STATE HISTORICAL MARKER
Clarksville, Texas
On November 17, 2001, thirty-eight years after his death, the Texas Historical Commission recognized Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit's contribution to Texas history with the dedication of a state historical marker near his boyhood home just outside Clarksville, Texas.
In attendance were family members and friends, and past and present members of the Dallas Police Department, including a Dallas Police Honor Guard.
The event was the culmination of a thirty-eight year old dream of J.D.'s youngest sister, Joyce Tippit DeBord, who worked tirelessly to see that her brother's memory was preserved for all time.
The Texas Historical Commission
Texas has the largest marker program in the United States with approximately 12,000 sites. The Texas Historical Commission reviews more than 200 marker applications each year. Only those that follow a strict set of guidelines are approved. |
The key element in applying for historical recognition is a narrative history that demonstrates the historical significance of the individual under consideration.
The research paper must be complete, orderly, concise and fully documented. In order to fulfill the Commission's mandate, Joyce and her |
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| Joyce Tippit DeBord |
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Christene Tippit Christopher |
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In November, 2000, the application for the state marker, including Myers' 29-page documented essay on Tippit's contributions to Texas history, were submitted to the Texas Historical. [1]
The application entered the long review process in January of the |
following year [2], and was approved, to the family's absolute delight, on June 11, 2001. [3]
In late August, the Texas Historical Commission sent a copy of the proposed inscription for the marker to the Tippit family. [4] At the family's request, a number of revisions were made to the inscription text [5] and on September 16, 2001, the revised text was approved by the Commission. [6]
The Texas Historical Commission ordered the plaque to be cast on September 20, 2001. [7] |
Planning the Dedication
Plans for the dedication ceremony began in earnest. Family members were anxious to hold the ceremony at the earliest possible date in the hope that J.D.'s father, Edgar Lee Tippit, age 99 and in failing health, could attend. |
Red River County Texas Historical Society Chairwomen, Mary Hausler, worked closely with the Tippit family in choosing a suitable date for the dedication ceremony. Together they settled on Saturday, November 17, 2001, at 3:00 p.m.
Joyce DeBord contacted the Dallas Police Department and requested that an Honor Guard be present at the ceremony. They graciously accepted the invitation. |
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Joyce also invited former Dallas police homicide detectives James R. Leavelle and Elmer L. Boyd to attend the ceremony. Mr. Leavelle also agreed to participate in the dedication by leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
On October 22, 2001, Mrs. Hausler sent out a press release to media outlets, large and small, announcing the date of the dedication ceremony, noting that the marker would "recognize Dallas Patrolman J.D. Tippit for his significant contribution to Texas history." [8] |
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| A dedication ceremony program (left) and news clippings noting the forthcoming event |
In early November, the granite block and the 18 x 28 inch metallic plaque were shipped to the Texas Department of Transportation in Paris, Texas, for installation at the marker location, 6 miles southwest of Clarksville on Highway 37 at the junction of County Road 1280, formerly known as Baker Lane. [9]
The Tippit family farm was once located on Baker Lane in the 1930's and 40's. It was decided that the marker would be erected where Baker Lane joined Highway 37, on property now owned by J.D.'s youngest brother, Ron Tippit.
Over the course of several weekends, J.D.'s siblings, together with friends and family, worked to clear and prepared the ground for the marker's installation. |
Dedication Ceremony - Saturday, November 17, 2001
It was gray and overcast the morning of the dedication with only a slight hope that the clouds might break by 3:00 p.m., the scheduled start of the ceremony. |
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| Dallas police arrive for the dedication |
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At noon, the Lone Star Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, located one mile south of the marker location, began to fill with Tippit family members and friends who were busy coordinating a reception that would follow the dedication.
Two cars from the Dallas Police Department pulled up about an hour before the ceremony with a six man |
Honor Guard and were welcomed by the family.
A half-hour before the ceremony, a bit of sunshine began to peak through broken clouds as crowds began arriving at the dedication site. Three dozen folding chairs had been set up in front of the granite marker which was covered with a ceremonial black velvet cloth. A podium and portable sound system flanked the marker. |
The Dallas Police Honor Guard, under the command of Sergeant I.K. Fuller, assembled across a grassy slope. The American, Texas, and Dallas Police Department flags held by the color guard swayed gently in the light breeze.
The crowd grew larger by the minute - young, old, neighbors, and strangers - including a couple of local farm dogs who wandered over and made themselves at home. Vehicles parked on both sides of the highway stretched several hundred feet in each direction.
The Dallas police officers present turned on the flashers in their cruisers which helped slow the highway traffic passing close by.
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Dallas Police Honor Guard |
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A Red River County sheriff deputy happened upon the scene, saw what was taking place, and immediately set up a partial road block, shutting down one lane in order to slow passing traffic - a very nice gesture.
Ms. Jamie L. Bridges, a reporter for The Paris News, interviewed several Tippit family members as well as former Dallas police detectives Jim Leavelle and Elmer Boyd, who had arrived with a posse of former officers who had worked with J.D. |
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| Elmer Boyd and Jim Leavelle |
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Edgar Lee and son, Ron Tippit |
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Officer Brad E. Tippit |
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As the time for the ceremony approached, Edgar Lee Tippit, J.D.'s 99-year-old father, and his wife Mary Lee arrived in the care and company of son Ron Tippit. Ron's own son, Missouri City, Texas, police officer Brad E. Tippit arrived in uniform, driving a Missouri City Police Department squad car, which he drove as part of the honor guard for his uncle. |
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Other officers from surrounding police departments, including Paris, Texas, also sent representatives to the ceremony.
J.D.'s widow, Marie Tippit arrived with her children and grandchildren and took their place a few rows behind the immediate family seated in the front row.
At 3:00 p.m., Red River County Texas Historical Society Chairwomen Mary Hausler stepped to the microphone and welcomed the crowd of just over one hundred to the |
dedication ceremony. She said a few words about the importance of the historical marker being dedicated that day and introduced the Honor Guard who ceremoniously presented the "colors."
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Mrs. Hausler then introduced Jim Leavelle who led the crowd, heads bowed, in a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Carol Christopher, J.D.'s niece, took the microphone next. She introduced the Tippit family members who were present, including |
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Jim Leavelle (inset) leads a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance |
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J.D.'s 99-year-old father, Edgar Lee; his brothers, Don, Wayne, Edward, and Ron; his sisters, Chris and Joyce; his widow Marie and two of their children, Brenda and Curtis, and their respective spouses.
Carol then asked friend and minister Ricky Null to offer a prayer. Next, Carol introduced author and guest speaker Dale K. Myers who spoke of "the ordinary boy from Baker Lane" who inspired all that knew him with "his sense of duty, strength of character, and courage in the face of maximum danger." |
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| Carol Christopher |
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Guest speaker Dale Myers (right) addresses the crowd |
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Dale K. Myers |
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Following the speech, Mary Haulser again stepped to the microphone and asked J.D.'s brothers to come forward and unveil the marker. Edward, Don, Ron and Wayne Tippit stood, gathered around the marker and, to great applause, removed the black cloth as photographers, both amateur and professional, snapped pictures. |
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| Edward, Don, Ron, and Wayne |
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Myers reads the inscription |
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Mr. Myers took the microphone and read the words on the marker aloud to the crowd.
"Slain in the line of duty while on alert for President John F. Kennedy's assassin,
J.D. Tippit (1924-1963) grew up on his family's farm near this site. He served as a paratrooper in the 17th Airborne Division during World War II and received the Bronze Star.
"J.D. married his high school sweetheart in 1946 and started a family in Red River County. He joined the Dallas Police Department in 1952 and later was honored for his quick thinking and outstanding judgment.
"On November 22, 1963, Tippit was working a beat in central Oak Cliff when he stopped Lee Harvey Oswald for questioning. Oswald shot and killed him. J.D. Tippit, who left a wife and three children, is buried at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas." |
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| Ms. Deanna Dilbeck |
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DPD Honor Guard with Ms. Dilbeck |
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Mrs. Hausler then introduced Ms. Deanna Dilbeck, a Clarksville High School band member, who played a flawless rendition of 'Taps.'
Many in the audience were visibly moved by Ms. Dilbeck's performance; the haunting melody |
drifting out over Texas bluebonnets dotting the nearby field.
At the conclusion of 'Taps,' Mrs. Hausler thanked everyone for attending and invited them to attend the reception to follow at the Lone Star Methodist Church Fellowship Hall just down the road. |
The crowd lingered at the site, taking photographs alongside the marker, talking with family members and organizers, and enjoying the warmth of a beautiful day.
For Joyce Tippit DeBord, the ceremony couldn't have been more perfect. This was, after all, the culmination of a dream she'd had since her brother had been killed.
Someone remarked how the sunshine had come out just in time to cast a beautiful light on the proceedings and that it was as if J.D. were there with them, in spirit.
"I know he was," Joyce said with a smile. |
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| State Historic plaque near Clarksville, TX |
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Texas State Marker Location - Clarksville, TX
The Texas State Historical marker honoring J.D. Tippit is located in Red River County, 6 miles southwest of Clarksville, Texas on State Highway 37, between Lone Star and McCoy, at the junction of County Road 1280. You'll find the marker on the south side of the highway. |
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| Aerial photograph showing the location of the J.D. Tippit Texas State Historical Marker in Red River County |
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| Use the interactive map above to explore the marker location and surrounding area. |
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Next: State Historical Marker, Oak Cliff, Dallas, TX
