We Will Never Forget

The year 2008 marked the 38th anniversary of the plane crash that took the lives of 75 members of the Marshall University football team, coaches, staff, community members, and crew. This year, as it has done every year since the tragedy, Marshall's Student Government Association  conducted a memorial service. Marshall alumnus and CNN correspondent Joe Johns was the featured speaker. As is traditional, the water in the fountain was stopped during the service, to remain silent until spring. Please use this site as a starting point to learn more about this important and tragic part of the history of Marshall University.

2008 Memorial Service

• View photo gallery
• View video news story
• View program in PDF

Fountain Rededication

On April 9, 2008, the memorial fountain was rededicated following repair and renovation. Gov. Joe Manchin III, Marshall President Stephen J. Kopp, surviving family representative Michele Prestera Craig and others spoke during the ceremony, which concluded with the turning on of the fountain for the summer. The fountain is silenced each Nov. 14 during the annual memorial service honoring the victims of the 1970 Marshall plane crash.

During the period January-March 2008, the fountain and its foundation received extensive repairs. Most noticeable is the new granite surface, both inside and out, of the foundation; a copper catch tray for the water to flow into from the fountain; and a higher spray of water, similar to the original output when the fountain was installed in 1972.

• View program in PDF
• View highlights of rededication ceremony
   

Archive Video of Fountain Dedication in 1972

University Libraries' Virtual Museum Exhibit

2007 Memorial Service

• View photo gallery
• View video of memorial service
• View program in PDF

2006 Memorial Service

• View photo gallery
• View video news story
• View program in PDF

2005 Memorial Service

• View photo gallery
• View video news story
• View program in PDF
   

Articles/Pictures About the Plane Crash

• From Marshall Memories, A Pictorial History of Marshall University 1837-1987, by Dr. Ralph Turner, online edition
• From the Herald-Dispatch in Huntington: "1970 Marshall Plane Crash-The Real Story'" with links to other articles and pictures
• From Marshall Magazine:
  • "It's Always With You" by Julia Keller (Winter 2000)
  • "Nate Ruffin: A True Son of Marshall" by Charles Bowen (Spring 2001)
  • "All One Heart" by Deborah Novak and John Witek (Spring 2001)
• From The Parthenon, November 11, 2005 - "Never Forgotten"
• From The Parthenon, November 15, 2005 - "In Remembrance"