James Heathman
Encyclopedia
James Easter Heathman, also known as J. E. Heathman, (April 7, 1917 - January 29, 2008) was an American
former farmer
and U.S. Army veteran
, who, as a teenager in 1931, witnessed and discovered the crash of TWA Flight 599
, which killed eight people, most notably University of Notre Dame
football
coach
, Knute Rockne
. Heathman, who was 13 years old at the time he discovered the plane crash with his father on March 31, 1931, was the last living witness to the plane crash. Heathman later became a Knute Rockne historian
and often lead free tours of Notre Dame fans to the site of the crash, especially during the last 20 years of his life.
flying low over his farm. A telephone operator
called Heathman's family shortly afterwards to inform them that there had been an airplane crash nearby. Heathman, along with his father and his brothers, raced in the family's Model T to the site of the crash, which is located 3 miles southwest of the town of Bazaar, Kansas
. Heathman found the plane's tail sticking out of the ground, as well as the bodies of the crash victims, including Rockne. They stayed at the scene until the coroner
arrived to remove the crash victims. Heathman's son, Tom, later described the event as very traumatic for his father.
Heathman reportedly did not talk about the crash much with his family until the last two decades of his life.
However, during his life Heathman became a dedicated fan of the University of Notre Dame and the life of Knute Rockne. He often led free tours to the crash site and memorial to honor Rockne and the others killed in the crash. Heathman's tours became a must-do pilgrimage
for hundreds of University of Notre Dame alumni and football fans over the years. Many who took the tour came to Kansas to hear Heathman's first hand account of his discovery of Rockne's plane.
Heathman was honored by the University of Notre Dame for his dedication to the school and the memory of Rockne. He received an honorary monogram
from Notre Dame in 2006 at a pep rally
held at Notre Dame Stadium
attended by students and fans. The event honoring Heathman coincided with the 75th anniversary of Rockne's death. He often showed off autographed Notre Dame footballs
which were given to him by coaches Lou Holtz
and Charlie Weis
.
Despite his fame among those dedicated to Notre Dame, Heathman remained modest. In his last interview, which he gave to the Chicago Tribune
in December 2007, he stated, "I'm not a celebrity. I'm just an older farmer."
On Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 a group gathered at the crash site. In attendance was Heathman's son and Rockne's grandson.
in a hospital in Emporia, Kansas
, on January 29, 2008, at the age of 90. Heathman had previously said in an interview that his one regret was that he had not met Knute Rockne in person.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and U.S. Army veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
, who, as a teenager in 1931, witnessed and discovered the crash of TWA Flight 599
TWA Flight 599
Transcontinental and Western Air Flight 599 was a Fokker F.10 Trimotor en route from Kansas City, Missouri, to Los Angeles, California, on March 31, 1931. It crashed a few miles north west of Bazaar, Kansas; all eight on board died...
, which killed eight people, most notably University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
. Heathman, who was 13 years old at the time he discovered the plane crash with his father on March 31, 1931, was the last living witness to the plane crash. Heathman later became a Knute Rockne historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and often lead free tours of Notre Dame fans to the site of the crash, especially during the last 20 years of his life.
TWA Flight 599
Heathman was just 13 years old, one week shy of his fourteenth birthday, when he had heard TWA Flight 599TWA Flight 599
Transcontinental and Western Air Flight 599 was a Fokker F.10 Trimotor en route from Kansas City, Missouri, to Los Angeles, California, on March 31, 1931. It crashed a few miles north west of Bazaar, Kansas; all eight on board died...
flying low over his farm. A telephone operator
Telephone operator
A telephone operator is either* a person who provides assistance to a telephone caller, usually in the placing of operator assisted telephone calls such as calls from a pay phone, collect calls , calls which are billed to a credit card, station-to-station and person-to-person calls, and certain...
called Heathman's family shortly afterwards to inform them that there had been an airplane crash nearby. Heathman, along with his father and his brothers, raced in the family's Model T to the site of the crash, which is located 3 miles southwest of the town of Bazaar, Kansas
Bazaar, Kansas
Bazaar is an unincorporated community in Chase County, Kansas, United States. The community is part of the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is notable for being near the place of the 1931 Trans World Airlines Flight 599 crash that killed University of Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne...
. Heathman found the plane's tail sticking out of the ground, as well as the bodies of the crash victims, including Rockne. They stayed at the scene until the coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
arrived to remove the crash victims. Heathman's son, Tom, later described the event as very traumatic for his father.
Heathman reportedly did not talk about the crash much with his family until the last two decades of his life.
However, during his life Heathman became a dedicated fan of the University of Notre Dame and the life of Knute Rockne. He often led free tours to the crash site and memorial to honor Rockne and the others killed in the crash. Heathman's tours became a must-do pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
for hundreds of University of Notre Dame alumni and football fans over the years. Many who took the tour came to Kansas to hear Heathman's first hand account of his discovery of Rockne's plane.
Heathman was honored by the University of Notre Dame for his dedication to the school and the memory of Rockne. He received an honorary monogram
Monogram
A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a...
from Notre Dame in 2006 at a pep rally
Pep rally
Pep rallies are events that occur primarily in the United States and Canada. A pep rally is a gathering of people, typically students of middle school, high school and college age, before a sports event. The purpose of such a gathering is to encourage school spirit and to support members of the...
held at Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium is the home football stadium for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. The stadium is located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States, just north of the city of South Bend....
attended by students and fans. The event honoring Heathman coincided with the 75th anniversary of Rockne's death. He often showed off autographed Notre Dame footballs
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
which were given to him by coaches Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
and Charlie Weis
Charlie Weis
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Weis is an American football coach. He currently serves as offensive coordinator for the Florida Gators. For five years, from December 2004 through 2009, he was the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame...
.
Despite his fame among those dedicated to Notre Dame, Heathman remained modest. In his last interview, which he gave to the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
in December 2007, he stated, "I'm not a celebrity. I'm just an older farmer."
On Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 a group gathered at the crash site. In attendance was Heathman's son and Rockne's grandson.
Death
J.E. Heathman died of pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in a hospital in Emporia, Kansas
Emporia, Kansas
Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike...
, on January 29, 2008, at the age of 90. Heathman had previously said in an interview that his one regret was that he had not met Knute Rockne in person.