Lengyel and Williams to serve as honorary captains

Jack Lengyel (far left) posing with Matthew McConaughey (left), Matthew Fox (right) and Red Dawson (far right) during the filming of “We Are… Marshall.”

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.—Two legends will represent the Thundering Herd as honorary captains at the 2013 Military Bowl.  Jack Lengyel and Herschel “Woody” Williams will be at mid-field for the coin toss on Dec. 27 at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium.

“It is truly an honor to have Jack Lengyel and Woody Williams, two of our state’s finest, represent our football team at the Military Bowl,” said Director of Athletics Mike Hamrick. “These two gentlemen are first-class and we are extremely grateful to have them on our side as we battle the University of Maryland next Friday.”

Lengyel is most remembered for taking over as Marshall’s head coach in 1971 and rebuilding the football program that was devastated by the plane crash on Nov. 14, 1970 that killed 75 people, including most of the team and coaches. 

Hershel “Woody” Williams was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II on Iwo Jima.

After his coaching days at Marshall were finished, Lengyel went on to in athletic administrations at Louisville, Missouri, Fresno State, and Navy.  Lengyel was the Director of Athletics at the Naval Academy from 1988 to 2001.

Williams grew up in Fairmont and received a Purple Heart and the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on Iwo Jima during World War II.   He is one of only nine living World War II Medal of Honor recipients. A new $25 million Armed Forces Reserve Center in Fairmont was dedicated to the 90-year Williams last year.





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