Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Gap in history to be closed: A memorial marker for Officer J.D.Tippit

by BRAD WATSON / WFAA-TV

Today is the 48th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy in downtown Dallas.

As people visit Dealey Plaza, there will be few if any visitors stopping by an important spot left unmarked; Where Lee Harvey Oswald killed Officer J.D. Tippit.

But that should be changing next year, all because of a News 8 report in 2010.

The corner of 10th and Patton now borders where the Dallas school district is expanding the Adamson High School campus.

If plans fall in place, there'll be something else built on this corner.

Kennedy assassination expert Farris Rookstool calls it a long time in coming.

"It's better to do it late than never, and this is a very important project not only for the City of Dallas, but also for the State of Texas," Rookstool said.

The district agreed to the placement of a marker on Adamson school property to show where Officer J.D. Tippit was shot by Oswald.

Other JFK locations have state markers, such as the old school depository and the former police building where Oswald was shot.

But there's nothing in Dallas to remember Tippit and where he fell on 10th Street, about 100 feet east from its intersection with Patton.

After News 8 reported on this gap in history last year, the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League (OOCCL) applied for a Texas Historical Commission marker, with Rookstool assisting.

The Texas Historical Foundation, a non-profit, donated $5,000 for the marker. And the school district designed what will be a small plaza for the marker.

"Having this sitting area and having a nice big tree that is going to mature and get huge in the Texas sun is going to be a great thing, and I think people are going to hang out here and I think they are going to read the marker, and I think more people are going to become aware of what happened on this corner," said President of the OOCCL Michael Amonett.

The Texas Historical Commission votes on the marker application in January.

If it approves, the marker should be in place for the 49th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination and Officer Tippit's murder.

Source: WFAA.com [View related video story]

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