Tag Archive for: #ourbestshots

The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) Johnny and June Cash sing at the Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) Johnny and June Cash sing at the Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) Johnny and June Cash sing at the Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) The Greater Columbus Billy Graham Crusade photographed Thursday, September 23, 1993 at Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

All images © James D. DeCamp.  NO SALES, NO ARCHIVES, NO REDISTRIBUTION. Photo may not be used for commercial purposes of any kind without the express written permission of James D. DeCamp | Jim@JamesDeCamp.com | (614) 367-6366.

Photographed on Kodacolor VR 400 and Kodacolor VR 1000 film with Canon F-1 and Canon T-90 camera bodies and Canon L series lenses.  Digitized with a Nikon Coolscan 4000 ED film scanner

William Franklin Graham Jr. KBE (November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was an American evangelical Christian evangelist and an ordained Southern Baptist minister who became well known internationally after 1949. He has been looked upon as one of the most influential preachers of the 20th century. He held large indoor and outdoor rallies with sermons that were broadcast on radio and television, some still being re-broadcast into the 21st century.

In his six decades of television, Graham hosted annual Billy Graham Crusades, which ran from 1947 until his retirement in 2005. He also hosted the popular radio show Hour of Decision from 1950 to 1954. He repudiated racial segregation. In addition to his religious aims, he helped shape the worldview of a huge number of people who came from different backgrounds, leading them to find a relationship between the Bible and contemporary secular viewpoints. Graham preached to live audiences of nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories through various meetings, including BMS World Mission and Global Mission. He also reached hundreds of millions more through television, video, film, and webcasts.

Graham was a spiritual adviser to American presidents and provided spiritual counsel for every president from Harry Truman to Barack Obama. He was particularly close to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson (one of Graham’s closest friends), and Richard Nixon. He insisted on racial integration for his revivals and crusades in 1953 and invited Martin Luther King Jr. to preach jointly at a revival in New York City in 1957. Graham bailed King out of jail in the 1960s when King was arrested during demonstrations. He was also lifelong friends with another televangelist, the founding pastor of the Crystal Cathedral, Robert H. Schuller, whom Graham talked into starting his own television ministry.

Graham operated a variety of media and publishing outlets. According to his staff, more than 3.2 million people have responded to the invitation at Billy Graham Crusades to “accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior“. As of 2008, Graham’s estimated lifetime audience, including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2.2 billion. Because of his crusades, Graham preached the gospel to more people in person than anyone in the history of Christianity. Graham was repeatedly on Gallup’s list of most admired men and women. He appeared on the list 60 times since 1955, more than any other individual in the world. Grant Wacker reports that by the mid-1960s, he had become the “Great Legitimator”.

Crash on I-70 kills child, leaves mother in critical condition.

Barbara Hershberger, 33, of 1191 Addison Dr. died of massive head and other injuries at 5:45 p.m. and her daughter, Michelle Richman, 3, died at Children’s Hospital about 4 p.m. Tuesday May 30, 1989, 90 minutes after the accident at a construction crossover on I-70, on the East Side of Columbus. Michelle was thrown from the car her mother was driving.  Investigators have linked green paint on an Oregon license plate and blue paint on the license plate frame holding it to paint smears on the Hershberger car.  Officers think the tractor-trailer with the Oregon license plate, and the rig’s driver, were involved in the fatal accident.  The paint smears puzzled accident investigators for a time Tuesday after the crash, when they examined Hershberger’s Honda Accord, because blue and green paint are not usually found together on a motor vehicle.  Then they saw the tractor-trailer believed to have caused the accident and found the blue frame, mounted on the bumper, containing three plates, one of them green. State Highway Patrol troopers stopped the truck on I-70 near Eaton, Ohio, about two hours after the accident.  Police and troopers said the accident apparently occurred when a tractor- trailer changed lanes in a construction area, clipped the rear of Hershberger’s car and forced it across a 3-inch high divider into eastbound traffic. Hershberger’s car collided with an eastbound car.  The driver of the tractor-trailer, Johnny Reece, 45, of Lawton, Okla., denied being involved.  Reece was driving the tractor-trailer for Sam Tanksley Trucking of Cape Girardeau, MoInvestigators seized the license plate frame and the plates from Reece’s rig because the green Oregon plate and the blue metal frame were damaged.  He also said it appears that silver paint was left on the frame from an accident. Hershberger’s car was silver.

 

Barbara Hershberger, 33, of 1191 Addison Dr. died of massive head and other injuries at 5:45 p.m. and her daughter, Michelle Richman, 3, died at Children's Hospital about 4 p.m. Tuesday May 30, 1989, 90 minutes after the accident at a construction crossover on I-70, on the East Side of Columbus. Michelle was thrown from the car her mother was driving.  Investigators have linked green paint on an Oregon license plate and blue paint on the license plate frame holding it to paint smears on the Hershberger car.  Officers think the tractor-trailer with the Oregon license plate, and the rig's driver, were involved in the fatal accident.  The paint smears puzzled accident investigators for a time Tuesday after the crash, when they examined Hershberger's Honda Accord, because blue and green paint are not usually found together on a motor vehicle.  Then they saw the tractor-trailer believed to have caused the accident and found the blue frame, mounted on the bumper, containing three plates, one of them green. State Highway Patrol troopers stopped the truck on I-70 near Eaton, Ohio, about two hours after the accident.  Police and troopers said the accident apparently occurred when a tractor- trailer changed lanes in a construction area, clipped the rear of Hershberger's car and forced it across a 3-inch high divider into eastbound traffic. Hershberger's car collided with an eastbound car.  The driver of the tractor-trailer, Johnny Reece, 45, of Lawton, Okla., denied being involved.  Reece was driving the tractor-trailer for Sam Tanksley Trucking of Cape Girardeau, MoInvestigators seized the license plate frame and the plates from Reece's rig because the green Oregon plate and the blue metal frame were damaged.  He also said it appears that silver paint was left on the frame from an accident. Hershberger's car was silver. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Barbara Hershberger, 33, of 1191 Addison Dr. died of massive head and other injuries at 5:45 p.m. and her daughter, Michelle Richman, 3, died at Children's Hospital about 4 p.m. Tuesday May 30, 1989, 90 minutes after the accident at a construction crossover on I-70, on the East Side of Columbus. Michelle was thrown from the car her mother was driving.  Investigators have linked green paint on an Oregon license plate and blue paint on the license plate frame holding it to paint smears on the Hershberger car.  Officers think the tractor-trailer with the Oregon license plate, and the rig's driver, were involved in the fatal accident.  The paint smears puzzled accident investigators for a time Tuesday after the crash, when they examined Hershberger's Honda Accord, because blue and green paint are not usually found together on a motor vehicle.  Then they saw the tractor-trailer believed to have caused the accident and found the blue frame, mounted on the bumper, containing three plates, one of them green. State Highway Patrol troopers stopped the truck on I-70 near Eaton, Ohio, about two hours after the accident.  Police and troopers said the accident apparently occurred when a tractor- trailer changed lanes in a construction area, clipped the rear of Hershberger's car and forced it across a 3-inch high divider into eastbound traffic. Hershberger's car collided with an eastbound car.  The driver of the tractor-trailer, Johnny Reece, 45, of Lawton, Okla., denied being involved.  Reece was driving the tractor-trailer for Sam Tanksley Trucking of Cape Girardeau, MoInvestigators seized the license plate frame and the plates from Reece's rig because the green Oregon plate and the blue metal frame were damaged.  He also said it appears that silver paint was left on the frame from an accident. Hershberger's car was silver. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

 (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Barbara Hershberger, 33, of 1191 Addison Dr. died of massive head and other injuries at 5:45 p.m. and her daughter, Michelle Richman, 3, died at Children's Hospital about 4 p.m. Tuesday May 30, 1989, 90 minutes after the accident at a construction crossover on I-70, on the East Side of Columbus. Michelle was thrown from the car her mother was driving.  Investigators have linked green paint on an Oregon license plate and blue paint on the license plate frame holding it to paint smears on the Hershberger car.  Officers think the tractor-trailer with the Oregon license plate, and the rig's driver, were involved in the fatal accident.  The paint smears puzzled accident investigators for a time Tuesday after the crash, when they examined Hershberger's Honda Accord, because blue and green paint are not usually found together on a motor vehicle.  Then they saw the tractor-trailer believed to have caused the accident and found the blue frame, mounted on the bumper, containing three plates, one of them green. State Highway Patrol troopers stopped the truck on I-70 near Eaton, Ohio, about two hours after the accident.  Police and troopers said the accident apparently occurred when a tractor- trailer changed lanes in a construction area, clipped the rear of Hershberger's car and forced it across a 3-inch high divider into eastbound traffic. Hershberger's car collided with an eastbound car.  The driver of the tractor-trailer, Johnny Reece, 45, of Lawton, Okla., denied being involved.  Reece was driving the tractor-trailer for Sam Tanksley Trucking of Cape Girardeau, MoInvestigators seized the license plate frame and the plates from Reece's rig because the green Oregon plate and the blue metal frame were damaged.  He also said it appears that silver paint was left on the frame from an accident. Hershberger's car was silver. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

(© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Barbara Hershberger, 33, of 1191 Addison Dr. died of massive head and other injuries at 5:45 p.m. and her daughter, Michelle Richman, 3, died at Children's Hospital about 4 p.m. Tuesday May 30, 1989, 90 minutes after the accident at a construction crossover on I-70, on the East Side of Columbus. Michelle was thrown from the car her mother was driving.  Investigators have linked green paint on an Oregon license plate and blue paint on the license plate frame holding it to paint smears on the Hershberger car.  Officers think the tractor-trailer with the Oregon license plate, and the rig's driver, were involved in the fatal accident.  The paint smears puzzled accident investigators for a time Tuesday after the crash, when they examined Hershberger's Honda Accord, because blue and green paint are not usually found together on a motor vehicle.  Then they saw the tractor-trailer believed to have caused the accident and found the blue frame, mounted on the bumper, containing three plates, one of them green. State Highway Patrol troopers stopped the truck on I-70 near Eaton, Ohio, about two hours after the accident.  Police and troopers said the accident apparently occurred when a tractor- trailer changed lanes in a construction area, clipped the rear of Hershberger's car and forced it across a 3-inch high divider into eastbound traffic. Hershberger's car collided with an eastbound car.  The driver of the tractor-trailer, Johnny Reece, 45, of Lawton, Okla., denied being involved.  Reece was driving the tractor-trailer for Sam Tanksley Trucking of Cape Girardeau, MoInvestigators seized the license plate frame and the plates from Reece's rig because the green Oregon plate and the blue metal frame were damaged.  He also said it appears that silver paint was left on the frame from an accident. Hershberger's car was silver. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

 (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Ohio State Football Coach Earl Bruce on the field at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor Saturday, November 21, 1987 guiding the Buckeyes to a 23-20 win over the Wolverines. Bruce was fired just prior to the last game of the season - against Michigan - but was allowed to finish out the year. Reportedly, school president Edward Harrington Jennings made the move out of pique over a last-second loss to Iowa that dropped the Buckeyes to 5-4-1, meaning they needed to beat Michigan in order to be bowl-eligible. Bruce was able to defeat Michigan at Ann Arbor. This is something Ohio State would not do again until 2001 under head coach Jim Tressel. After the game, Bo Schembechler told Bruce, "I always mind losing to Ohio State but I didn't mind so much today." (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)  [Photographed on Kodak Tri-X Pan film with Canon F-1 Cameras and Canon L series lenses. Digitized with a Nikon CoolScan 4000ED.]

Ohio State Football Coach Earl Bruce on the field at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor Saturday, November 21, 1987 guiding the Buckeyes to a 23-20 win over the Wolverines. Bruce was fired just prior to the last game of the season – against Michigan – but was allowed to finish out the year. Reportedly, school president Edward Harrington Jennings made the move out of pique over a last-second loss to Iowa that dropped the Buckeyes to 5-4-1, meaning they needed to beat Michigan in order to be bowl-eligible. Bruce was able to defeat Michigan at Ann Arbor. This is something Ohio State would not do again until 2001 under head coach Jim Tressel. After the game, Bo Schembechler told Bruce, “I always mind losing to Ohio State but I didn’t mind so much today.” (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)  [Photographed on Kodak Tri-X Pan film with Canon F-1 Cameras and Canon L series lenses. Digitized with a Nikon CoolScan 4000ED.]

Ohio State Football Coach Earl Bruce is carried off the filed at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor Saturday, November 21, 1987 after guiding the Buckeyes to a 23-20 win over the Wolverines. Bruce was fired just prior to the last game of the season - against Michigan - but was allowed to finish out the year. Reportedly, school president Edward Harrington Jennings made the move out of pique over a last-second loss to Iowa that dropped the Buckeyes to 5-4-1, meaning they needed to beat Michigan in order to be bowl-eligible. Bruce was able to defeat Michigan at Ann Arbor. This is something Ohio State would not do again until 2001 under head coach Jim Tressel. After the game, Bo Schembechler told Bruce, "I always mind losing to Ohio State but I didn't mind so much today." (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)  [Photographed on Kodak Tri-X Pan film with Canon F-1 Cameras and Canon L series lenses. Digitized with a Nikon CoolScan 4000ED.]

Ohio State Football Coach Earl Bruce is carried off the filed at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor Saturday, November 21, 1987 after guiding the Buckeyes to a 23-20 win over the Wolverines. Bruce was fired just prior to the last game of the season – against Michigan – but was allowed to finish out the year. Reportedly, school president Edward Harrington Jennings made the move out of pique over a last-second loss to Iowa that dropped the Buckeyes to 5-4-1, meaning they needed to beat Michigan in order to be bowl-eligible. Bruce was able to defeat Michigan at Ann Arbor. This is something Ohio State would not do again until 2001 under head coach Jim Tressel. After the game, Bo Schembechler told Bruce, “I always mind losing to Ohio State but I didn’t mind so much today.” (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)  [Photographed on Kodak Tri-X Pan film with Canon F-1 Cameras and Canon L series lenses. Digitized with a Nikon CoolScan 4000ED.]

Ohio State Football Coach Earl Bruce sits triumphantly at a post game press conference at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor Saturday, November 21, 1987 after guiding the Buckeyes to a 23-20 win over the Wolverines. Bruce was fired just prior to the last game of the season - against Michigan - but was allowed to finish out the year. Reportedly, school president Edward Harrington Jennings made the move out of pique over a last-second loss to Iowa that dropped the Buckeyes to 5-4-1, meaning they needed to beat Michigan in order to be bowl-eligible. Bruce was able to defeat Michigan at Ann Arbor. This is something Ohio State would not do again until 2001 under head coach Jim Tressel. After the game, Bo Schembechler told Bruce, "I always mind losing to Ohio State but I didn't mind so much today." (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)  [Photographed on Kodak Tri-X Pan film with Canon F-1 Cameras and Canon L series lenses. Digitized with a Nikon CoolScan 4000ED.]

Ohio State Football Coach Earl Bruce sits triumphantly at a post game press conference at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor Saturday, November 21, 1987 after guiding the Buckeyes to a 23-20 win over the Wolverines. Bruce was fired just prior to the last game of the season – against Michigan – but was allowed to finish out the year. Reportedly, school president Edward Harrington Jennings made the move out of pique over a last-second loss to Iowa that dropped the Buckeyes to 5-4-1, meaning they needed to beat Michigan in order to be bowl-eligible. Bruce was able to defeat Michigan at Ann Arbor. This is something Ohio State would not do again until 2001 under head coach Jim Tressel. After the game, Bo Schembechler told Bruce, “I always mind losing to Ohio State but I didn’t mind so much today.” (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)  [Photographed on Kodak Tri-X Pan film with Canon F-1 Cameras and Canon L series lenses. Digitized with a Nikon CoolScan 4000ED.]

 

Earle Bruce was a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Tampa (1972), Iowa State University (1973–1978), Ohio State University (1979–1987), the University of Northern Iowa(1988), and Colorado State University (1989–1992), compiling a career college football record of 154–90–2. At Ohio State, Bruce was the successor to the legendary Woody Hayes, and won four Big Ten Conference titles. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2002. Bruce returned to coaching in 2003 to helm the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League for a season and also guided the Columbus Destroyers the following year.

After Woody Hayes was fired from Ohio State, Bruce was offered that head coaching position. Bruce coached Ohio State from 1979–1987. In Bruce’s first year, Ohio State went undefeated in the regular season and played in the Rose Bowl, losing the game—and at least a share of the national championship—by a single point.

The Buckeyes would win nine games in Bruce’s first eight years, including another 10-win season in 1986. They also won or shared three more Big Ten titles (outright in 1984, shared in 1981 and 1986). However, they would only appear in one more Rose Bowl (after the 1984 season–Ohio State’s last Rose Bowl appearance until after the 1996 season) and would only tally one more top ten finish (in 1986). This rankled a fan base used to contending for a national title every year.

In 1987, Ohio State was sent reeling when star receiver Cris Carter was kicked off the team for signing with an agent. Without Carter, the school’s all-time leader in receptions, the Buckeyes appeared to be a rudderless team. They lost to Indiana for the first time in 38 years and never really recovered.

Bruce was fired just prior to the last game of the season—against Michigan—but was allowed to finish out the year. Reportedly, school president Edward Harrington Jenningsmade the move out of pique over a last-second loss to Iowa that dropped the Buckeyes to 5-4-1, meaning they needed to beat Michigan in order to be bowl-eligible. Bruce was able to defeat Michigan at Ann Arbor. This is something Ohio State would not do again until 2001 under head coach Jim Tressel. After the game, Bo Schembechler told Bruce, “I always mind losing to Ohio State but I didn’t mind so much today.”

 After Ohio State

Bruce was the leading candidate to replace Bob Valesente as head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks after the 1987 season, but due to a contract dispute, KU did not hire him. KU instead hired Glen Mason out of Kent State. Bruce took over the head coaching position at the University of Northern Iowa for one year, and then finished his intercollegiate coaching career at Colorado State University. In his second season, he led the Rams to a winning record and a victory over Oregon in the Freedom Bowl, their first bowl appearance since 1948 and their first bowl victory ever. He was fired two years later for, among other things, verbally and physically abusing his players and discouraging players from taking classes that conflicted with football practice.

In his final season at Fort Collins, he coached the Rams to a 17-14 victory over LSU in Baton Rouge. Five years earlier, his final Ohio State team played LSU to a 13-13 tie in Tiger Stadium in a nationally televised game.

After Colorado State, he moved on to the Arena Football League, where he coached the Cleveland Thunderbolts in 1994 and the St. Louis Stampede in 1995 and 1996 before retiring.

In 2003, Bruce came out of retirement to coach the final ten games for the Arena Football League‘s Iowa Barnstormers, guiding them to a 7–3 record. In 2004, Bruce returned to Ohio to become the head coach for the Columbus Destroyers, who were moving from Buffalo to Columbus that year. He retired to a front office position after coaching the Destroyers to a 6–10 record in 2004, and was replaced as head coach by Chris Spielman, who played for Bruce at Ohio State. Bruce finished with a 19–25 record over four seasons in the AFL.

Thereafter, Bruce worked as an Ohio State football analyst for WTVN 610AM in Columbus as well an analyst for ONN on their OSU programming. On October 1, 2016, Bruce was honored during the Rutgers-Ohio State halftime and dotted the “i” during Script Ohio.

In his private life, Earle Bruce is married with four children and eight grandchildren. His daughters’ names are Lynn, Mikky, Aimee, and Noel. It was revealed, on August 25th, 2017, that Bruce was battling the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease. His death was announced by his family on April 20th, 2018.

Ohio State Football Coach Earl Bruce and his wife Jean Bruce answer reporters questions at his final press luncheon held at the Buckeye Cafe Monday, November 16, 1987 on the same day that he was fired as Head Coach of the Ohio State University Football Team. Bruce was fired just prior to the last game of the season - against Michigan - but was allowed to finish out the year. Reportedly, school president Edward Harrington Jennings made the move out of pique over a last-second loss to Iowa that dropped the Buckeyes to 5-4-1, meaning they needed to beat Michigan in order to be bowl-eligible. Bruce was able to defeat Michigan at Ann Arbor. This is something Ohio State would not do again until 2001 under head coach Jim Tressel. After the game, Bo Schembechler told Bruce, "I always mind losing to Ohio State but I didn't mind so much today." (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Ohio State Football Coach Earl Bruce and his wife Jean Bruce answer reporters questions at his final press luncheon held at the Buckeye Cafe Monday, November 16, 1987 on the same day that he was fired as Head Coach of the Ohio State University Football Team. Bruce was fired just prior to the last game of the season – against Michigan – but was allowed to finish out the year. Reportedly, school president Edward Harrington Jennings made the move out of pique over a last-second loss to Iowa that dropped the Buckeyes to 5-4-1, meaning they needed to beat Michigan in order to be bowl-eligible. Bruce was able to defeat Michigan at Ann Arbor. This is something Ohio State would not do again until 2001 under head coach Jim Tressel. After the game, Bo Schembechler told Bruce, “I always mind losing to Ohio State but I didn’t mind so much today.” (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)  [Photographed on Kodak Tri-X Pan film with Canon F-1 Cameras and Canon L series lenses. Digitized with a Nikon CoolScan 4000ED.]

 

 

Earle Bruce was a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Tampa (1972), Iowa State University (1973–1978), Ohio State University (1979–1987), the University of Northern Iowa(1988), and Colorado State University (1989–1992), compiling a career college football record of 154–90–2. At Ohio State, Bruce was the successor to the legendary Woody Hayes, and won four Big Ten Conference titles. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2002. Bruce returned to coaching in 2003 to helm the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League for a season and also guided the Columbus Destroyers the following year.