60: J.D. Tibbit

60 years ago tomorrow (November 22, 1963) President John F Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas.

Also killed by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas on that day was Dallas Police Officer J. D. Tippit.

(J.D. Tippit)

J. D. Tippit was born on September 18, 1924 in Annona, Texas the eldest of 7 Children of Cotton Farmer, Edgar Lee Tippit (1902–2006) and Lizzie Mae "May Bug" Rush (1905–1990.)

J.D. didn’t actually stand for anything other than J.D. He was named after a character that his Father had read about in a novel while in High School and had admired.

He went to the Fulbright High School until the 10^th Grade when he left to help on the Family Farm.

World War 2: When the US entered World War 2 in December 1941 Tippit’s Father wen tot work at a War Plant in another Town leaving the 15 year old to completely run the Family Farm on his own.

He entered the US Army (during World War 2) on July 21, 1944 and Volunteered and Served in the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment (513th PIR), part of the 17th Airborne Division.

On March 24, 1945 he parachuted across the Rhine int Nazi Germany as part of Operation Varsity (the largest Airborne Operation in history to be conducted on a single day and in one location with 16,000 Parachuters involved.)

He earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his Military Service. He remained on Active Duty until June 20, 1946.

Family:

(Marie, Charles, Brenda and Curtis Tippit)

He married his High School Sweetheart, Marie Frances Gasway, on December 26, 1946.

The Couple had three Children, Charles (1950-2014), Brenda (1953) and Curtis (1958.)

He held several jobs from 1946-1950 before enrolling in a a Veterans Administration Vocational Training School at Bogata, Texas in 1950. He left the school in June 1952 with his High School Diploma and other Skill Sets.

Police Officer: In July 1952, the Tippit Family relocated to Dallas, Texas where Tippit was hired by the Dallas Police Department as a Patrolman.

During his time with the Dallas Police Department, Tippit was cited twice for Bravery as well as getting the Certificate of Merit, Medal of Valor, Police Medal of Honor, Police Cross, Citizens and the Traffic Commission Award of Heroism.

The First Citation: On April 28, 1956, Tippit and his Partner. Officer Daniel Smith. responded to a call of Domestic Violence in Progress. As they arrived on scene the abused Wife ran screaming from the house, while the Woman’s Abuser slammed the front door in the Officers’ faces.

Undeterred, Tippit and Smith crashed through the door, but were immediately set upon by the “demented” Husband, who was armed with an ice pick. Before the wild Man could be subdued Smith suffered a deep wound to his shoulder, while Officer Tippit was struck in the stomach and the knee.

Tippit underwent surgery to remove the tip of the ice pick which had broken off and become embedded in his knee cap. He recovered and continued to work as a Patrolman for the Dallas Police Department.

The Second Citation: On September 2, 1956, Tippit received a Commendation for using this ability to kill a Gunman in a bar before the Man could kill the Police Officers.

Death:

(J.D and Marie Tibbit)

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald at 12:30 pm on November 22, 1963.

At about 1:15 p.m. Officer J.D. Tippit, was on patrol in a neighborhood just southwest of Downtown Dallas when he spotted a Man walking down the street that met the description of the Shooting Suspect.

Moments later, Tippit got out of his Patrol Car and Oswald opened fire shooting him 4 times, killing Tippit.

Oswald, who was arrested a short time later at the Texas Theatre with the .38 caliber Pistol on him that he used to kill Tippit, was killed two days later by Nightclub Owner Jack Ruby during a Police transfer.

Officer J.D. Tippit was laid to rest on Monday, November 25, 1963, the same day that President Kennedy was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Over 1,500 Mourners attended the funeral.

Aftermath:

(Marie Tibbit at J.D.’s Funeral – November 25, 1963.)

At the time of his death, Tippit was earning a Monthly Salary of $490 (equivalent to $4,684 in 2023) as a Dallas Police Officer. He was also working two part-time jobs; he worked at Austin's Barbecue Restaurant on Friday and Saturday nights and at the Stevens Park Theatre on Sundays.

After her Husband's death, Marie Tippit received letters, money and phone calls from all over the world.

Robert F. Kennedy (Brother of President John F. Kennedy) called that very night. President Lyndon Johnson, the next morning in his first full day as President, called, too.

She exchanged correspondence with Jackie Kennedy (Widow of President John F. Kennedy.) Jackie wrote , "You and I share another bond — reminding our Children all their lives what brave Men their Fathers were."

 

Following the murder, a total of $647,579 ($6,511,152.89 in 2023 Dollars) was donated to Tippit's Family. One of the largest individual donations, $25,000 ($251,365.20 in 2023 Dollars), was made by Dallas Businessman Abraham Zapruder. This was part of the money Zapruder received from Life Magazine for the film filmed at the scene of the Kennedy Assassination.

Marie Tippit died on March 2, 2021 in Sulphur Springs, Texas at the age of 92.