TWO COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS

Remembrance Ceremony

On April 3, 2024, at 3:45 p.m., there was a 50-Year Remembrance Ceremony at the Hanover College Campus Center. The ceremony was organized by the Office of Alumni Relations and Duggan Library to honor the memory of the 11 lives lost in Jefferson County, IN, that day. The speakers at the event included President Lake Lambert, Rev. Catherine Y.E. Knott, Ph.D., Ball Family Chaplain, and Elaine Kops-Bedel '74. At 3:51 p.m., a moment of silence was observed in remembrance of the departed souls, followed by the ringing of chimes. Guests were invited to share their experiences during the ceremony.

Those who could not attend can watch the ceremony at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59zWruAZme8. You can also share your experiences with our archive department HERE. If you have any queries, contact Christy Hughes, Director of Alumni Relations, at hughes@hanover.edu.

Campus Presentation & Speaker

The Weather Channel's veteran severe-weather expert, Dr. Greg Forbes, headlined Hanover College's 50th-anniversary commemoration with a special campus presentation. Forbes offered unique insights into the notorious 1974 Super Outbreak at Fitzgibbon Recital Hall, Lynn Center for Fine Arts.

The presentation was recorded and will be shown on Saturday, October 5, 2024, during Homecoming Weekend. 

LOOKING BACK IN TIME

On April 3, 1974, a severe tornado hit a significant area of Jefferson County, Indiana, including the campus of Hanover College. This tornado was part of the infamous Super Outbreak that struck almost 150 confirmed tornadoes across 13 US and Canadian states within 18 hours. The outbreak was one of the most violent in recorded history, covering over 2,600 miles, killing 330 people, injuring over 6,000, and leaving thousands displaced. In Jefferson County, two F4 tornadoes killed 11 people and wounded over 300. The outbreak led to the development of the modern tornado measurement system and more funding for cyclone preparedness.

At 3:51 p.m. that day, one of the F4 tornadoes struck Hanover College, just over half a mile wide. The tornado caused extensive damage, resulting in ten million dollars worth of destruction, impacting around 80% of the trees and blocking all the campus roads. All utilities were knocked out, and communication with people off-campus was almost impossible. Most of the buildings on the campus were damaged, and two were destroyed. Fortunately, no one on the campus suffered severe injuries, and the campus was reopened two weeks later.

VIDEOS STORIES & REMEMBRANCE

The stories below memorialize the aftermath, expressing a real sense of awe at the raw power of nature and a deep appreciation for the resilience and unity of those affected.

• Hanover College:  Opportunity Grows from Disaster
• Frank Baker Interview
  Jayne McClew, daughter of Robert McClew, Hanover College Registrar, grew up on the college and was on campus during the April 3 tornado. As an adult reporter, she interviewed Frank Baker, head of Hanover College's Marketing and Communications Department, in 1994 for WHAS TV.
• 11 of The Worst Tornadoes of the 1974 Super Outbreak
• Madison, Indiana Tornado Damage
• WHAS 11: The 1974 Tornado Outbreak: 15 Years Later (Jefferson County, IN 53:05)
• KET 2008, Louisville Life, Tornado Story