by boparker | Sep 4, 2012 | Uncategorized
I recall exactly where I was when I heard the news. I was sitting in my 4th grade class, in the afternoon when a student entered our classroom and whispered something into our teacher’s ear. She was a very strict teacher and we were almost sitting in the “attention” mode when after hearing the message, she let out a wailing “ohhhhhhhh” sound. She got up and walked out to talk to someone else. We didn’t know what was going on. In about 2-3 minutes she came back to us and said President Kennedy had been assassinated. Assassinated? I thought, just what does that mean. Something bad, I think. Then she said someone shot and killed the President. I recall her sitting at her desk, tears running down her face, staring off into nowhere and kind of rocking from side to side. It was scary. We didn’t know what to think or do. I think school was dismissed early that day and by the time I got home, mom and other ladies in the neighborhood had gathered and were glued to the TV. They were all solemn faced, a few tears. I became really sad……..because they were sad. I didn’t really understand the impact of the shooting. Over the next few days it began to sink in. I think because of seeing and hearing all the adults I came in contact with talking about what had happened. They were much less hopeful about their futures. You see, these were black families who felt they’d lost a leader who heard their cries and recognized their daily struggles in a country that did not accept them as equals. It was a very sad time for many families.
by boparker | Sep 4, 2012 | Uncategorized
On November 22, 1963, I wanted to see the President and decided to take my two small children, my Mom and my Aunt with me. It was too late to see the speech downtown, so we drove until we found a place to wait for the motorcade. It was a road on the way to Carswell, and had a gentle curve to it, and we thought this is the place! We stood alongside the road and waited. I was a young Mom, only 22 years old. I had never voted, but could not wait to vote for President Kennedy in the next election. When the Presidential car passed, they slowed to make the turn and we waved and cheered. We were so close. For one brief moment I looked in the eyes of President Kennedy and I was so thrilled. Just after we had returned home, the news came over the TV and the world was forever changed. A few years after that, 5 Fort Worth ladies decided to do something about having a memorial to JFK. We worked so hard and managed to get the theatre in the convention center named the JFK Theatre. I’m the last one left of those ladies and I am so happy that Fort Worth will finally have a lasting, wonderful memorial to John F. Kennedy.
by boparker | Sep 4, 2012 | Uncategorized
I was a student at the University of Oklahoma when I heard about the terrible assassination in Dallas. Also, I knew about JFK’s earlier visit to Fort Worth and followed it closely. I had a very good friend at the University of Oklahoma at the time whose name was Henry Zapruder and he was the son of the soon-to-be famous Abraham Zapruder who took the famous video of the JFK tragedy in Dallas. Also, there was a friend of mine at UT-Arlington, a long ago Dean of Business College, Larry Nelson, who was at the welcoming in Fort Worth and I believe shook President Kennedy’s hand. I am proud of the Gandys for their inspiration in this tribute and I am proud to be a financial contributor. Respectfully, Allan Saxe
by boparker | Sep 4, 2012 | Uncategorized
I was just a 20 year old girl, only been married 2 months, and working for A.Haler’r Rental store for Mr. Al Sankary. Later, he changed the name to Al’s Formal Wear. During big events downtown he would just let us all watch the big parades. I went out to the curb in front of the store, and there he was, rushing by, the president and his wife. His hair was so richly reddish brown. I remember the First Lady’s lovely pink pillbox hat. That caravan was moving at a pretty fast clip, headed north towards the courthouse. I was elated to get to see such important people. Mr. Prager, a rather elderly man was in the store, spoke with a German sounding accent. I want to lunch at the Pink Rooster at Stripling’s Department store. He stayed in the store. I came back from lunch, and the first thing he told me was, “The President’s been shot!” No, No Mr. Prager. That just can be.” “So I heard it that way. Well, it’s on the radio. You come hear it.”I watched it on TV when I got home. Very, very, sad, in I admired him greatly, shock day. Still I am glad I was there.
by boparker | Sep 4, 2012 | Uncategorized
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!
