Thousands Attend Memorial Service For OSU Plane Crash Victims

Thousands of people filled OSU's Gallegher-Iba Arena in Stillwater Monday afternoon for a public memorial service to remember four members of the OSU family who died in a plane crash last week.

At OSU flags are flying at half staff following another tragic plane crash, and the university canceled classes from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. to allow students and faculty to attend.

Ten months ago, the OSU community remembered the tenth anniversary of the 2001 plane crash that took ten lives. And now, Oklahoma State University is going through that all over again, with the loss of OSU women's head basketball coach Kurt Budke, assistant Miranda Serna and OSU alumni Olin and Paula Branstetter.

Special Coverage: OSU Plane Crash

The families of the victims filed into the arena just after 1 p.m., including Coach Budke's daughter, Sara, who's a student at OSU.

"We have been here before losing members of the OSU family so tragically," said Larry Reece, Oklahoma State University.

And like the "Remember the Ten" team lost 10 years ago... the Four Cowboys died doing what they loved. Former players held back tears recalling their father figure Coach Kurt Budke.

"He led our team from 0-16 to Sweet Sixteen," said former player Taylor Hardeman.

Budke's credited with turning the Cowgirls basketball program around -- but friends say they'll remember him more for his achievements off the hardwood.

"When you look at the Cowgirl handbook and go to page one, it reads, 'God, family, education, and basketball.' That's how Coach Budke lived his life," said Jim Littell, Interim Coach.

As interim head coach, Jim Littell will fill Budke's shoes, an overwhelming responsibility.

"He'd yell at me right now, 'Focus, focus.' I'm trying,'" Littell said.

Littell spoke with great emotion about Miranda Serna, the assistant coach who was beloved for her work ethic and positive attitude.

"I'd go to lunch with her and it would take us 20 minutes to get out of the building because she was going to stop and hug everybody, greet everybody, along the way," he said.

He remembered former state senator Olin Branstetter and his wife, Paula. They fell in love while attending OSU.

"They would be behind the scores table and loved watching Cowgirl basketball," he said.

Budke's cherished orange suit jacket hung from his sideline chair -- a reminder of his hopes for all the women who called him "coach."

"There's a lot left to be done. They didn't accomplish everything they wanted but there's a lot there in front of us," said Mike Holder, OSU Athletic Director.

Continuing the legacy of the Four Cowboys: make them proud by helping America's Brightest Orange shine even brighter.

"Instead of a moment of silence, I'd like everybody to stand up and clap and show this group how much we appreciated them for what they did for Cowgirl basketball," Littell said.

Players and coaches from OSU's other athletic teams also attended the memorial service, along with coaches from the University of Oklahoma women's basketball team, and the head coaches of the women's basketball teams at Baylor and Texas A&M.

"We have been here before, losing members of the OSU family so tragically," said Larry Reece, Voice of OSU as he opened the service. "We will never be the same because we lost them too soon."