Nov. 13, 2008
Victims of 1970 Marshall Plane Crash to be Honored in Memorial Service
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By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – When the air brings a windy chill, raindrops fall, and the leaves turn all colors of the rainbow, the people of Huntington and Marshall University feel their hearts becoming heavy and their thoughts drifting back to 1970.
On Nov. 14, 1970, a Southern Airways jet crashed attempting to land at Tri-State Airport. 75 passengers and crew died; they were the 1970 MU football team, coaches, fans, and crew.
Traditionally, the Memorial Fountain goes silent in the fall to remember those fallen and the years that were so difficult.
In April 2006, Warner Bros. arrived on campus to shoot portions of “We Are Marshall.” The fountain was used for what would become the end scene behind which the credits roll. Thousands turned out to be extras in the shoot. And, among the speakers at the service in November 2006 were the film’s director, McG, who along with other filmmakers had a lengthy travel day in that they were also headed to the College Football Hall of Fame to show the finished product.
In fact, the charismatic, energetic, and happy to help director told some to hurry upstairs and he would give them a peak of what would be displayed later that night in Indiana. As it turned out, both timing and the logistics (no one could find a proper DVD player) prevented a short segment of the movie from being shown that day in the student center.
However, McG’s mom revealed a piece of family to the Herd Family. I had to then (out of respect) ask her son for permission to tell the world. He took a little ribbing, I’m told, but the director feared flying. Before he accepted the job he flew into Tri State Airport alone and unknown. By his own admission, after landing, he went to the site of the crash and said a prayer.
Although praying might not be a politically correct action among those with rich and famous lifestyles, his mother told me something else, too. Indirectly, her son had made a choice about his directorial career. Earlier, he would have preferred to have been the director of another picture. Things did not work out. His mother told me that God had chosen him to be the one who brought the vision and compassion that would be “We Are Marshall” to multiplexes worldwide.
Rumor has it that the fountain scene almost did NOT get filmed. Apparently, the keepers of the film’s budget thought maybe they could save some bucks. Again, based on a reliable source within earshot, McG passionately pleaded and demanded that the scene not be cut. Obviously, he knew how he wanted to use it. Thanks, McG for standing up to the financial powers that be.
The 38th Anniversary service begins Friday, Nov. 14 at 12 noon on the Memorial Student Center plaza.
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“Our annual memorial service is a reflection of the sympathy and grief that we continue to feel as a Marshall University community 38 years after the tragedy,” said Matt James, president of Marshall’s student body. “The service is an example of how important the memories of those lost are to us, and we feel that their story must always to be told to every incoming student and staff member to our campus. November 14, 1970 is a date that ties all of us together and we must never forget.”
CNN correspondent Joe Johns, a 1980 Marshall University graduate, will be the keynote speaker. During his years at Marshall in the late 1970s, Johns was a standout student-athlete, excelling in the shot put and discus while consistently earning dean’s list honors in the classroom.
Johns also will serve as grand marshal in the Marshall homecoming parade, which starts at noon on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.
Other speakers at the memorial service include Marshall President Dr. Stephen J. Kopp, Marshall head football Coach Mark Snyder, former Provost Dr. Sarah Denman, Marshall Alumni Association President Nancy Campbell and student body Vice President Sean Hornbuckle. James will deliver welcome and closing remarks.
The service will conclude with the traditional placing of the memorial wreath at the Memorial Fountain. The fountain will be silenced after the laying of the wreath, and remain silent until next spring.
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.
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Victims of 1970 Marshall Plane Crash to be Honored in Memorial Service
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – When the air brings a windy chill, raindrops fall, and the leaves turn all colors of the rainbow, the people of Huntington and Marshall University feel their hearts becoming heavy and their thoughts drifting back to 1970.
On Nov. 14, 1970, a Southern Airways jet crashed attempting to land at Tri-State Airport. 75 passengers and crew died; they were the 1970 MU football team, coaches, fans, and crew.
Traditionally, the Memorial Fountain goes silent in the fall to remember those fallen and the years that were so difficult.
In April 2006, Warner Bros. arrived on campus to shoot portions of “We Are Marshall.” The fountain was used for what would become the end scene behind which the credits roll. Thousands turned out to be extras in the shoot. And, among the speakers at the service in November 2006 were the film’s director, McG, who along with other filmmakers had a lengthy travel day in that they were also headed to the College Football Hall of Fame to show the finished product.
In fact, the charismatic, energetic, and happy to help director told some to hurry upstairs and he would give them a peak of what would be displayed later that night in Indiana. As it turned out, both timing and the logistics (no one could find a proper DVD player) prevented a short segment of the movie from being shown that day in the student center.
However, McG’s mom revealed a piece of family to the Herd Family. I had to then (out of respect) ask her son for permission to tell the world. He took a little ribbing, I’m told, but the director feared flying. Before he accepted the job he flew into Tri State Airport alone and unknown. By his own admission, after landing, he went to the site of the crash and said a prayer.
Although praying might not be a politically correct action among those with rich and famous lifestyles, his mother told me something else, too. Indirectly, her son had made a choice about his directorial career. Earlier, he would have preferred to have been the director of another picture. Things did not work out. His mother told me that God had chosen him to be the one who brought the vision and compassion that would be “We Are Marshall” to multiplexes worldwide.
Rumor has it that the fountain scene almost did NOT get filmed. Apparently, the keepers of the film’s budget thought maybe they could save some bucks. Again, based on a reliable source within earshot, McG passionately pleaded and demanded that the scene not be cut. Obviously, he knew how he wanted to use it. Thanks, McG for standing up to the financial powers that be.
The 38th Anniversary service begins Friday, Nov. 14 at 12 noon on the Memorial Student Center plaza.
“Our annual memorial service is a reflection of the sympathy and grief that we continue to feel as a Marshall University community 38 years after the tragedy,” said Matt James, president of Marshall’s student body. “The service is an example of how important the memories of those lost are to us, and we feel that their story must always to be told to every incoming student and staff member to our campus. November 14, 1970 is a date that ties all of us together and we must never forget.”
CNN correspondent Joe Johns, a 1980 Marshall University graduate, will be the keynote speaker. During his years at Marshall in the late 1970s, Johns was a standout student-athlete, excelling in the shot put and discus while consistently earning dean’s list honors in the classroom.
Johns also will serve as grand marshal in the Marshall homecoming parade, which starts at noon on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.
Other speakers at the memorial service include Marshall President Dr. Stephen J. Kopp, Marshall head football Coach Mark Snyder, former Provost Dr. Sarah Denman, Marshall Alumni Association President Nancy Campbell and student body Vice President Sean Hornbuckle. James will deliver welcome and closing remarks.
The service will conclude with the traditional placing of the memorial wreath at the Memorial Fountain. The fountain will be silenced after the laying of the wreath, and remain silent until next spring.
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.
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