South Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Los Angeles Coliseum Mercy Bowl

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 2, 2023

1. Los Angeles Coliseum Mercy Bowl Marker

Inscription.

Los Angeles Coliseum Mercy Bowl. . , On Saturday night, October 29, 1960, a plane carrying the California State Polytechnic College of San Luis Obispo 1960 football team, which was returning from a football game with Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, crashed at the Toledo, Ohio airport. As a result of this crash, 17 players were killed and many injured. To financially assist the families of these athletes, a football game of mercy between Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Fresno State College was sponsored and staged in the Coliseum on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1961. All proceeds were donated to the Cal-Poly memorial fund for this purpose. , In memory of those players who lost their lives in this tragedy we dedicate this permanent memorial. , Larry Austin, Bakersfield · Rod Baughn, San Gabriel · John Bell, Chicago, Ill. · Oliver Dean Carlson, Lompoc · Franklin Joel Copeland, Bakersfield · Victor C. Hall, Los Angeles · Guy C. Hennigan, Huntington Park · Curtis Hill, Bakersfield · Gary Van Horn, Paso Robles · Marshall J. Kulju, Antioch · Jim C. Ledbetter, Sacramento · Lynn T. Lobaugh, Huntington Park · Wendell Miner, Los Angeles · Donald J. O'Meara, Madera · Raymond Porras, Los Angeles · Wayne R. Sorenson, Los Angeles · William A. Stewart, San Luis Obispo , Survivors: , Donald R. Adams, Modesto · Carl Bowser, Bakersfield · John D. Brennan, Glendale · Fred M. Brown, Albany · Bill H. Dauphin, Shafter · James L.Fahey, Gilroy · Brent Jobe, Vista · Robert C. Johnson, W. Birmingham, Ala. · Roger B. Kelly, Bakersfield · Richard D. McBride, Redondo Beach · Al M. Marinai, San Francisco · General Owens, Jr., Barstow · Bill Ross, Bakersfield · Roy Scialabba, San Bernardino · Walter W. Shimek, Picture Butte, Canada · Gilbert H. Stork, Ventura · Alfred Ted Tollner, Palo Alto · Gerald F. Williams, Santa Maria · Russell E. Woods, Gridley , Staff Members: , Leroy B. Hughes, San Luis Obispo · Walter Williamson, San Luis Obispo · Dr. Arthur James, San Luis Obispo · Sheldon Harden, San Luis Obispo · Howard O'Daniels, San Luis Obispo , May we always have mercy for our fellow man in his time of trial and tribulation.

On Saturday night, October 29, 1960, a plane carrying the California State Polytechnic College of San Luis Obispo 1960 football team, which was returning from a football game with Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, crashed at the Toledo, Ohio airport. As a result of this crash, 17 players were killed and many injured. To financially assist the families of these athletes, a football game of mercy between Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Fresno State College was sponsored and staged in the Coliseum on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1961. All proceeds were donated to the Cal-Poly memorial fund for this purpose.

In memory of those players who lost their lives in this tragedy we dedicate this permanent memorial.

Larry Austin, Bakersfield · Rod Baughn, San Gabriel · John Bell, Chicago, Ill. · Oliver Dean Carlson, Lompoc · Franklin Joel Copeland, Bakersfield · Victor C. Hall, Los Angeles · Guy C. Hennigan, Huntington Park · Curtis Hill, Bakersfield · Gary Van Horn, Paso Robles · Marshall J. Kulju, Antioch · Jim C. Ledbetter, Sacramento · Lynn T. Lobaugh, Huntington Park · Wendell Miner, Los Angeles · Donald J. O'Meara, Madera · Raymond Porras, Los Angeles · Wayne R. Sorenson, Los Angeles · William A. Stewart, San Luis

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Obispo

Survivors:
Donald R. Adams, Modesto · Carl Bowser, Bakersfield · John D. Brennan, Glendale · Fred M. Brown, Albany · Bill H. Dauphin, Shafter · James L.Fahey, Gilroy · Brent Jobe, Vista · Robert C. Johnson, W. Birmingham, Ala. · Roger B. Kelly, Bakersfield · Richard D. McBride, Redondo Beach · Al M. Marinai, San Francisco · General Owens, Jr., Barstow · Bill Ross, Bakersfield · Roy Scialabba, San Bernardino · Walter W. Shimek, Picture Butte, Canada · Gilbert H. Stork, Ventura · Alfred Ted Tollner, Palo Alto · Gerald F. Williams, Santa Maria · Russell E. Woods, Gridley

Staff Members:
Leroy B. Hughes, San Luis Obispo · Walter Williamson, San Luis Obispo · Dr. Arthur James, San Luis Obispo · Sheldon Harden, San Luis Obispo · Howard O'Daniels, San Luis Obispo

May we always have mercy for our fellow man in his time of trial and tribulation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is October 29, 1960.

Location. 34° 0.843′ N, 118° 17.176′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in South Los Angeles. It can be reached from Figueroa Street south of Exposition Boulevard, on the right when traveling south. Located at the Memorial

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 2, 2023

2. Los Angeles Coliseum Mercy Bowl Marker

Court of Honor within the Peristyle arches of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3911 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles CA 90037, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lest We Forget (here, next to this marker); His Holiness Pope John Paul II (here, next to this marker); Tom Labonge (here, next to this marker); Nelson Mandela (a few steps from this marker); John F. Kennedy (a few steps from this marker); W.R."Bill" Schroeder (a few steps from this marker); Kenneth F. Hahn (within shouting distance of this marker); Jackie Robinson (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Coliseum Peristyle image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 2, 2023

3. Los Angeles Coliseum Peristyle

Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 31, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 416 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 31, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2, 3. submitted on January 1, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.