These items include costumes and other items used in the Warner Bros. movie, pictorial accounts of the movie when it was being filmed in Huntington and Atlanta, Ga., plus other displays about the tragic plane crash of November 14, 1970 at Huntington's Tri-State Airport and other actual events which were portrayed in the movie. The Hall of Fame Cafe in Huntington features pictures, trophies and collectible items from Marshall's best and worst moment in its long athletic history as well as serving fine food and drink from 11 a.m. daily.
Scheduled to be on hand for the 12:10 p.m. ribbon-cutting opening on Jan. 6 will be Marshall University President Dr. Stephen J. Kopp, MU Director of Athletics Bob Marcum, former Marshall coach Red Dawson (1968-71), former Marshall quarterback Reggie Oliver (1971-73) and WSAZ TV-3's sportscaster Keith Morehouse, the son of Gene Morehouse - 1970s "Voice of the Herd" and sports information director - one of 75 persons killed in the Southern Airways crash returning from a game at East Carolina.
Some of the items are on loan from Warner Brothers Studio to the Marshall University Department of Athletics, while others, depicting the aftermath of the crash and the times immediately following, have been provided by various individuals of the Marshall community, in and out of the Marshall athletic family.
The exhibit is being placed in the room formerly occupied by the gift shop at the Hall of Fame Café. The exhibit room will be open to the public starting on Jan. 6, from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., then daily after that from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. On other hours, the display can be seen from the large windows from both inside the restaurant along the "Walk Of Fame," which features members of the Thundering Herd Athletic Hall of Fame, and outside the Hall of Fame Café on the Third Avenue side.