DALLAS / ROCKWALL COUNTY – Sept 16, 2013 – On November 24, 1963, legendary Dallas Police Department Detective Jim Leavelle was handcuffed to Lee Harvey Oswald and escorting him through the basement of the Dallas police headquarters when Jack Ruby ran forward and shot the alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy in the chest.
Photographs of that moment, one of which won the Pulitzer Prize, are recognizable to people around the world.
Last week, months before the 50th Anniversary of the JFK assassination, the 93 year old Leavelle spoke to a crowd of about 100 people at the Rockwall County Courthouse.
Noting that his original assignment was to investigate the shooting death of DPD Officer J.D. Tippit, he discussed his interrogations of Oswald and the investigation into the shootings. He also addressed his other historical appearance as a supply officer aboard the USS Whitney which was stationed in Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked U.S. troops on December 7, 1941.
“He is a living part of U.S. history,” said Rockwall County District Attorney Kenda Culpepper, who moderated the event. “I was so honored to meet him and could have easily listened to him speak about the JFK assassination and Pearl Harbor for another day and half.”
Officials presented Leavelle with a flag flown over the U.S. Capital, a gift from U.S. Congressman Ralph Hall who was in Washington DC and couldn’t attend the presentation. Hall, who also fought in WWII, said he was proud to honor the fellow veteran and iconic figure.
The event, which was hosted by the Rockwall County District Attorney’s Office and the Rockwall County Bar Association, was attended by members of both organizations, elected officials, law enforcement and other veterans. The presentation was taped by the Rockwall County Historical Foundation.
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