Audio file

In Memory of...

Capt. Frank Abbott

James Adams

Mark Andrews

Charles Arnold

Rachel Arnold

Mike Blake

Dennis Blevins

Willie Bluford

Donald Booth

Deke Brackett

Larry Brown

Tom Brown

Al Carelli, Jr.

Dr. Joseph Chambers

Margaret Chambers

Roger Childers

Stuart Cottrell

Rick Dardinger

David DeBord

Danny Deese

Gary George

Kevin Gilmore

Dave Griffith

Dr. Ray Hagley

Shirley Ann Hagley

Art Harris

Art Harris, Jr.

Bob Harris

E. O. Heath

Elaine Heath

Bob Hill

Joe Hood

Tom Howard

Cynthia Jarrell

James Jarrell

Ken Jones

Charles Kautz

Marcelo Lajterman

Richard Lech

Frank Loria

Gene Morehouse

Jim Moss

Barry Nash

Jeff Nathan

Pat Norrell

Dr. Brian O'Connor

James Patterson

Charlene Poat

Michael Prestera

Dr. Glenn Preston

Phyllis Preston

Courtney Proctor

Dr. H. D. Proctor

Helen Ralsten

Murrill Ralsten

Scotty Reese

Jack Repasy

Larry Sanders

Al Saylor

Jim Schroer

Art Shannon

Ted Shoebridge

Allen Skeens

Jerry Smith

Jerry Stainback

Donald Tackett

Rick Tolley

Bob Van Horn

Roger Vanover

Patricia Vaught

Parker Ward

Norman Whisman

Fred Wilson

John Young

Tom Zborill

In lasting remembrance of the Marshall University football team, the coaches, staff, and devoted fans who died in the plane crash November 14, 1970.

The plane crash memorial at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington

They shall live on in the hearts of their families and friends forever and this memorial records their loss to the university and the community.

Listen to actual news reports from November 14-15, 1970.

Mutual News, November 14, 1970 (opening)

Mutual News, November 14, 1970 (closing)

CBS Radio News, November 15, 1970

Special thanks to Jeff Miller for giving me permission to use these audio clips on my webpage.

Messages of Condolence

To the President of Marshall University Dr. Donald N. Dedmon,

Mrs. Nixon and I want to express our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the victims in the tragic air crash.
There is but little comfort in words at a time like this. But our thoughts are with those who grieve the loss of their loved ones. We pray that God may arm them with the strength and courage to bear the anguish of a misfortune that touches the hearts of all their fellow citizens.

Richard Nixon
The President of the United States of America

All West Virginians are stunned and shocked and share your grief and mourning. It is my hope that the spirit that typified this group of outstanding young men will sustain relatives and loved ones and the entire university community at this tragic time.

John D. Rockefeller IV
West Virginia Secretary of State

The hearts and prayers of the staff members and students in the East Carolina University physical education department are with the administration, faculty, staff, students, and parents at Marshall University as we share the grief and loss of your fine people. At such a time, it is difficult to accept such tragedy; yet, we must look beyond today to ask-for what purpose. Please accept our humble prayers and sympathy and rest assured that the lives of players, coaches, staff, and Huntington citizens shall live forever in our memories. We pray that this bond of grief shared by our universities shall become a bond of friendship and achievement as we work to overcome the problems of mankind.

God bless you, your people at Marshall, parents and friends of the University and the citizens of Huntington in this tragic loss.

East Carolina University Physical Education Department

Dear Sir,

We are sorry you lost your whole football team. We are sorry you lost your students. We prayed for them in class this Sunday. We hope you will soon get a new football team. We hope this letter will make you feel better.

Sincerely,

Class 3-B
Kathryn, Kenneth, Curt, Bill. Liza, Lisa
Children in a Sunday School class in Roanoke, Virginia

The fountain in front of the Memorial Student Center on Marshall's campus is turned off each year on November 14.

There is no one untouched. There is no one who can hear of this and not feel sorrow and grief. And we, the students, feel the pain so deeply that we cry...and cry...and wonder how, and why.

A Marshall University Student