Ronnie Van Zant
On October 20, 1977, a plane carrying the band between shows from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ran out of fuel outside Gillsburg, Mississippi. The passengers had been informed about potential problems with the Convair CV-240 and were told to brace for a crash. Van Zant died on impact from head injuries suffered after the aircraft struck a tree. Bandmates Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, along with assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray, were also killed. The rest of the band was seriously injured. Van Zant was 29 years old.
Ron Radliff
Ronnie The Rat landed in Australia in 1983 as an import point guard for NBL team the Brisbane Bullets. Standing 6'0" (184 cm), Radliff was known for his long curly hair and his brilliant outside shooting, though he was also a tenacious defender who never gave opponents an inch. Radliff spent six seasons with the Bullets under the successful coaching of Brian Kerle. As teammate to future NBL Hall of Famers Larry Sengstock, Cal Bruton, Leroy Loggins and Danny Morseu, The Rat helped the team to win its first NBL Championship in 1985 against the Adelaide 36ers, and again in 1987 against the Perth Wildcats. During his time in Brisbane Radliff also helped the team to the 1984 Grand Final against the Canberra Cannons and the 1986 GF against the 36ers. 1986 was the first time the NBL used a 3-game series instead of a single championship game.