HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — It was a chilly day at the Memorial Fountain on the Memorial Student Center plaza on Marshall University’s campus Wednesday.
Beacons of hope, love, and strength warmed the crowd of all who gathered at the annual fountain ceremony, remembering November 14, 1970.
The date when a Southern Airways flight crashed near the Huntington Tri-State Airport, killing all 75 on-board including members of the Marshall University football team, coaches, administrators, fans, and the flight crew. The flight was headed back to Huntington from a Marshall football game at East Carolina.
“We remember what happened and how those sacrifices shaped the unique history of our great university, proud community and our beloved athletic program,” Mike Hamrick, Marshall Athletic Director, said at the ceremony.
“The football program is a brotherhood. It doesn’t matter if you played football here in the ’60’s, ’70’s, ’80’s, ’90’s or 2000’s, once you put on that jersey and helmet, your stories become intertwined forever. You’re a part of a brotherhood that doesn’t exist anywhere else in college football and maybe even anywhere in sports because no one went through what this university went through, 48 years ago today.”
The 48th-anniversary ceremony ended with current Marshall football players, community members and descendants of victims placing roses at the fountain for each victim. The fountain was then turned off and will remain silent until spring.
“Symbolically we will turn off the fountain today to remind us of the tragedy,” Jerome “Jerry” Gilbert, Marshall University President, said. “As I have witnessed for three winters now, we will walk on the cold of this plaza, and we will long for the warmth of spring and the return of the fountain.
“We will turn on the fountain this upcoming spring and we will once again be reminded of the continuation of life and the rebirth. We will be reminded that we have faith and trust in the resilience of the human spirit. That resilience is evident in all of the descendants and friends of the 75 who are here today. That resilience is evident in our football program and it’s in the fabric of Marshall University.”
The keynote speaker at the ceremony was Leslie Deese Garvis. Her father was Danny Deese, the Charter Coordinator for Southern Airways Flight 932 on that date, and among the perished. She was only six months old at the time of the crash.
“We have all heard the phrase life is a journey,” she said. “Well, my journey to get to know my father has led me to Huntington and Marshall. Not only did I find my dad along the way, but I also found a sense of belonging and a sense of peace.
“Around the anniversary my soul grows restless and seems to only be quieted when I finally arrive in town. My first stop is the crash site and while I know my dad and our family members are not there, it feels like the place I feel closest to him and the place where I feel like I’ve come home.”
Other speakers at the ceremony included Marshall football coach Doc Holliday, Matt Hayes, the Executive Director of Alumni Relations at Marshall, Lucianne Kautz-Call, daughter of former Marshall athletic director, Charlie Kautz, Marshall student body president Hunter Barclay, vice president Hannah Petracca, and Marshall football team chaplain Rev. Steve Harvey.
On Saturday, the Marshall University football team held their annual memorial game. Players dawned in all black also wore special helmets with the number 75 on the side. The team walked out of the locker room before playing Charlotte in locking arms with former players, coaches, and administrators. The Herd went on to beat the 49ers in dominating fashion, 30-13.
“Our players don’t play for themselves, our players don’t play me, our players play for you, the school, the community, and most importantly they play for the 75,” an emotional Holliday said.
“They put on those all black uniforms and tapped the 75 on side of their helmets and went to work. I told them after the game, I have never been more proud of a team. They played on another level. It seems like magic, every year it feels like we can’t lose.”