William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (April 25, 2026)(CNBNews)—In 2007, Gus Danks—Gloucester Catholic Class of 1963 and a classmate of mine—reached out to tell me about a film he had just seen, We Are Marshall. The movie recounts the devastating 1970 plane crash that claimed the lives of 75 people connected to the Marshall University football program. Among those lost was Al Carelli, (photo) Gloucester Catholic Class of 1961.
According to Wikipedia, We Are Marshall (2006), directed by McG, dramatizes the aftermath of the crash of Southern Airways Flight 932, which killed 37 Marshall football players, five coaches, two athletic trainers, the athletic director, 25 boosters, and the five‑member flight crew.
On the night of November 14, 1970, the chartered DC‑9 was returning the team to Huntington, West Virginia, after a 17–14 loss to East Carolina University. Just one mile short of the Tri-State Airport runway, the aircraft clipped trees on a ridge and crashed into a gully, killing everyone on board.
A South Jersey Native on the Rise
In 1970, Carelli had just been hired as Marshall’s offensive line coach. A press release issued at the time highlighted his promising career:
- Native of Somerdale, NJ
- Gloucester Catholic High School alumnus, where he earned All‑Conference and All‑State honors
- Lenoir Rhyne College standout under Coach Clarence Stasavich
- Graduated in 1965, earned his master’s degree from UNC in 1969
- Served as a graduate assistant at UNC in 1968–69
- Joined Marshall in February 1970, described as “enthusiastic and a hard worker”
- Married to the former Martha Bergstresser of Fort Myers, Florida
Former Gloucester Catholic football coach Joe Murphy also played at Lenoir Rhyne, a connection that underscores how far-reaching the Gloucester Catholic football family has always been.
A Classmate Remembers
After seeing the film when it was first released, Danks sent me the following note—one that still captures the emotional punch of Carelli’s story:
Bill,
I saw “We Are Marshall” last night. It was really good. The type of resilient spirit and “no quit” mentality that you’d find in Gloucester City is the same type displayed by the folks of Marshall and the Huntington, WV area.
The story was less about the crash and more about how Marshall and the city pulled themselves together after the loss of 75 lives, minutes from the time they were to touch down at the airport on a trip home from East Carolina.
It’s a hell of a thing to grow up with someone, go to high school with him, and later in life walk into a movie theater three miles from where Al and I grew up, only to see a film about how he died so tragically.
I think anyone who went to Gloucester Catholic with Al Carelli—or any of the guys from Gloucester High who knew him or played against him—would find real value in the movie.
Knowing the fine spirit and character you show, Bill, by producing your Notebook, assures me this movie will be your kind of story.
Cordially,
Gus
A Legacy That Still Resonates
More than five decades later, the loss of Al Carelli remains deeply felt by those who knew him in South Jersey. His story—one of talent, promise, and a life cut short—continues to echo through Gloucester Catholic’s halls and through the memories of classmates like Danks who never forgot him.
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Plane Crash Memorial
November 14, 1970 … Remembered
Coach Al Carelli is standing in the front line on the far left
In 2006, We Are Marshall, a major motion picture from Warner Bros. and Thunder Road Pictures, brought the inspiring true story of Marshall University’s resilience to the big screen. The film recounts the tragic 1970 plane crash that took the lives of 75 players, coaches, staff, and supporters of the Marshall football program—and the university’s determined effort to rebuild both the team and the community.
Directed by McG, the film stars Matthew McConaughey as Coach Jack Lengyel, whose leadership helped revive the football program, along with Matthew Fox as Assistant Coach Red Dawson. The cast also features Anthony Mackie, Kate Mara, January Jones, Ian McShane, and David Strathairn.
We Are Marshall premiered nationwide on December 22, 2006, and was filmed in Huntington, West Virginia, and other locations to authentically capture the spirit of Marshall University and the surrounding community. The movie remains a powerful tribute to the strength, perseverance, and unity that define the Herd.