The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1177236
130 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PAST On a third call, Wil- liams' updated informa- tion was devastating. Bo Rein's plane had crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. Incredulous, Hemphill said, "Greg, that's impos- sible. How could it crash in the Atlantic Ocean on its way to Baton Rouge?" Williams explained what was known at that time; how the aircraft had been tracked for hours as it traveled off course and without communication until it crashed. H e m p h i l l w a s i n shock. The first thing he did was to call his par- ents to allay any fears that he may have been on the airplane. He was cer- tain some would assume he was also on board be- cause he had traveled so frequently with Rein. In Raleigh, around 2 a.m., NC State football player Dave Horning was awakened by a knock on the door of his College Inn dormitory room, where he roomed with Jim Ritcher. It was a local newspaper reporter, wanting a comment from them in reference to Coach Rein. Horning described his feeling as be- ing, "stunned and perplexed." This was the first they had heard of what was go- ing on and they did not know what to say. He could hear teammates consoling Curtis Rein who lived eight doors down the hall in room 212. Curtis Rein confirmed the magnitude the news had on him. He had just returned from a date with his girlfriend, Mar- tha Evans — the sister of former quarterback Johnny Evans — whom he would later marry. A teammate asked, "Have you heard?" "Heard what?" Curtis asked. From there, Curtis' recollection is foggy. He only remembers turning on the radio and watch- ing television broadcasts to get information. "Ev- erybody was in disbe- lief," he said. "This couldn't have hap- pened. Words can't describe it." After a long pause, Curtis told me, "I didn't get out of bed for three days. I didn't cry … I wailed." ■ SALES SERVICE INSTALLATION Carpet • Ceramic • Vinyl Hardwood • Laminate Custom Rugs • Binding Cabinets • Countertops GO PACK!! Office: (919) 661-2361 Cell: (919) 369-5216 raysfloorsandmore@nc.rr.com Some of the players Rein coached are among the best in school history, including All- American running back Ted Brown, Outland Trophy winner Jim Ritcher, and standout linebacker and future Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Cowher. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS POWERING THE CAROLINAS AND VIRGINIA SINCE 1935 SPECIALIZING IN: Residential/Commercial/ Service & Maintenance/ Industrial/ Traffic Signals/Governmental/Health Care/ Institutional/Hospitality NC Division Offices: Fayetteville, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilson/Rocky Mount, Wilmington, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Watson Energy Solutions & Services VA Division Offices: Richmond, Virginia Beach SC Division Office: Charleston Corporate Services: 1500 Charleston St., Wilson, NC 27893 Phone: 252-237-7511 / Fax: 252-243-1805 www.watsonelec.com George Pickett & Associates 1021 Goodworth Drive Apex, NC 27539 Phone • 919-290-2901 Fax • 919-290-2979 Manufacturer's Representative Serving the electrical industry in the Carolinas and Virginia since 1962 Howard Pickett '76 George Pickett 1927-1998