A Time to Cry and Remember

In the arena where they had played and worked, the 10 victims of a Saturday plane crash were remembered as champions Wednesday by their Oklahoma State classmates and friends.

“Saturday night’s tragedy took the lives of 10 people who were precious not only to their families but to each one of us who are here,” Coach Eddie Sutton told more than 10,000 people who filled Gallagher-Iba Arena for the memorial service.

Ten people, including two reserves on the basketball team, a TV sports anchor and five others in the team’s traveling party, died when their small plane crashed 40 miles east of Denver on Saturday while coming home from a game at Colorado. The pilot and co-pilot also were killed.

“In dealing with death, nothing seems more unfair, more confusing, more senseless or more jolting than when the light goes out far too soon on bright young lives, but it did happen Saturday night,” Sutton said.

Sutton and other coaches and members of the team were on two other airplanes that made it back safely the night of the crash.

Gov. Frank Keating said those aboard the plane died while doing what they loved.

“Gallagher-Iba Arena and Oklahoma State University have been homes to more national champions than any other campus in America,” Keating said. “Today, we add 10 more champions to that long and storied list.

“Two played the game, five supported them as members of the department and broadcast staff, two were carrying them back home and one was a reporter who never missed a story until that last one.”

Students, fans, relatives and friends placed flowers under the school statue of a rider on horseback and placards on a nearby fence.

“We have really been through some tough days and we have some tough days ahead of us,” said Kelly Ogle, an anchorperson and colleague of one of the victims, KWTV sports anchorman Bill Teegins.

“We are here to remember 10 great guys today and say ‘thank you’ to God that he allowed their lives to intersect with ours.”

Cowboy forward Andre Williams said his religious beliefs have helped him.

“To the families, this isn’t really goodbye,” he said. “Because I’m a strong believer in God, this isn’t goodbye. We’ll see them in the morning.”

Students lined up outside Oklahoma State’s athletic complex three hours before the service began. Many said it was time to begin the healing process.

“I think maybe this will start bringing some closure,” senior Laura Downing said. “Everyone has been walking around campus lately kind of in a daze.”

Downing and fellow senior Ashley May were in line by noon.

“We know it’s going to be totally packed,” May said. “We want to get in.”

Afternoon classes were canceled so students could attend the memorial or watch it on TV. Quinton Harris, a junior, said it wouldn’t be the same if he weren’t inside for the memorial.

“I really wanted to feel a part of it,” he said.

Those in attendance included Cedric Dempsey, executive director of the NCAA; basketball coaches Roy Williams of Kansas and Rick Barnes of Texas; Oklahoma football Coach Bob Stoops, former Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer and PGA golfers Bob Tway and Scott Verplank.