WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita State University will hold its 56th Observance of Memorial ’70 at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, honoring the 31 football players, administrators and supporters who died in a 1970 plane crash in the Rocky Mountains.
The ceremony will be held at Memorial ’70, near 18th Street and Hillside Avenue on the WSU campus.
A wreath will be placed at the base of the memorial, followed by a time of remembrance recognizing the impact the crash had on the victims, their families, friends and the university community.
The crash occurred Oct. 2, 1970, while members of the Wichita State football program were traveling to Logan, Utah, for a game against Utah State.
The “Gold” plane, a Martin 404 carrying 36 passengers and four crew members, crashed near Silver Plume, Colorado. Twenty-nine people died at the scene. Athletic trainer Tom Reeves and player John Taylor later died at a hospital from their injuries.
Nine people survived the crash: players Mike Bruce, John Hoheisel, Randy Jackson, Glenn Kostal, Dave Lewis, Keith Morrison, Bob Renner and Rick Stephens, along with co-pilot Ronald Skipper.
Members of the team traveling on a second aircraft, known as the “Black” plane, learned of the crash after arriving in Logan. The game against Utah State was canceled.
Classes at Wichita State were canceled Oct. 5, 1970, and a memorial service was held that evening at Cessna Stadium.
The football program ultimately decided to continue the 1970 season in what became known as the “Second Season.” Wichita State returned to the field Oct. 24 against Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
A reception will be held immediately following Friday’s ceremony in the lobby of the Duerksen Fine Arts Center, across from the memorial. The Shocker ’70 Room in Rhatigan Student Center also will be open to visitors.
A Memorial ’70 display on the Koch Arena concourse includes photographs of those who died and the program’s Wichita Sports Hall of Fame certificate.
Those wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution in memory of the victims may donate to the Football ’70 Memorial Scholarship through the WSU Foundation. The endowed scholarship is awarded annually to a Wichita State student in any major who has at least a 3.0 GPA and demonstrates financial need.