By Chuck Cox
Oak Cliff People
DALLAS — Nearly 49 years to the day he was shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald at 10th Street and Patton Avenue, Dallas police Officer J.D. Tippit’s memory was honored with a historical marker in a stirring ceremony Tuesday afternoon. Tippit’s widow, Marie, helped unveil the historical marker, which is now on the campus of Adamson High School.
“I’m just so excited about it, and so is the rest of the family,” Tippit said. “There has been a lot of effort that has gone into creating this honor to J.D. We certainly appreciate all that has been done. It’s so good to have this marker today. … It’s comforting, and you feel so loved because you know there are so many people who cared about him.”
The historical marker was placed across the street from where the shooting occurred minutes after Oswald assassinated President John F. Kennedy in Dealey Plaza. The marker was erected in a small plaza made possible by a grant from the Texas Historical Foundation. Eric Cowan, District 7 trustee for the Dallas Independent School District, was happy to see the marker come to fruition after two years of effort.
“I hope this will provide students here with a regular reminder of the sacrifice made here and a glimpse into an important piece of American history,” Cowan said. “I also hope teachers at this campus will incorporate the events that happened here into their lessons, so that Adamson students can pass along to their children and grandchildren someday that history was made near their campus. And that they all learned from it.”
The ceremony began with a few words from Adamson senior Juan Armijo, followed by the presentation of the colors by the Adamson Junior ROTC. Members of the Dallas Police Department Choir then sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” and “God Bless America.” After Cowan spoke, Michael Amonett, past president of the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League, had a few words about the new historical marker. Dallas Police Chief David Brown also spoke.
“I hope this is a way to say we’re grateful for your sacrifice, and we are sorry for your loss,” Amonett said. “Two years ago, [Channel 8 reporter] Brad Watson contacted me and wanted to know why there wasn’t a marker here. I knew nothing about markers. So we learned, and once people knew we were doing this, some amazing people stepped up and helped to make this happen today.”
After Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963, Tippit spotted Oswald walking down 10th Street. When he approached Oswald and asked him a question, Oswald shot Tippit four times in front of numerous witnesses. Oswald was arrested later at the Texas Theatre, just a few blocks away from where Tippit was murdered.
“I was really blessed, because he never did come home for lunch,” Tippit said. “But he called me that day and said, ‘I can swing by for lunch. Can you make me a sandwich?’ You wouldn’t believe how fast I got some fried potatoes done and made a tuna sandwich. So, I got to see him one last time. I felt blessed about that. I gave him a hug and a kiss and told him, ‘Be careful. Take care of yourself.’ We just don’t know what God has in store. That’s the time God called him home.”
In addition to several members of Tippit’s family, numerous current and former Dallas Police Department officials were on hand for the ceremony, which was held in unseasonably beautiful weather. “This is one of the nicer days,” said former Dallas Sheriff Jim Bowles, who was a police communications supervisor the day Kennedy and Tippit were killed. “All of the rest of them have been pretty bleak. He [Tippit] had a quiet, passive, unassuming way. He was mild-mannered and a good officer. Today is long overdue. It got lost on the wayside.”
Copyright 2012 Oak Cliff People