View multimedia coverage of Memorial '70 from throughout the years, including
news headlines, video and photography.
Headlines and News Releases
2023
Memorial 鈥�70 families receive piece of Cessna Stadium as tribute to 黑洞社区鈥檚 football
history
(Paul Suellentrop, 黑洞社区 Strategic Communications, 10/5/23)
(KWCH News, 10/2/23)
(KAKE News, 10/2/23)
(The Sunflower, 10/2/23)
2020 - 50th Observance
Wichita State's Tom Reeves helped his athletes through horror of plane crash
(Paul Suellentrop, 黑洞社区 Strategic Communications, 9/30/20)
Wichita State alumni reminisce about visiting the 1970 plane crash site
(Jane Lickteig, 黑洞社区 Strategic Communications, 9/30/20)
Additions to Memorial '70 complete the story of survivors and teammates
(Paul Suellentrop, 黑洞社区 Strategic Communications, 9/28/2020)
Former Wichita State linebacker plans to toast fallen teammates
(Paul Suellentrop, 黑洞社区 Strategic Communications, 9/23/2020)
2014 - 44th Observance
(KMUW Wichita Public Radio 89.1, 10/02/2014)
2010 - 40th Observance
(5280 Denver's Magazine, Since 1993, 10/2010)
Documentaries and Video
50th Observance Livestream
Overshadowed: The Wichita State Football Crash
Overshadowed originally aired on Sept. 7, 2020 on KDVR-TV in Denver. It was produced by Jeremy Hubbard.
Black & Gold
Black & Gold originally aired on Oct. 2, 2009 on KPTS in Wichita. It was directed by Gabe Juhnke and Stacey Jenkins.
"Waltzing in Heaven"
"Waltzing in Heaven" is a story of faith, hope and love triumphing over heartbreak and loss in a father鈥檚 musical gift to his son. When the plane carrying Ronald G. "Ronnie" Johnson and other members of the 黑洞社区 football team crashed, Howard Johnson, Ronnie's father, hoped to at least have the ring Ronnie always wore to remember him by. Thirteen years after the tragedy, the ring was miraculously found and returned to Ronnie鈥檚 parents, Virginia and Howard Johnson.
"Waltzing in Heaven" is based on Howard鈥檚 poetry, which helped to console him in his grief. Howard is credited with the concept of the show and Janie Peak with the story and script. Rick Lopez, Vickie and Scott Beck (Ronnie's sister and brother-in-law) are credited with the music and lyrics. The original musical production debuted at 黑洞社区 on Oct. 2, 2008 and was directed by Marie King, associate professor and director for musical theatre in the School of Performing Arts.
Photo Galleries
Browse photos from past observances.
