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Wednesday, May 22, 2013 | 9:09 a.m.

Posted: 5:34 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012

Documentary film of legendary football athlete shown to public for first time

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By Briona Arradondo

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio —

After about a year of filming and editing, a documentary about legendary football athlete from Steubenville finally returned to the city where he started. Family members held a public screening at Steubenville High School of "The Crash of Flight 810" about Calvin Jones, who went on to play professionally in Canada.

Jones is considered one of the greatest football players of his time, but his promising career was cut short when his plane crashed in 1956. Since April, Canadian TSN Sports Network produced the film with Infield Fly Productions. Family and friends from around the country shared their experience.

"It has been a whirlwind. It really has, and it's been really emotional for me," said Patti West, niece of Jones. "Even now talking about it, I get chills. I hold back the tears because they're tears of joy. I really have embraced the whole idea."

West has been involved with the film since it began and reunited with a side of her family she didn't know.
Film director Paul Cowan recounted Jones' time at Steubenville High School before he moved on to play for the Iowa Hawkeyes and then the Winnipeg Bombers in Canada.

"I want them to know the history. I want them to know what he left behind, which is a legacy of greatness really," said West.

Dozens of city officials and residents came out to watch the life of the first African-American on Sports Illustrated.

"My message to the students (is) look at the lives of former players. Look at what they achieved," said West. "You can achieve too if you work hard, get an education and persevere."

The city of Steubenville honored his legacy naming a street Calvin Jones Way at Harding Stadium. West said all of the family members involved with the film got a personal copy of the DVD.

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