Fifty-three years ago at 7:36 p.m. Tuesday, November 14, 1970, is a date and time that has etched its mark into the annals of time and memory. I vividly remember that night. It was cold, damp and even a bit foggy when I heard the news at 7:45 p.m. at the Ashland Police Department. I walked into APD and Captain Gene Hemlepp informed me of the crash as the breaking news was on television.
A chartered DC-9 jet, Southern Airways Flight 932, was on final approach when it collided with tree tops and crashed into a hillside just two miles from the Tri State Airport in Kenova, West Virginia.
The plane was carrying 37 members of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team, 8 members of the coaching staff, 25 boosters, and 5 flight crew members.
All 75 perished.
The team was returning from that day’s game, a 17-14 loss to East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.
The crash at that time was recognized as “the worst sports-related air tragedy in US history.” Sadly, earlier that year, October 2 1970, another plane crash happened carrying 14 Wichita State players, head coach, and 16 others for a death total of 31.
Ironically, flight 932 was the only flight that season for Marshall University.
After being informed that Marshall University’s plane had crashed, it didn’t occur to me that I had a very dear friend and mentor on board. I went off duty at 11 p.m. and when I arrived home, my wife Jo was watching the entire story on the local news.
This is when the names were announced of those aboard who had lost their lives. When I heard the name KEN JONES I swallowed hard, and had a very empty feeling all over. The news was devastating. Ken was the Sports Director at Huntington’s WHTN Television Channel 13 and was aboard covering the game for his station.
Just a year earlier in 1969, Ken was named the West Virginia Sportscaster of the Year. This was the very same wonderful man that in 1964 we shared the microphone at WIRO in Ironton while calling Russell High School sports. Ken became my mentor while teaching me the fundamentals of calling play by play. My long 58-year career of calling Basketball, Football and Baseball began that night in 1964 and came to a close, November 22, 2022. I learned so much from Ken through our friendship and admired his style and professionalism while calling so many games. Ken loved life; his smile was dynamite and his affable personality was like a magnet to those who knew him. In 1964 I worked the WIRO morning show 6-10 a.m. and Ken worked our 10-2 p.m. slot.
Here’s a memory of Ken that I have never forgotten. On sunny spring day I had just concluded my show and joined Mutual News at 10 a.m. Ken walked into the control room. The view from the control room window was a picture perfect view of Ironton and Park Avenue.
Ken said, “Mike, I bet you $5 I can hit a golf ball over US-52 and hit Park Avenue with no problem!”
I said, “Ken, you got a bet, you will never get the ball that high!”
Ken had just under 3 minutes to run to the parking lot, get his clubs and ball, and get into the green grass of Radio Plaza and slam it. Ken teed up the ball, slammed it into orbit and there it was bouncing down Park Avenue! He had less than a minute to get on the air. He made it and then bragged about our bet to his listeners and if anyone found his ball, just bring it to the station for my $5. True story.
One of the toughest things I have encountered in my life was attending Ken’s funeral. Tears filled my eyes as I comforted Ken’s wife Lois and the family. We lost Kenneth Elsworth Jones at the young age of only 43, much too early in life. As you would expect, the Marshall crash impacted so many lives at the University and the Tri-State area.
Thus, the community would make sure their memories would indeed last forever. The listing of subsequent Memorials:
• 53 years ago today, November 15, 1970 – A Memorial Service was held at Veterans Memorial Field House on 5th avenue in Huntington with moments of silence, remembrances, and prayers.
• November 22 – Several days later, a Memorial Service was held at Fairfield Stadium with thousands in attendance.
• Soon after the crash a major Memorial on campus would be a plaque and a Memorial Garden at Fairfield Stadium along with a granite cenotaph at Spring Hill Cemetery; and another at the MU Student Center.
• November 12, 1972 – A Memorial Fountain was dedicated with the inscription:
“They shall live on in the hearts of their families and friends forever as the memorial records their loss to the university and the community.”
• November 11, 2000 – The “We are Marshall” Memorial Bronze statue was dedicated and is attached to Joan C Edwards Stadium on the west façade.
• December 11, 2006 – A Memorial Plaque was dedicated at the plane crash site which reads :
“On November 14, 1970, 75 people died in the worst sports-related air tragedy in U.S. history when a Southern Airlines DC 9 crashed into a hillside nearby. No one survived this horrific disaster.”
• A Memorial Bell Tower was planned for a location on WV75 near Exit 1 along Interstate 64.
• November 14, 2013 – In a graphic Memorial to the 75 victims of the crash, the Marshall team wore the number 75 on their helmets for the entire season.
• August 29, 2020 – Marshall was scheduled to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the air disaster in their season opener vs East Carolina, the University Marshall played on November 14, 1970. However, due to COVID-19, the game was not played.
• September 9, 2023 – At Halftime of the East Carolina-Marshall game, the 1970 East Carolina Football Alumni presented a signed Memorial Ball to Red Dawson and Keith Morehouse, the latter being the son of Marshall announcer Gene Morehouse who died in the crash.
• November 18, 2000 – A film documentary-“MARSHALL UNIVERSITY: ASHES TO GLORY” featuring the rebuilding of the Marshall Football program was released and was receive with tremendous acclaim.
• December 12, 2006 – “WE ARE MARSHALL” a film featuring the plane crash and the ensuing ramifications and plans to rebuild the program with the assistance of the NCAA.
The plane crash was “like the Kennedy assassination.” Many even to this day, can tell you where they were and what they were doing when they heard the tragic news. Huntington immediately went into mourning.
Marshall named a new Football coach, Jack Lengyel from Wooster College and he naturally began work immediately rebuilding the program. The NCAA gave Marshall special permission to let freshmen play on the varsity coupled with walk-ons and 9 players who did not make the flight.
In 1971, Marshall lost its first game of the season on the road, but in the Herds’ first home game since the crash, defeated Xavier University 15-13. Marshall won one other game that year, but in the coming seasons, none was as emotional as the 1971 season.
Yesterday, November 14, 2023 marks the 53rd anniversary of Flight 932 and the loss of 75 lives. The sands of time have moved on decade after decade, but the vivid memories of all those who perished that night, shall never be forgotten.
Mike Tussey has “retired” from a 60-plus-year career as a legendary play-by-play announcer for over 2000 football, baseball, and basketball games, including most recently for ESPN+. His career also includes a stint in law enforcement, teaching and coaching, and writing books, including the “Touchdown Saints.” He grew up in Eastern Kentucky and now lives in Florence with his wife, Jo. He has opened another “Door of Opportunity” and is now a regular columnist for the NKyTribune.
Mike,
The day of the crash is a never forgotten moment. I was working at WCMI which was the ABC radio affiliate for Huntington/Ashland. I immediately went to the station and began on air coverage. Suddenly I was getting calls from stations all over the country and even the BBC for audio feeds. Our GM, Dick Martin, went to the site and fed info back to me and I put it on the air. This went on all night and several days beyond. We had a young guy, Gary George, who worked part time for us and worked with athletic department who was on the flight. Many of the boosters killed were icons in the Huntington community. A never forgotten tragedy for the community. I was a 22 year old top 40 jock thrust into the role of a newsman. Wherever I go, I will always be a Marshall fan. I moved on to WGNT radio in 1973, the flagship of the Marshall network, and did the coaches show with Jack on the Marshall pregame. He had a tough job, but was kind and easy to work with. Not at all like Matthew Mcconaughey portrayed him in the movie.
very nice and moving.
Mike..Thanks very much for sharing your memories of that horrible night……It seems that night touched so many lives directly and indirectly for sure…..Great hearing from you too…of course, you and I go back to the dark ages it seems..lol…Thanks again..! By the way, next weeks column you will enjoy too! Stay Tuned….Mike
Thanks Rik very much….!!
Thank you so much for this very sad commentary on such a horrific incident. All of us who were in the area, remember it like it was yesterday
Thanks Margie…Indeed, the memories are so vivid and lasting…Thanks for your thoughts.
I certainly remember where I was that Saturday night. I was doing the 7-midnight show on WKAZ in Charleston. As most young DJ’s will do, I had the studio speakers blasting, but the sound of the AP and UPI alert bells coming from the adjacent newsroom were even louder. I’d actually never heard them anywhere near as loud or long as they were that tragic night. I immediately ran to the newsroom and read the alert. Then I ran back to the control room and started calling our news team. And, you’re right, people had the same look on their faces as when JFK was murdered. Total shock and disbelief that something so horrific and close to home could happen.
As an East Carolina fan I was at the game and heard the news later that night after partying downtown Greenville. When ltaking my date back to her dorm a female student yelled the news to us through her open dorm window. We were all in shock at the terrible news and it is a night I will never forget. I have attended every game ECU has played at Marshall and they have the most hospitable fans that we have encountered on road games.
Sitting here watching Ohio State play Marshall. I talked to my wife about the Marshall team and the plane crash that took to many young lives. She did not know anything about the shockingly sad history. Especially since my family is from Logan, WV. To the young men and people who lost their lives way too soon, “Godspeed to the families, friends, and people who knew the players , coaches, and team supporters. RIP.
A wonderful article for such a tragic event! I was thinking about it this evening as I was on my post the bands participating in the Christmas parade. The weather was much like it was that particular night, rainy, damp and foggy. I have such a vivid memory of WSAZ breaking in on the television to report what had happened. I was 12 at that time and a couple of friends had come over from Montgomery Ave to our house on Hilton to spend the night. We watched the coverage all evening long and cried like babies Such a sad time for the Tri-State and still is all these years later! Thanks again for your tribute to Marshall!
I don’t remember exactly how I felt when I heard the news about the Marshall crash, but it was probably the same feeling I had 7 years later when I heard the news about Lynyrd Skynyrd’s plane crash. Our band was playing at the Ramada Inn in Jacksonville Beach’ and I had gone to the lobby to watch the 11pm news. What a shock. When we started our next set, we played the 2 Skynyrd songs that we knew. Sweet home Alabama and What’s your name as a Tribute.
I grew up @Huntington & attended Marshall few yrs before marrying & moving out of state. My sister & her best friend were Marshall students when this happened. My in-laws were among people who volunteered to escort parents/family of football player when they came to town. Next morn,I read headlines re it right before my in-laws called.