One year ago today, an Illinois State University assistant basketball coach and an associate athletic director were among seven who died when a small Cessna crashed just north of the Central Illinois Regional Airport. Killed in the crash were Associate head men's basketball coach Torrey Ward and Deputy Director of Athletics Aaron Leetch, businessmen Andy Butler, Scott Bittner, and Terry Stralow, and pilot Tom Hileman.
The group of central Illinois men was returning from Indianapolis, where they witnessed the men's basketball championship game the night before. Illinois State athletics is not holding any public ceremony in association with the anniversary.
During GLT's Sound Ideas, ISU Director of Athletics Larry Lyons recalled the events of that day.
"I was called to come out to the airport to help identify cars, and I immediately recognized four of them, parked right in a row, which was a very dramatic thing for me to see." Illinois State athletics quickly organized a news conference and public ceremony for the following day.
"My staff put their grief on a shelf. I'm very proud of the work they did under very difficult circumstances," Lyons added.
Lyons said the flight Monday morning to the Final Four in Indianapolis was organized as a relationship-building exercise. He said, originally, head coach Dan Muller was supposed to be on the trip.
"But, the Reggie Lynch episode was unfolding, and Dan needed to be here to help handle that," said Lyons. Lynch was an ISU standout who was about to announce his decision to transfer to Minnesota. Lyons said Leetch agreed to step in.
"Aaron was all about relationships. He was a very committed Christian, a man of solid morals, ethics and character."
About coach Torrey Ward, Lyons remembers him as someone who was "always upbeat and loved to pick on people." Lyons said, "Torrey had a bright future in the coaching business. He was being interviewed for head coaching jobs during that weekend. He would have impacted so many lives. He was a great teacher and mentor."
The families of the Redbird 7 have organized a pay it forward event they call "Project 7." Anyone wishing to remember those lost in the crash are encouraged to do 7 random acts of kindness today.
Visit ISU's Remembrance page
Learn more about Project 7
Hear Larry Lyons discuss the legacy of the "Redbird 7"
Lyons remembers how April 7, 2015 unfolded
