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Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse

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The Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse was an 8,500-seat (6,500 for basketball) multi-purpose arena in Huntington, West Virginia . It was built in 1950. Prior to the completion of the Huntington Civic Center (now known as Marshall Health Network Arena ) in 1976, it was the only large arena in the city. It closed on February 10, 2012, and was demolished later that year.

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44-530: In the aftermath of the November 14, 1970 Marshall University air tragedy , which claimed the lives of 75 Marshall University football team members, coaches, support staff, boosters and Southern Airways flight crew, the Fieldhouse was the site of a community memorial service on Sunday evening, November 15, 1970 that attracted an estimated 7,000 mourners to the arena. With the completion of the two more modern facilities,

88-430: A ticket through a traditional airline ). Charter – also called air taxi or ad hoc – flights require certification from the associated country's civil aviation authority . The regulations are differentiated from typical commercial/passenger service by offering a non-scheduled service. Analogous regulations generally also apply to air ambulance and cargo operators, which are often also ad hoc for-hire services. In

132-435: A 26–30–4 record. The Hornets suffered from low attendance, prompting owner Ernie Berg to begin seeking a new home for the team as early as December, 1956. Local promoter Dick Deutsch attempted to save the team twice through local investments. Ultimately, the attempts fell short, and the team was slated for suspension of operations or relocation. The IHL eventually approved relocation of the franchise to Louisville, Kentucky, where

176-462: A country store in rural Virginia when they heard the news over the radio. Before the trip, they were scheduled to go on a recruiting mission to Ferrum College after the ECU–Marshall game, in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to recruit junior college linebacker Billy Joe Mantooth . After the crash, Red Dawson helped bring together a group of players who were on the junior varsity football team during

220-695: A financial burden for its owner/operator, the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District, which operated the arena at a financial loss. In April, 2011, the District Board voted unanimously to transfer the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse property to Marshall University, which redeveloped the site as part of a $ 30 million athletic facilities project approved by the Marshall University Board of Governors. The only condition of

264-558: A hillside nearby. The victims included 37 Marshall University football players, 9 coaches and administrators, 25 fans and air crew of 5. No one survived this horrific disaster. Another plaque memorializing the 1970 Marshall football team was unveiled at East Carolina University on the same day and can be seen at the guest team entrance of Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium . Featured speakers were Chancellor Steve Ballard, Athletic Director Terry Holland , Pirates' broadcaster Jeff Charles, and Marshall president, Stephen J. Kopp . A memorial bell tower

308-408: A little bit on the ground here at   ... seven hundred feet   ... We're two hundred above [the descent vector]," and the charter coordinator replied, "Bet it'll be a missed approach." The corresponding flight recorder shows that the craft descended another 220 ft (67 m) in elevation within these 12 seconds, and the co-pilot calls out "four hundred" and agrees with the pilot they are on

352-509: A little over a month, after the October 2 crash that killed 31 ( head coach , 14 Wichita State players, and 16 others). The aircraft was a 95-seat, twin-jet engine Douglas DC-9-30 with tail registration N97S. The airliner's crew was Captain Frank Abbot (47), First Officer Jerry Smith (28), plus two flight attendants. All were qualified for the flight. This flight was the only flight that year for

396-443: A result of this accident, including recommendations for heads-up displays, ground proximity warning devices , and surveillance and inspection of flight operations. On November 15, 1970, a memorial service was held at the indoor, 8,500-seat Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse with moments of silence, remembrances, and prayers. The following Saturday, another memorial service was held at the outdoor, 18,000-seat Fairfield Stadium . Across

440-429: A swath of charred ground 95 ft (29 m) wide and 279 ft (85 m) long. According to the official National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report, the accident was "unsurvivable". The aircraft "dipped to the right, almost inverted, and had crashed into a hollow 'nose-first'". By the time the plane came to a stop, it was 4,219 ft (1,286 m) short of the runway and 275 ft (84 m) south of

484-557: Is being planned for a location on WV 75 near exit 1 along Interstate 64 . November 14, 2013, marked the first time that Marshall had played a road game on an anniversary of the disaster. As a memorial to the 75 victims, the Marshall players wore the number 75 on their helmets. Marshall defeated the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 45–34 that night. The tribute was repeated for the rest of the season, including when Marshall met Rice in

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528-615: The Marshall University football team , eight members of the coaching staff, 25 boosters , two pilots, two flight attendants, and a charter coordinator. The team was returning home after a 17–14 loss to the East Carolina Pirates at Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina . The accident is the deadliest tragedy to have affected any sports team in U.S. history. It was the second college football team plane crash in

572-469: The 2013 Conference USA Football Championship game . Marshall was scheduled to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the air disaster in their football season opener on August 29, 2020. The opponent was scheduled to be East Carolina—the same team that defeated Marshall before the disaster took place. That game did not occur due to the COVID-19 pandemic . During halftime of the 2023 East Carolina-Marshall game,

616-458: The 1950s. The Marshall University football team only won two games during the 1971 season, against Xavier and Bowling Green . Lengyel led the Thundering Herd to a 9–33 record during his tenure, which ended after the 1974 season. Marshall University acting President Donald Dedmon appointed a memorial committee soon after the crash. The committee decided upon one major memorial within

660-451: The 1970 ECU Pirates team presented a signed memorial football to Red Dawson and Keith Morehouse, son of Marshall announcer Gene Morehouse, who was killed in the crash. The events of the crash are documented in an episode of Aircrash Confidential titled "Disastrous Descents". Charter airline Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft (i.e., chartering ) as opposed to individual aircraft seats (i.e., purchasing

704-508: The 1970 season, as well as students and athletes from other sports, to form a 1971 football team. The NCAA granted Marshall permission to use freshmen on the varsity squad, something which was not allowed at the time. The NCAA repealed that prohibition at its annual convention in January 1972. Following its plane crash, Wichita State was granted similar permission to use freshmen on the varsity to resume its 1970 season. Head coach Rick Tolley

748-443: The Fieldhouse was used primarily for smaller concert events. Also, the facility was built in an era when boxing was more popular and thus was designed around that sport and remained an excellent venue for boxing and professional wrestling . After Marshall moved out, the Fieldhouse started to fall into a state of disrepair. As of 2011, the aging structure was in need of significant roof repairs and interior renovations and had become

792-581: The Henderson Center, but then an NCAA ruling prohibiting regular season games in college owned venues was passed. A grand finale event for the 62-year-old venue - a Marshall University alumni basketball game and a veterans recognition ceremony - was held on February 10, 2012. The last shot ever in the building was made by Marshall great Russell Lee, and the crowd was addressed by the state's only living Medal of Honor recipient, Hershel W. Williams . Seating, signage and memorabilia were available for sale to

836-558: The Marshall University football team. At the time, Marshall's athletic teams rarely traveled by plane, since most away games were within easy driving distance of the campus. In light of the crash of the Wichita State football team just over a month earlier, school officials originally planned to cancel the flight. Instead, they opted to fly on a different plane than the one which had crashed Colorado (a Martin 4-0-4), and chartered

880-627: The Southern Airways DC-9. The original proposal to charter the flight was refused because it would exceed the takeoff limitations of their aircraft. The subsequent negotiations resulted in a reduction of the weight of passengers and baggage and the charter flight was scheduled. The airliner left Stallings Field at Kinston, North Carolina, and the flight proceeded to Huntington without incident. The crew established radio contact with air traffic controllers at 7:23 pm with instructions to descend to 5,000 ft (1,500 m). The controllers advised

924-654: The United States, these flights are regulated under FAA Part 135. There are some cases where a charter operator can sell scheduled flights, but only in limited quantities. As of 2021, the FAA had made it a priority to crack down on unauthorised charter flights, according to industry experts. There are several business models which offer air charter services from the traditional charter operator to brokers and jet card programs: Charter aircraft categories include: There are an estimated 15,000 business jets available for charter in

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968-515: The anniversary of the crash, those who died are mourned in a ceremony on the Marshall University campus in Huntington, West Virginia. A number of the victims are buried in a grave site in the Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington; 20th Street between Joan C. Edwards Stadium , Marshall's current on-campus football stadium, and Spring Hill Cemetery was renamed Marshall Memorial Boulevard in honor of

1012-400: The assigned instrument approach procedure. Instead, the descent continued for another 300 ft (91 m) for unknown reasons, apparently without either crew member actually seeing the airport lights or runway. In the transcript of their cockpit communications in the final minutes, the pilots briefly debated that their autopilot had "captured" for a glide slope descent, although the airport

1056-513: The burned area." The remains of six passengers were never identified. The NTSB investigated the accident and its final report was issued on April 14, 1972. In the report, the NTSB concluded, "[...] the probable cause of this accident was the descent below Minimum Descent Altitude during a nonprecision approach under adverse operating conditions, without visual contact with the runway environment". They further stated, "The Board has been unable to determine

1100-668: The campus, a plaque and memorial garden at Fairfield Stadium, and a granite cenotaph at the Spring Hill Cemetery; the Memorial Student Center was designated a memorial as well. On November 12, 1972, the Memorial Fountain was dedicated at the entrance of the Memorial Student Center . The sculpture's designer, Harry Bertoia , created the $ 25,000 memorial that incorporated bronze, copper tubing, and welding rods. The 6500 lb, 13 ft-high (2900 kg, 4 m-high) sculpture

1144-409: The correct "approach." In the next second, though, the co-pilot quickly calls out new readings, "hundred and twenty-six ... hundred", and the sounds of impact immediately follow. The airliner continued on final approach to Tri-State Airport when it collided with the tops of trees on a hillside 5,543 ft (1,690 m) west of runway 11 (now runway 12). The plane burst into flames and created

1188-458: The crash on Huntington went far beyond the Marshall campus. Because it was the Herd's only charter flight of the season, boosters and prominent citizens were on the plane, including a city councilman, a state legislator, and four physicians. Seventy children had at least one parent die in the crash, with 18 of them left orphaned. On St. Patrick's Day, 1971, College of Wooster football coach Jack Lengyel

1232-511: The crash victims. On November 11, 2000, the We Are Marshall Memorial Bronze was dedicated. The bronze 17×23 ft (5×7 m) statue was created by artist Burl Jones of Sissonville, West Virginia , and cost $ 150,000. It is based upon ideas by John and Ann Krieger of Huntington. It was donated to the university by Marshall fans and is attached to Joan C. Edwards Stadium on the west façade. It was unveiled to thousands 90 minutes before

1276-420: The crew that "rain, fog, smoke and a ragged ceiling " were at the airport, making landing more difficult, but possible. At 7:34 pm, the airliner's crew reported passing Tri-State Airport's outer marker . The controller gave them clearance to land. The aircraft began its normal descent after passing the outer marker, but did not arrest its descent and hold altitude at 1,240 ft (380 m), as required by

1320-595: The end of February, 2012. Demolition was completed by mid July 2012. The Fieldhouse was the home of the Marshall University basketball teams until the completion of the Cam Henderson Center in 1981. It also hosted the West Virginia public high school championships on a rotating basis with Charleston and Morgantown between 1962 and 1970, and the state Catholic championships every year from 1950 until

1364-487: The game with the Miami University RedHawks . On December 11, 2006, a memorial plaque was dedicated at the plane crash site. The ceremony featured guest speakers Dawson and Hardin. The Ceredo and Kenova fire departments were recognized at the event. The memorial plaque reads: On Nov. 14, 1970, 75 people died in the worst sports-related air tragedy in U.S. history, when a Southern Airways DC-9 crashed into

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1408-450: The middle marker. Although the airport runway has since been lengthened past its original threshold, making historical measurements more difficult, the NTSB official report provides, "the accident occurred during hours of darkness at 38° 22' 27" N. latitude and 82° 34' 42" W. longitude ." The report additionally notes, "Most of the fuselage was melted or reduced to a powder-like substance; however, several large pieces were scattered throughout

1452-604: The nation, many expressed their condolences. Classes at Marshall, along with numerous events and shows by the Marshall Artists Series (and the football team's game against the Ohio Bobcats ), were cancelled and government offices were closed. A mass funeral was held at the field house and many of the dead were buried at the Spring Hill Cemetery , some together because bodies were not identifiable. The effects of

1496-531: The public and Catholic leagues were merged in 1979. Following the demise of the Catholic League, the local St. Joseph Catholic High School hosted the "St. Joe Invitational" which continued the tradition of skits and plays from that league. The arena was home to the International Hockey League 's short-lived Huntington Hornets for the league's 1956–57 season. The team completed the season with

1540-418: The public through a silent auction of Fieldhouse memorabilia at and after the event. The most recent basketball floor (itself bought second hand from Marshall University when the current Henderson Center floor was installed and still bearing the markings from Marshall's Mid-American Conference era) was bought by the then-Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Ownership of the arena was transferred to Marshall University at

1584-415: The reason for this [greater] descent, although the two most likely explanations are (a) improper use of cockpit instrumentation data, or (b) an altimetry system error." At least one source says that water that had seeped into the plane's altimeter could have thrown off its height readings, leading the pilots to believe the plane was higher than was actually the case. The board made three recommendations as

1628-616: The team was rebranded as the Rebels. It was the home of all high schools in the city until 1990 and was the home of St. Joseph High until 2011. It was the home of the Huntington Heroes American Indoor Football League team in 2005-06 before they moved to Big Sandy Superstore Arena. In addition, the venue also hosts several high school athletic events, including wrestling and basketball matches. Southern Airways Flight 932 Southern Airways Flight 932

1672-446: The transfer was that the area be known as the "Veterans Memorial" area. Marshall University spent $ 5.4 million on the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse phase of the facilities project, which included demolition of the 61-year-old venue and construction of Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex and veteran's memorial park on the site. To allow for the project, the university agreed to allow St. Joseph Catholic High School to move their home games to

1716-568: The world. The US market is the largest, followed by the European market with growing activity in the Middle East, Asia, and Central America. Some charter airlines have employed other types of jets, including Airbus , Boeing , and McDonnell Douglas mainline airliners such as the Douglas DC-10 and Boeing 747 . Arrow Air of the United States was such an airline. Among other aircraft, it employed

1760-537: Was a chartered Southern Airways Douglas DC-9 domestic United States commercial jet flight from Stallings Field (ISO) in Kinston, North Carolina , to Huntington Tri-State Airport/Milton J. Ferguson Field (HTS) near Kenova and Ceredo, West Virginia . At 7:36 pm on November 14, 1970, the aircraft crashed into a hill just short of the Tri-State Airport , killing all 75 people on board, including 37 members of

1804-507: Was among the crash victims. Lengyel was named to take Tolley's place on March 12, 1971, after Dick Bestwick , the first choice for the job, backed out after just one week and returned to Georgia Tech . Lengyel, who came from a coaching job at the College of Wooster , was hired by the recently hired athletic director Joe McMullen , under whom he had previously worked at the University of Akron in

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1848-422: Was completed within a year and a half. A plaque was placed on the base on August 10, 1973, reading: They shall live on in the hearts of their families and friends forever and this memorial records their loss to the university and the community. Every year, on the anniversary of the crash, the fountain is shut off during a commemorative ceremony and not activated again until the following spring. Each year on

1892-577: Was named as Marshall's new head coach. Lengyel immediately felt a connection to Marshall once he heard about the crash. In the following weeks, Lengyel's attempt at rebuilding the team was aided by receivers' coach Red Dawson . Dawson was a coach from the previous staff who had driven back from the East Carolina game along with Gail Parker, a freshman coach. Parker flew to the game, but did not fly back, having switched places with Deke Brackett , another coach. Dawson and Parker were buying boiled peanuts at

1936-516: Was only equipped with a localizer . The report also noted that the craft approached the Catlettsburg Refinery in the final 30 seconds before impact, which "could have...affected...a visual illusion produced by the difference in the elevation of the refinery and the airport," which was nearly 300 ft (91 m) higher than the refinery, with hills in between. The co-pilot, monitoring the altimeter , called out, "It's beginning to lighten up

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