Tragedy rocked the Bramlage family–and the K-State community–as news broke this afternoon that all six members of the Ron Bramlage family were killed in a plane crash.
Ron Bramlage–the grandson of Fred Bramlage, for whom Bramlage Coliseum is named–was piloting the silver single-engine Pilatus PC-12, as the family returned from vacationing in the Bahamas. The fatal crash happened after the plane had landed in Florida to refuel. The plane went down in Tiger Creek Swamp, a wooded area so remote it can only be accessed by ATV, specialty vehicles, and helicopters. The Polk County (FL) Sheriff’s Department is on the scene, investigating the crash.
Killed in the accident were Ron Bramlage, his wife Becky, and all four of their children, the oldest only a freshman in high school. Words are inadequate to the task of expressing the sorrow that this type of tragedy brings. Ron and Becky Bramlage were KSU alumni, graduating in the early 1990s.
Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz released the following statement along with Athletic Director John Currie:
"We are shocked and saddened by the tragic news of the deaths of Ron and Becky Bramlage and their children today. The Bramlage family holds a special place in the history of Kansas State University and K-State Athletics, and Ron and Becky have been loyal supporters and great fans of K-State. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bramlage family during this difficult time."
The thoughts and prayers of all of the Kansas State University community certainly are with the Bramlage family tonight.