FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Nov. 9, 2007
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications, (304) 696-7153
 

Annual memorial service honors victims of 1970 plane crash

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The annual memorial service honoring the 75 victims of the 1970 Marshall University plane crash, including football players, coaches, staff and supporters, along with the crew of five, will be conducted on Wednesday, Nov. 14 on the Huntington campus.

The service, presented by Marshall’s Student Government Association, begins at noon on the Memorial Student Center plaza. In addition to SGA President Dominique Elmore, who will welcome those attending, speakers include Teddy Kluemper, a 2002 Marshall graduate and Marshall University Alumni Association board member, Marshall football Coach Mark Snyder, President Stephen J. Kopp and Parker Ward, whose father died in the crash.

The crash on Saturday, Nov. 14, 1970 occurred at about 7:47 p.m. when a DC-9 jetliner, returning Marshall home from its football game at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., clipped some treetops just short of Tri-State Airport and went down. Marshall plays East Carolina at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

“The SGA is honored to continue the important tradition of publicly remembering those who lost their lives in the crash,” Elmore said. “Even though it has been 37 years, the families of the victims and many, many people in the Marshall community still hurt, and still wonder why this happened. As we have said numerous times, we will never, ever forget those who were taken from us far too early in this tragic event.”

The service will conclude with the traditional placing of memorial wreaths at the Memorial Fountain. Snyder, Elmore, the Thundering Herd football captains and the Ceredo Fire Department Honor Guard will participate. Team captains include Bernard Morris, Albert McClelland, Doug Legursky, Cody Slate, Ian Hoskins, Brian Shope and Maurice Kitchens.

The fountain, which was installed on the plaza 35 years ago, will be silenced after the laying of the wreaths. It will remain silent until next spring.

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