Services Planned for 45th Anniversary Commemoration of 1977 UE Plane Crash
Evansville, IN (12/08/2022) — On December 13, 1977, a plane crashed at 7:22 p.m., just 90 seconds after takeoff. The event tragically took all 29 lives on board, including the University of Evansville (UE) men's basketball team, supporters of the Purple Aces, and the flight crew. To commemorate the 45th anniversary and remember these lives, UE has planned two services on Tuesday, December 13, that are open to the campus community and public.
A daytime service will be held at noon at Memorial Plaza on campus, located directly behind Olmsted Hall. The service will include an invocation and message by Reverend Andy Payton; bagpipes by Tad Dickel, PhD; and the reading of the names of those who tragically passed. Afterwards, a reception will be held in the Class of 1959 Gallery, located on the second floor of Ridgway University Center. Light refreshments will be served.
The evening service, which begins at 7:00 p.m., will be held inside Neu Chapel. Speakers for the evening include Reverend Cynthia Bumb '81, Curt Begle '99, and Mike Blake, sportscaster. A moment of silence will be observed at 7:22 p.m.
Ahead of the anniversary services, the public will be able to stream From the Ashes: The University of Evansville Purple Aces. The documentary, produced and directed by Joe Atkinson, assistant professor of communication, tells the story of the 1977 UE Men's Basketball team, the crash, and its aftermath. From the Ashes will premiere at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 12, at evansville.edu/live.
The University of Evansville empowers students to think critically, act bravely, serve responsibly, and live meaningfully in a changing world. Through an innovative academic curriculum combined with practical hands-on experiences, UE students engage the local and international community in meaningful ways. Students choose from an array of majors in business, engineering, arts and sciences, and health science. UE graduates engage the world and workplace with the tools and skills to excel in fulfilling careers. For more information, please visit evansville.edu.
University of Evansville
uerelations@evansville.eduShare this Story
Recent News
- UE Faculty Named Finalists for Regional Art Awards
- UE Announces Provost Transition as Mary Kessler Prepares to Retire After 36 Years
- University of Evansville Theatre Presents MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG
- University of Evansville to Host Indiana Football Hall of Fame Celebration Honoring Randy Mattingly
- New Preschool Classrooms Expand Early Learning Access Across the Evansville Promise Neighborhood
- University of Evansville to Host 11th Annual High School Changemaker Challenge
- UE's SAE Marks 14 Years of Fall Festival Fundraising for Chemo Buddies
- UE Students Use AI to Improve Accessibility for Evansville Sidewalks
- New York Times Reporter and Historian Clay Risen to Deliver 24th Annual Thomas C. Fiddick Memorial Lecture
- 24th Annual UE Chili Bowl Sale returns on October 1