J. D. Tippit
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J. D. Tippit (September 18 1924-November 221963) was a police officer with the Dallas, Texas Police Department who was slain by Lee Harvey Oswald after Tippit stopped Oswald following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Biography
Tippit was born in Clarksville, Red River, Texas to Edgar Lee Tippit and Lizzie Mae Rush. It is often reported that J.D. stood for "Jefferson Davis", but in fact, the initials do not stand for anything. Tippit attended public schools through the tenth grade. Tippit was a Baptist. He entered the United States Army on July 21 1944 and was assigned to the US 17th Airborne Division where he served until June 20 1946.
Tippit was married to Marie Frances Gasaway on December 26 1946, and they had three children. That same year, he went to work for the Dearborn Stove Company. He then worked for Sears, Roebuck and Company in the installation department from March 1948 to September of 1949, when he moved to Lone Star, Texas and attempted cattle farming.
He attended a Veterans Administration vocational training school at Bogata, Texas from January 1950 until June 1952. He was then hired by the Dallas Police Department as a patrolman on July 28 1952. He served capably and was cited for bravery in 1956 for his role in disarming a fugitive.
Death
On November 22, 1963 Tippit volunteered to assume the watch of his friend and fellow officer Tom Tilson. He was ordered to patrol the Oak Cliff area of Dallas after the shooting of President Kennedy. At approximately 1:15, 45 minutes after the shooting, Tippit stopped Oswald, who fit the general description of the assassin. Tippit called to Oswald from the car. They spoke briefly, then Tippit got out of the car. Tippit was shot with a .38 and was killed instantly. Thirteen witnesses identified Lee Harvey Oswald as either the shooter or as fleeing the scene.
In January 1964 Tippit was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor from the National Police Hall of Fame and also received the Police Medal of Honor, the Police Cross, and the Citizens Traffic Commission Award of Heroism.
Tippit is buried at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas.
Reference
- Dale Myers. With Malice: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Murder of Officer J.D. Tippit. ISBN 0966270975