SOLOMON, Kan. — Nearly 44 years after a crash devastated the Wichita State community, some plan to honor one of the victims.
“It makes me very proud that people still want to remember him,” said Connie Avery. “Marv was a sophomore and a lot of his classmates were on the other plane.”
Marvin Brown, Jr., was a sophomore running back on the team, said his sister Avery. He was one of 31 killed in a plane that crashed in the Rockies on Oct. 2, 1970. He died at 19 years old.
Tonight, at the Solomon High School football game, the Booster Club will unveil a statue. It will be on the same field he played when he was on the team. They’ve worked on raising $15,000 for the memorial for a couple of years. Avery said she was stunned when she heard of the effort.
Yet this isn’t the first time the community has recognized her brother. A year after the crash, the football field was named after him.
Brown was a star athlete. Avery said he still holds state records in running. He played baseball on the American Legion Falcons. Football programs like K-State and KU had their eye on Brown.
She said her family, including her mom, will be at tonight’s dedication. Avery hopes his story will inspire youth.