Every November, Huntington goes a little quieter. This Saturday, Nov. 14, marks 56 years since the night that changed Marshall University and the whole Tri-State forever.
On Nov. 14, 1970, Southern Airways Flight 932 struck a hillside as it approached Tri-State Airport. All 75 people on board were lost: Thundering Herd players, coaches, staff, supporters and the flight crew. Generations later, folks across West Virginia still know exactly what the number 75 means.
The Memorial Fountain Ceremony
Marshall will hold its 56th annual Memorial Fountain Ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday on the Memorial Student Center Plaza in Huntington. The ceremony is open to the public and will also be livestreamed for those who can't make it to campus.
As has been tradition, the water in the Memorial Fountain will be turned off during the ceremony. The 13-foot sculpture stands as a symbol of renewal, and the moment the water goes still is one many Marshall families hold close.
This year's speaker is Jeff Heath, who was a 19-year-old sophomore at Marshall in 1970. He lost both of his parents, Emmett O. Heath and Elaine Lois Heath, who were among the 25 fans and supporters on the flight. He also lost his godparents, Dr. Herbert Proctor and Courtney Proctor. Heath became the head of his family and helped raise his younger siblings.
A Game That Means More
That evening, the Herd hosts Appalachian State at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+. Both teams come in at 5-4 overall and 2-3 in Sun Belt play, so bowl eligibility is on the line. Marshall is coming off a 49-13 loss at Georgia Southern, while App State fell 39-23 to Georgia State.
Head coach Tony Gibson made clear the week carries extra weight. "This week, we're playing for a lot more," Gibson said. "It's the anniversary of losing the 75."
The current team has already paid its respects this season. At the start of fall practice, players ran to Spring Hill Cemetery, where six of the players who died in the crash are buried.
We Are Marshall
Marshall's own words say it best: "We are, because they were." Whether you're at the fountain Saturday morning, in the stands Saturday night, or just pausing for a moment wherever you are in West Virginia, take a minute to remember the 75.