Phil Riddle
editor@weatherforddemocrat.com
It was 46 years ago today that Dallas newsman Jack Brown picked up his press pass which would allow him into the breakfast honoring the visit of President John Kennedy and went to work.
Brown, like other members of the Metroplex media, had no idea what the day would hold.
Now, thanks to a permanent loan from Aledo’s Mason Wallis, Brown’s press pass from that day, along with other artifacts concerning the presidency and assasination of the country’s 35th elected leader will be available for perusal by visitors to the Doss Culture and Heritage Center.
Wallis, who acquired the collection when the items were left behind in a building he bought in Aledo, took them to the Doss Center late last week.
“Jack Brown from Channel 4 news owned the house there on 1187, which is now the Parson’s Table” Wallis said. “When I purchased that building back in 1991, he left all this stuff there.”
Included in Wallis’ findings is a 16-millimeter film, apprently made by Brown, of an interview with Lee Harvey Oswald’s mother.
“I’m not sure if Jack was doing a presentation or a report of some kind, but that’s who is on the film.” Wallis said. “We looked at it last year. The audio is not very good. It’s a relic.”
Wallis said he offered to return the items to Brown when he found them.
“I told him ‘Jack you left a bunch of stuff there.’” he said. “He told me to do whatever I wanted to do with it.”
Part of Wallis’ discovery are white binders chock full of photos, documents and copies of the Warren Commission Report.
One hand-written page contains notes from the emergency room physician at Parkland Hospital in Dallas where the slain president was taken. In addition, there is a neatly typed page explaining JFK’s personal property, other than his watch, were given to Secret Service Agents. No mention is made of what was done with the watch.
Other pieces in the collection include old magazines with JFK and President Johnson on the covers, yellowed nespapers from 1963 announcing the death of Kennedy and the press pass allowing Brown, working for WBAP radio at the time, into the breakfast honoring Kennedy in Fort Worth.
C.B. Williams,exhibit coordinator at the Doss said the museum is full right now, but looks forward to having the exhibit up for local residents to see.
“I hope we can have it out by the end of April,” she said.
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