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Lester Hicks

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How the 1970 Marshall University Crash Victims Inspired Me

47 years have passed and the 1970 Marshall University continue to inspire me and others. I recall having my first account with the most tragic event in American sports history in April, 1972. I was on a recruiting visit to the Marshall campus. As Reggie Oliver and Roy Tabb escorted me to coach Lengyel’s office, I saw the team picture of the fallen team and coaches that was hanging in Gullickson Hall. I was mesmerized by the picture. I asked Reggie many questions about the pla

The We Are Marshall Movie: Fact or Fiction

The We Are Marshall Movie: Fact or Fiction

It took 36 years before Marshall University’s Board of Regents, grieving family members of the 75 lost souls and Warner Bros. could agree on a movie that would do justice and sensitivity to the crash victims. After lengthy discussions, Warner convinced all concerned parties linked to the university that it was time to relive the Marshall story, the most tragic event in American sports history. However, there were prominent members of that 1970 Marshall University football tea

Bearing the Pain during the Midst of Tragedy

Bearing the Pain during the Midst of Tragedy

On November 14, 1970, it was like a bad dream when a radio bulletin and television newsbreak announced that a plane had crashed in the Appalachian Mountain of West Virginia. Then, it was confirmed that the chartered Southern Airways Flight 932 was carrying the Marshall University Football Team and Coaching Staff plus a group of West Virginia Legislators, civic leaders, and the Southern Airways Flight Crew had crashed claiming 75 souls. Today, I will be speaking at Dodgen Midd

In Honor of the 1970 Marshall University Crash Victims

In Honor of the 1970 Marshall University Crash Victims

Today marks the most tragic event in American sports history. If you are a “baby boomer”, you’ve heard, witnessed, and mourned the loss of 75 souls who perished 45 years ago. For those who might not be aware of this story, Southern Airways Flight 932, en route from Kingston, North Carolina to Huntington, West Virginia crashed into a hill just short of the airport. The Marshall University football team was returning back to Huntington after a hard fought football game with Eas

My Shining Moment

My Shining Moment

I am on memory lane every time I see a college football commercial promoting the upcoming season. I would love to put the pads on and play with the guys, “The Young Thundering Herd” who committed their minds, bodies and souls to the foundation of the Marshall University football program just one more time. Back then, it was almost Mission Impossible to get multiple wins. Our team took on the emotionally staggering task of reestablishing football at the school. The task was no

Marshall University – My Date with Destiny

Marshall University – My Date with Destiny

The Marshall Plan and my date with destiny was realized when coach Johnny Majors, the then coach of the Iowa State Cyclones allowed me to DE commit from my scholarship offer at Iowa State University. This kind gesture by coach Majors enabled me to entertain football scholarship offers from other interested schools. After receiving several calls from coach Lengyel, I reluctantly decided to visit the Marshall Campus. When I arrived on campus, Reggie Oliver and Roy Tabb escorted

Getting Ready for Training Camp

Getting Ready for Training Camp

When I see parents, taking or sending their sons off to football training camps throughout the country, it’s hard to believe that was me 45 years ago. Let me take you down memory lane. This was my journey. After signing with the then Marshall University’s Young Thundering Herd, I spent my summer in Huntington, West Virginia, working for Diniaco & Sons Painting Contractors. When I rolled into Huntington, it was a late June afternoon, a little after 3:00 PM. The heat was breath

Rakeem Cato Puts Marshall University’s Thundering Herd On the Map in Canada

Raheem Cato, a last minute decision, got the nod from Head Coach Tom Higgins to be his starting quarterback against the defending Grey Cup Champions, Calgary Stampeders. With the spotlight on the visiting champions, Cato, one of 2 of my most favorite quarterbacks in the Canadian Football League didn’t disappoint. More on my other favorite quarterback Zach Collaros, a former alumni of my Steubenville Big Red in Steubenville, Ohio will be featured in my next blog. However, toda

Rakeem Cato Gets Invited to the Cleveland Browns Mini Camp

Over the past 45 years, I’ve carried an infrequently used Lifetime Pass to Home Football Contests. This pass was awarded to me by Marshall University’s late Athletic Director, Mr. Joseph H. McMullen. This was Mr. McMullen way of saying thanks to the young Marshall Football players who accepted coach Jack Lengyel’s challenge to take on the emotionally staggering task of reestablishing football at a school that had suffered the tragic loss of its football team. The football tea

I Wish Every Month Was April

On April 16, 2005, I received a letter from Dr. Philip Carter. Dr. Carter informed me that I’d been selected by the Marshall University’s Black Legends nominating committee to receive the “ 1 of 125 Most Impactful Athletes” for all sports during the 20th Century. It was very humbling for me to receive such a prestigious award of this magnitude. The Black Legends Organization was created to honor athletes having played collegiate sports at Marshall University. The recipients o

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