I was a 14 year old Star Telegram newspaper carrier, and I hurried to finish my morning route so that I could hurry downtown to hear JFK. I loved Kennedy, even through everyone else in my family were Republicans. I rode my Honda 50 downtown and went into the Hotel Texas. I slipped through the crowd and stood by the ropes leading up to the stairs. Lydon Johnson came in on his way up to the Kennedy suite and he shook my hand! And then to make it even more exciting, Kennedy and Connaly shook my hand on the way out to make his speech. I went outside and listened and then went home to get some sleep. Even through this was a school day, nothing could keep me away.
At about 1 pm, my Dad came in and said, “You better get up. I think someone has shot your president.” I watched in silent as the nightmare began. I will never forget that day. A 14 year old boy shook the President’s, the Vice-President’s, and the Texas Governor’s hands!
