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,[1] 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. [1] 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.[2] 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.[2]
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Heathman was just 13 years old, one week shy of his fourteenth birthday, when he had heard TWA Flight 599 flying low over his farm.[1] A telephone operator called Heathman's family shortly afterwards to inform them that there had been an airplane crash nearby.[1] 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.[1] Heathman found the plane's tail sticking out of the ground, as well as the bodies of the crash victims, including Rockne.[1] They stayed at the scene until the coroner arrived to remove the crash victims.[1] Heathman's son, Tom, later described the event as very traumatic for his father.[1]
Heathman reportedly did not talk about the crash much with his family until the last two decades of his life.[1] However, during his life Heathman became a dedicated fan of the University of Notre Dame and the life of Knute Rockne.[1][2] He often led free tours to the crash site and memorial to honor Rockne and the others killed in the crash.[1] Heathman's tours became a must-do pilgrimage for hundreds of University of Notre Dame alumni and football fans over the years.[2] Many who took the tour came to Kansas to hear Heathman's first hand account of his discovery of Rockne's plane.[2]
Heathman was honored by the University of Notre Dame for his dedication to the school and the memory of Rockne.[2] He received an honorary monogram from Notre Dame in 2006 at a pep rally held at Notre Dame Stadium attended by students and fans.[2] The event honoring Heathman coincided with the 75th anniversary of Rockne's death.[2] He often showed off autographed Notre Dame footballs which were given to him by coaches Lou Holtz and Charlie Weis.[2]
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."[2]
On Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 a group gathered at the crash site. In attendance was Heathman's son and Rockne's grandson.
J.E. Heathman died of pneumonia in a hospital in Emporia, Kansas, on January 29, 2008, at the age of 90.[1] Heathman had previously said in an interview that his one regret was that he had not met Knute Rockne in person.[2]