UPDATE - AUGUST 16, 2010
KEN LANYON
1940 - 2010
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That's my friend Ken Lanyon, in the center, who was his high school class president in 1958. Less than a five finger count of the years after this photo was taken, he had this experience:
"Few of you know that I happened to be very near the Texas School Book Depository when the shooting took place and I may have been one of the first 6 or 8 people to enter the building following the shooting and may well have passed Oswald in the turmoil. The entire city of Dallas immediately closed and went home to watch TV....I was a Special Agent with Army Intelligence. You just never know what the hand of fate will direct you to and I will never forget how scared I was."
Ken sent this to me in an email this morning. Now retired, he went on to become a well-known insurance executive in Dallas.
This is my friend and neighbor Lou Johnston.
Lou was recently asked to be interviewed by the Dealey Plaza Museum about her remembrances of the Kennedy Assassination. One thing she said I don't think I'd ever heard, much less considered before.
Jack Ruby frequently stopped by the Dallas Police headquarters as he made his daily errand run -- to the post office, to pay a few bills, to make his bank deposit. And that's what he was doing on the day Oswald was to be moved to a tight security place.
Because Ruby carried a lot of money and owned a stripper club, he carried a pistol most of the time. The police were very familiar with him, and apparently thought nothing about him carrying a weapon.
Oswald was supposed to have been moved an hour before Ruby showed up at the police station. Something delayed the move. Coincidentally, Ruby walked in as Oswald was being taken through the station to the vehicle.
Apparently, Ruby, on the spur of the moment, decided to shoot and kill Oswald. In otherwords, it was not premeditated and that he and Oswald were together for those few moments had not been planned.
BILL CHERRY, REALTORS
DALLAS - PARK CITIES
Our 45th Year
214 503-8563
That's interesting insight on Jack Ruby, who many thought was part of a conspiracy to keep Oswald quiet.
Interesting perspective. There is, however, still a fair chance that some organization orchestrated the "perfect" crime.
Very interesting insight, Bill. Thanks for posting this.
Mike in Tucson
Hi Bill!
There is nothing better than the personal perspective rather than opinions formed by the slant the media chooses to place on stories and events. Thanks for sharing some new news to me!
Bill,
What a great story. Thanks for sharing. Did you know the Elbow Room on Gaston in Deep Ellum was once owned by Jack Ruby?
Richard --
No, I didn't. Was that the name of the joint when he owned it? I only knew him as the owner of the strip joint downtown called the Colony Club.
Miss Paula,
It's really nice hearing from you. Hope all is going well in Sunny California. Remind me to tell you the story sometime about when I was playing the piano in the lounge at the Beverly Wilshire and they were trying to film some sort of commercial with Polly Bergan in it.
Lou Johnston, who talked about the Ruby-Oswald connection, worked for many years as the public information officer for the Dallas Federal Courts District. She's a very bright woman, and very well-read. Would you believe she's 75? And that hair is all hers and not dyed. Patty and I just love her.
She's very excited these days because her grandson will soon complete his seminary education and will be ordained a Roman Catholic priest in New Orleans.
Bill,
The Elbow Room was not the name when it was owned by Ruby.