Honoring the Edmund Fitzgerald: 50th Anniversary Tribute

Monday, November 10, 2025National Museum of the Great Lakes

On Nov. 10, 1975, the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior, claiming the lives of all 29 crew members. Fifty years later, join us in the Great Lakes Community Education Center at the National Museum of the Great Lakes for a solemn evening of remembrance and reflection—a speaking panel and bell-tolling ceremony honoring those lost and preserving the ship’s enduring legacy. Each panelist brings a personal connection to the Fitzgerald and the stories that continue to shape Great Lakes history.

• 5:30 p.m. Check-in and seating
• 6 p.m. Opening remarks
• 6:15 to 7 p.m. Panel discussion with Lissa Guyton, Ric Mixter, and Tom Walton
• 7 to 7:15 p.m. Closing remarks
• 7:15 to 7:30 p.m. Name reading and ringing of the bell

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Tom Walton – Tom Walton is a former crew member with a family connection to the tragedy and will offer an intimate look at the human impact of the disaster. He is a lifelong Toledo journalist who retired in 2007 after 42 years at The Blade, where he served as editor. He hosted WGTE’s “The Editors” and now shares stories and commentary on the WGTE podcast “Life As We Know It.” When he isn’t behind the mic, he can be found on the diamond as a senior-league player and certified OHSAA umpire.

Ric Mixter – Ric Mixter is one of the few divers to have visited the wreck site. He'll share firsthand insights into the ship’s final resting place. He's a Great Lakes shipwreck researcher and documentary producer who has dived on more than 100 wrecks, including the Edmund Fitzgerald. His work spans PBS, the Outdoor Channel, and Detroit Public Television’s “Great Lakes Now,” and he has served as SCUBA cameraman on expeditions to the Fitzgerald and Carl D. Bradley. A former board leader for several maritime organizations, he is a public speaker whose films, articles and podcasts reach audiences across the region.

Lissa Guyton – Lissa Guyton is a longtime Toledo-area journalist and anchor at 13abc. She is an avid history enthusiast and has been covering the story of the Fitzgerald for many years. She'll bring the “why it matters” perspective—connecting the Fitzgerald’s story to the broader public in a way that resonates far beyond the maritime community. She led the city’s 2001 “It’s Reigning Frogs” public art project, which drew tens of thousands downtown and raised more than $150,000 for local charities. Beyond the newsroom, she has promoted the University of Findlay’s equestrian programs and serves on multiple local nonprofit boards.

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Hear from the panel, learn stories about the ship and its crew, and stand with us for the name reading and ringing of the bell in honor of the 29 sailors lost on that fateful night in 1975.

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