MARSHALL FOUR STATUE UNVEILED IN TUSCALOOSA

Most of the city leaders were there for the unveiling of the new statue for the Marshall Four in Tuscaloosa.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, Pastor David Gay, Councilor Raevan Howard, Former City Council President Harrison Taylor, City of Tuscaloosa Attorney and former Marshall University Student Body President Matt Glover, Marshall University Vice President of Alumni Relations Matt James, Marshall University Student Body President Connor Waller, Marshall plane crash family member Lucianne Kautz-Call, former classmate Peggy Carpenter and Tuscaloosa Director of Arts & Entertainment Kay Day spoke during the ceremony.

Mayor Maddox said the story of the four men belongs to Tuscaloosa and is a true Tuscaloosa story that more of us should be aware of.

The "Marshall Four" refers to the first Black athletes from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to attend Marshall University, in Huntington, West Virginia, on athletic scholarships to pursue football.

On the evening of November 14, 1970, 75 lives were lost, including the Marshall Four, on an airplane returning to Huntington, West Virginia, following their 17-14 defeat against the East Carolina University Pirates. The plane was just one mile short of the runway in Ceredo, West Virginia.

The story of the football team and the tragedy that night was already featured in the film "We are Marshall," starring Matthew McConaughey, several years ago.

However, the story of the four men from Tuscaloosa has not received the same level of recognition over the years.

City leaders felt this was a great way not only to honor the four but also to tell the story to those who may not know.