November 14,1970.

Marshall Plane crash.

Several of the 75 victims,were from this part of northern New Jersey.

The one day a year everyone can say "We Are Marshall".

I was attending Ohio when this accident happened. I clearly remember that Marshall was scheduled to play @ Ohio the next week. At game time we held a memorial service in Peden.
Horrible accident.





GO BOBCATS

In "We Are Marshall" they mention the game with O.U.

Its the scene where the announcer's son is listening to the end of radio broadcast,on his transistor radio, under a table in the living room.

I've posted before that I went to O.U. the year after the crash.I had a friend
who graduated with me in high school who played for the Young Thundering Herd.

Their other QB,Teddy Shoebridge, was from around here (Lyndhurst).
When my wife and I attended the "Silencing Ceremony",his brother was the Guest Speaker.

FYI: Ted was the starting QB for Marshall and Bob Harris was the backup QB. Bob was a starter at wide receiver or flanker on the team. Bob was too good of a player not to be on the field. Both were great athletes and more importantly, great people.

I have watched a lot of MU football over the years and I think Ted or Bob Harris were nearly as good as Chad Pennington. Chad had the advantage of having a great supporting cast. Ted and Bob were running for their lives most of the time after the ball was snapped.

As many of you know, I was on the faculty at Marshall in 1970. I posted about this anniversary on Facebook this morning. Here's that post if you you are interested: https://www.facebook.com/cdenbow/posts/10218379969634376?...

I never realized just how close to the airport that crash occurred. I knew it happened as the plane was attempting to land but didn’t realize it was that close to the runway.

Thanks for your post, Carl.

I am a grad of Marshall (just went to opening game against VMI last night) and went with my family at near age 5 to view leftover wreckage( after the big pieces were hauled away) as dad worked very close at then "Ashland Oil" I never forgot what my mind pondered, my families fixed jaw silence and the talk or mood for years after this happened. Anyway, I have been researching the victims at fair length and somehow became stuck on the "Moeller Trio". I visited their graves recently at "Gate of Heaven" and can't begin to imagine the depth of grief Bob's family suffered. Danny Deece's (pilot of ill fated DC-9) daughter Leslie Deece Jarvis is trying to put together a book of pics and memories for next years 50 year memorial that is held on Marshall's Campus. She would love anything pertaining to Bob, Jack or Mark. There is not a lot on Bob as far as family and friend recollections. I have found pics from Moeller and such on all three. If you happen to be in contact and feel that any family members are interested, you can send info to my email and I will forward. I understand if it is too much since the sibling is an acquaintance. This all resonated more with me after I raised boys and how precious they are to me.

Who told you that Mr. Deese (not Deece) was the pilot? Did his daughter say that? She may have been very young when the crash happened, so it's possible she would be confused as to her father's role. I'm not trying to be critical. I'm just trying to supply facts. As soon as I saw your post, I knew that there was something wrong. I remembered that the pilot's last name was Abbott. I then pulled out my memorial edition of The Parthenon, of which I was the co-advisor, to confirm my memory and then looked up the additional information on the crew. Good luck with your project!

I completely understand, Trish. It's easy to get a detail wrong, especially if you are relying on information from others. That's why it's always good to have multiple sources who can confirm your information.

I have no personal knowledge of the specific folks you are seeking information about. I know a good deal about Jeff Nathan, the sports editor of The Parthenon, and was recently successful in endowing a scholarship in sports writing in his name. A few years ago I was able to track down his younger brother, Don, who was very helpful in our efforts to raise the necessary funds to reach the endowment level for the scholarship. Jeff, by the way, was from Parkersburg, and the Parkersburg News & Sentinel made the only corporate contribution to our fund raising efforts. I could get you in touch with a man who used be the sports editor of the News & Sentinel and has done a good deal of research about the crash. He was the one who was most responsible for the News & Sentinel contribution as he arranged for me to meet with the management and top editors.

That would be wonderful and very helpful of you. Leslie didn't get enough info and pics that she wanted in order to have a book ready by the 50th Fountain Ceremony but we are planning to have a booth se up at the ceremony this year. Sorry so late in replying and thanks so much.