The evening of November 14, 1970, was cool, light rain, and fog was moving into the area. The Marshall University Football Team was returning from a game aboard a chartered plane when they crashed upon approach to the Tri-State Airport, Huntington, West Virginia, killing the majority of the Marshall Football Team, Coaching Staff, some Supporters, and the Flight Crew.

The plane crashed approximately 500 foot from Route 75, in a hollow, just short of the runway, all on board perished in the crash. I was on the first engine to arrive on the scene, but we were assisted by Fire Departments from around the area. EMS was not established as we know it today, but we obtained support from a few ambulance services/fiuneral homes to assist us in the recovery/removal of the victims. This process was very time consuming because of the local of the crash and no road access.

The fires were extinguished, and the victims were removed and carried to Route 75 where they were placed in vehicles, or lined up along the Guardrail, to await transport to a hanger at the Tri-State Airport where a temporary Morgue had been established. Identification of the victims was extreamely difficult because all were burned and the last 10 could not be identified.

This crash was identified as the worst sports disaster in NCAA history. It was a tremendous loss to the University, the City of Huntington, and surrounding Communities. Many families and friends lost loved ones and we are approaching the Anniversary of the crash (November 14, 1970 @ approximately 8:00 p.m.)

There are several people left in our Community that were on that crash, but only (2) of us remain as Firefighters. At 58 years old, I will be giving up the fire service very soon myself.

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