November 14, 1970 ... Remembered
Memorial of the 1970 Marshall University Football Team Plane Crash
On a rainy hill side in Wayne County, West Virginia, the
lives of 75 people were lost in the worst single air tragedy in NCAA
sports history. Among the losses were nearly the entire Marshall
University football team, coaches, flight crew, numerous fans, and
supporters. The event marked a boundary by which an entire community
would forever measure time... before or after "The Crash". This site is a
memorial to the lives that were lost on that evening; to honor those
men and women who made a mark in the hearts of a school, a community and
a nation.
Fountain Rededication in 2008
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.
About the Plane Crash
Movie, "We Are Marshall"
The 2006 Warner Bros. picture, "We Are Marshall," told the story of the
plane crash and especially the efforts to continue the football program
after the crash. Visit the Marshall
University website for the movie.