Memorial '70

Never forgotten ...

In an annual ceremony of remembrance, a wreath is placed at Wichita State's Memorial '70 at 9 a.m. each Oct. 2. The brief ceremony honors WSU football players, administrators and supporters who died in a plane crash October 2, 1970.

In one of the worst tragedies of college sports history, the WSU "Gold" plane, a Martin 404 carrying 36 passengers and a crew of four, crashed at approximately 3 p.m. on a mountain near Silver Plume, Colorado while en route to Logan, Utah for a game with Utah State University.

Twenty-nine persons died at the scene, while two others died later after receiving medical attention for their injuries.

This time of remembrance is to acknowledge the changes that the plane crash made in the lives of the victims, their families, their friends and the University.

 
Survivor tree

2024 Ceremony

The annual remembrance of Memorial ’70 will be held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the memorial sculpture at the university entrance at Memorial Drive and Hillside (18th and Hillside).

A reception will be held immediately following the ceremony in the lobby of Duerksen Fine Arts Center across from the memorial. The Shocker '70 Room in 202 Rhatigan Student Center will be open for anyone who would like to drop in.

 

Remembrance and Reflections

For family, friends and survivors, the events of Oct. 2 remain forever vivid in memory. But the plane crash didn't just impact those close to the team. Read their remembrances and reflections.  

 
50th observance decorative banner

50th Observance of Memorial '70

At 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, Wichita State honored 31 beautiful lives etched forever in our memories—parents, siblings, children, friends and loved ones.