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CINCINNATI -- After 36 years, a practice jersey of Marshall University crash victim Jack Repasy finally will be in his mother's hands in Amberley Village, Ohio.
A West Virginia kindergarten teacher, who was a freshman at Marshall in Huntington at the time of the 1970 crash, somehow obtained the white-and-green No. 82 jersey from her Phi Mu sorority.
"I want to return the jersey to whom it belongs," says Kathy Weekly, 54, of Barboursville, just outside Huntington.
For years, Weekly kept the jersey in her bedroom dresser, not knowing which player had worn it. In all the publicity for the new "We Are Marshall" movie, she saw that No. 82 was worn by Repasy, one of three 1968 Moeller High School graduates on the Marshall team that died on Nov. 14, 1970.
After seeing Mary Beth Repasy quoted in a November Cincinnati Enquirer story about the film, Weekly called her and promised to bring the jersey to Cincinnati in the spring, when she takes her grandson to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Newport Aquarium.
"It would be nice to have, if she wants to give it to me," says Repasy, 83. She still has other items at home from her son's Marshall football locker.
Weekly never met Jack, a junior, and doesn't know how she got the jersey. She figures a sorority sister borrowed it for a skit or got it in a fraternity house raid. She loaned the shirt to Warner Bros. Pictures for use in the film, which she planned to see this weekend.
"I have come to the conclusion that I ended up with the jersey so I could keep it safe for 36 years, and then return it to where it actually belongs," she says.
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A memorial service was conducted Sunday, Nov. 14, 2004, honoring the 75 people who died on Nov. 14, 1970, when the plane carrying Marshall football players, coaches, staff, supporters and flight crew crashed into a mountain near the Huntington Tri-State airport.
Faculty, students and others attend memorial services at the Memorial Student Center Plaza for the Marshall University football team that lost their lives in a plane crash on Nov. 14, 1970.
Marshall University holds its annual Spring Fountain Celebration on Saturday, April 22, 2017, at the Memorial Student Center Plaza in Huntington.
The auctioning of props from the movie "We Are Marshall" took place at the Huntington Mall Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006, with the proceeds going to WSAZ Children's Charities.
Final preparations are made for the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center premiere of "We Are Marshall" Monday, Dec. 11, 2006, in Huntington.
The 46th Annual Memorial Fountain Ceremony was held on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, at the Marshall University's Memorial Student Center Plaza in Huntington.
Marshall coach Red Dawson coached for Marshall from 1968-1971.
A look back in the archives of past Marshall University men's soccer photos.
The 42nd annual Marshall University Memorial Fountain Ceremony is conducted on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, at the Memorial Student Center Plaza in Huntington. The annual memorial service honors the 75 victims of the 1970 Marshall plane crash.
Actor Matthew Fox speaks about his portrayal of former Marshall assistant coach Red Dawson in the movie "We Are Marshall" during a news conference Friday, April 7, 2006, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
A large crowd gathers to watch the stars of "We Are Marshall" walk the green carpet for the premiere of the film on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006, in Huntington.
Actors David Strathairn and Matthew McConaughey join director McG and producer Basil Iwanyk during a news conference Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the Keith-Albee Theatre in Huntington.
A large crowd gathers at the Pullman Square Marquee Cinemas to watch the student premiere of "We Are Marshall" on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006, in Huntington.
The 1970 team had a 3-6 record under coach Rick Tolley. Team captain was Dave Griffith.
Marshall University conducts the annual Spring Fountain Celebration on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at the Memorial Student Center Plaza in Huntington.
Listed No. 2 as Marshall's all-time top passer behind Chad Pennington is the player who followed him in the lineup -- Byron Leftwich. He was a first round NFL draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003. In 2007, he played three games with the Atlanta Falcons. In August 2008, he signed wi…
Marshall basketball player Mark Patton portrays a 1971 Marshall player asked to join the football team following the 1970 plane crash that claimed the lives of 75 community members including the football team. These scenes for "We Are Marshall" were filmed Tuesday, April 4, 2006, near Twin T…
Bobby Pruett coached Marshall University football from 1996-2005.
Scenes from Marshall University, 1969.
Members of the Marshall community gather at the Marshall Memorial Fountain Monday, Nov. 14, 2005, during a ceremony honoring the 35th anniversary of the deaths of 75 Marshall football players, coaches, staff, supporters and crew who died in a plane crash near the Huntington Tri-State airport.
Marshall University honors the 75 lives lost in the 1970 plane crash tragedy during the 48th Annual Memorial Service on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, at the Memorial Fountain on the Memorial Student Center Plaza in Huntington, W.Va.
Scenes for "We Are Marshall" are filmed April 21, 2006, on the campus of Marshall University.
A ceremony celebrating the turing on of the Memorial Fountain is held on Saturday, April 23, 2011, at the Marshall University Memorial Student Center Plaza.
Marshall University (dark jerseys) beat Morehead State (white jerseys) 17-7 in the season opener Sept. 19, 1970, at Fairfield Stadium. The 1970 team had a 3-6 record under coach Rick Tolley. Team captain was Dave Griffith.
A look back in the archives of past Marshall University women's soccer photos.
The board room scene in "We Are Marshall" used several local people as extras. In the scene, actor Anthony Mackie attempts to convince the university's board to keep the football program.
One of the largest crowds ever turned out Friday, Nov. 14, for the annual memorial service to remember the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 football players, coaches, staff, supporters and flight.
Spectators watch as crews prepare for the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center premiere of "We Are Marshall" on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006, in Huntington.
Much of "We Are Marshall" was filmed in Huntington.
Marshall University hosts its 50th Annual Memorial Fountain Service on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at the Memorial Student Center in Huntington, W.Va.
Marshall University hosted a ceremony on Nov. 14, 2006, honoring the 36th anniversary of the deaths of 75 Marshall football players, coaches, staff, supporters and crew who died in a plane crash in 1970 while returning from a football game in Greenville, N.C.
A memorial service was conducted Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006, by the Norway Avenue Church of Christ at Spring Hill Cemetery for the members of the 1971 Young Thundering Herd.
Huntington filming for the movie "We Are Marshall" ended with film crews shooting crowd reaction shots at the Green and White game at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2006.
Marshall University hosts its annual spring fountain ceremony on Saturday, April 17, 2021, outside of the Memorial Student Center in Huntington.
Marshall University holds its 45th Annual Memorial Fountain Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, at the Marshall Memorial Student Center Plaza in Huntington. The service honors the 75 lives lost in the 1970 plane crash.
The 52nd annual Memorial Fountain Ceremony takes place on Monday, November 14, 2022, in Huntington.
A few scenes for "We Are Marshall" were filmed at Herndon Stadium at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Ga.
Marshall University (white jerseys) lost to Morehead State (dark jerseys) 6-29 in the season opener Sept. 18, 1971, at Morehead. The 1971 team had a 2-8 record under coach Jack Lengyel. Team captain was Nate Ruffin.
A dedication ceremony for the Marshall University Historic Marker was held Monday, Dec. 11, 2006, at the site of the Nov. 14, 1970, plane crash on the Rt. 75 highway in Wayne County.
A look back in the archives of past Marshall University women's soccer photos.
Marshall University hosts a ceremony to celebrate the turning on of the Memorial Fountain on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at the Marshall University Memorial Student Center Plaza in Huntington.
Members of the Young Thundering Herd attend practices in August and September 1971.
Hundreds gathered around the Marshall University Memorial Fountain on Saturday in honor of the 75 lives lost in the 1970 plane crash.Saturday marked the 39th anniversary of the tragedy that killed most of Marshall’s football team.
Marshall brings The Herd together to turn the Memorial Fountain back on during Green and White Day on Saturday, April 28, 2018, in Huntington.
Actor Matthew McConaughey as former Marshall University Head Football Coach Jack Lengyel on Merrill Avenue Wednesday, April 19, 2006, during filming of "We Are Marshall." In this scene, Lengyel (McConaughey) steps outside to pick up the morning paper as he is greeted by cheering fans headin…
"We Are Marshall" used several Marshall students as extras. In this scene, the students gather outside Morrow Library while actor Anthony Mackie attempts to convince the university's board to keep the football program. The scene incorporates the "We Are ... Marshall" chant.
The "We Are Marshall" premiere was Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006, in Huntington.
On Nov. 14, 1970, a plane carrying 75 people including Marshall's football team, coaches, staff, community members and flight crew crashed near the Huntington Tri-State Airport on a return trip following the Thundering Herd's game against East Carolina. All on board were killed.
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