Where were you on Nov. 22, 1963?

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

During recent weeks, culminating last Friday, newspapers and television networks have been filled with stories and programs about the event that occurred 50 years ago, a day that changed our lives - then and now.

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy was a dramatic, sobering, saddening event which jolted America and the world into a new spectre of reality.

I’ve read many columns innewspapers and have watched numerous graphic programs depicting the Dallas drama. Watching it rekindles the memory of where I was and the emotions and questions that filled my mind. Has that been true for you?

I was at home for lunch when a program on TV was interrupted by the premier newscaster of that day: Walter Cronkite. I watched … and watched as sobering updates filled the small black and whitescreen. But I had to return to my job. I was late. But that didn’t seem to matter - to me or to any of us who listened to recurring bulletins on the radio.

The next several days were blurred scenarios as the climatic events unfolded. Who can forget the small boy saluting his father during the funeral procession?

One recent program really grabbed my attention several days ago. It was during an interview with a newspaper journalist who was a reporter for the Dallas Morning News on that November day so many years ago: Hugh Aynesworth.

Aynesworth’s new book: “November 22, 1963. WITNESS To History” chronicles that dayand those which followed. As he related to the interviewer, he was there on Elm Street to witness the assassination, was the only reporter at the scene when Oswald was arrested outside the movie theater and was just a few feet away when Jack Ruby fired the shot which killed Oswald, all of which evolved into many questions, a conspirator theory and a resulting asterisk which remains in the minds of many. Aynesworth said he has spent the past 50 years researching and questioning. He believes Oswald acted alone.

I haven’t read the book. I believe it is available at Barnes & Noble and on the internet as well as biographical information about the author.

Why has it sparked my attention? It is because way back in the ’50s Aynesworth offered me a job as police reporter with the then-morning newspaper in Fort Smith: The Southwest American. I’ve often wondered why he gave me the job. I didn’t seek it. Looking back, if the roles had been reversed, I wouldn’t have offered myself the job. Anyway, I took it. It was a learning experience for a kid from the weekly Gravette News Herald, a kid who looked about 15 years old (you who knew me then are probably nodding), a kid who didn’t have a clue about being a daily newspaper reporter, in a town of 30-some thousand, with Camp Chaffee nearby. Yep, it was a learning experience.

I really didn’t enjoy the job. In less than a year I headedback to the GNH and in ensuing years became its owner. Quite a contrast to Aynesworth who was managing editor of the Southwest American, who has had a varied, eventful and successful career in the fi eld of journalism with some of the nation’s leading publications.

I look forward to reading Aynesworth’s book. He was a terrific writer 50-plus years ago. I know it will be good reading and will shed his personal light on the day it involves. After reading it, I’m confident I’ll say, ”Good job, Huey!”

Dodie Evans is the editor emeritus of the Westside Eagle Observer and may be reached by email at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 4 on 11/27/2013