Remembering JFK

Editor’s note: We asked readers of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times to submit their memories of where they were and what they were doing when they learned that President Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas. We’re honored to be able to share their responses.

Our history class was interrupted by our principal’s solemn voice coming over the public address system: “The president has been shot. No details are known at this time.”

Everyone was stunned and felt an immediate concern for our president’s safety. Even though we were only 13 years old, we felt a connection to our president. President Kennedy had a way of making you feel that he was part of your family.

Of course, we had no cell phones or computers in those days and we had no way of keeping up with the latest information on the shooting unless the office notified us. No further announcements were made that afternoon.

After school, mom picked us up. I was going to ask her about the president when I noticed the tears streaming down her face.

“The president is dead,” she said softly. My brothers and I began to cry. In the years since, I have never known a president to be so loved by so many people, both young and old.

Nancy Karpyk, Weirton

Chernenko helped Kennedy win votes

By WARREN SCOTT Staff writer WELLSBURG — It may be hard for some to envision that one of the most popular U.S. presidents had a hard fight to win the presidential nomination, particularly in southern states.

As chairman of the Brooke County Democratic Party, John Chernenko was among political activists who helped the young John F. Kennedy to win that battle.

Kennedy’s detractors pointed to his relative youth (he was 43 when he declared his candidacy), inexperience in international affairs at a time when many Americans believed war with the Soviet Union was imminent and his religious denomination, as he would become the first (and thus far only) Catholic to be elected president.

Chernenko said he believes Kennedy’s religious affiliation was the motive for the anonymous death threats he received for supporting the future president. But such animosity came from outside the ethnically diverse Northern Panhandle, and Kennedy quickly won over the residents of this region with See CHERNENKO Page 6D

Warren Scott

REMEMBERING KENNEDY VISIT — John Chernenko of Wellsburg, former chairman of the Brooke County Democratic Par ty, looks over photos taken of the Kennedys during a 1959 visit to the county, where the future president spoke to a packed house at the Wellsburg Elks Country Club and the future first lady met with area women at a tea party hosted by Chernenko’s wife at their home. Among the photos is one on which Kennedy wrote, “To John with thanks and warmest regards.”

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I was watching the news while ironing clothes for my family in Phoenix.

Not wanting to believe but knowing it to be true because Walter Cronkite was reporting it, my spirit hurt, my enthusiasm for public service died. I called my husband at his work and said, with great sadness, “They killed John.”

Just over four years earlier, my uncle, Jim Cullen, had taken me to the Weiron Community Center to meet, then Sen. John Kennedy as he began his run for president of the United States.

We shook hands, exchanged comments. I volunteered to help his campaign. He called his brother, Ted, down from the stage, and Ted took my name and address.

Shortly after a letter addressed to me, Miss Linda Ghenne, and signed “Jack Kennedy,” dated April 28, 1960, arrived thanking me for volunteering. Enclosed was an 8-by10-inch glossy photo of “John” and a single sheet of instructions to be used when calling voters.

I worked diligently. I believed we could make this country better because he told me we could.

We all have faults and he had his, but none of his faults diminished his ability to inspire. His words called to the best in us and still do. And, I still recall his assassination with tears in my eyes.

Linda McNeil, New Cumberland

2D

I was in my first year of teaching school way back in 1963 at Mount Gilead High School north of Columbus. It was a biology class, and a seventh-period class of mostly boys, but when the loudspeaker came on and made the announcement to the whole school, there was absolute silence in my room, Since it was near the end of the period, I asked them to close their books and remember everything they could remember about JFK. The hands began going up and we finished the biology class with some in tears.

Betty Alvey, Steubenville

Hello, my name is Fred Cottle. I was born and raised in Brady, Texas, but I have been in Weirton about two years, residing at Freedom Place II. I can remember very well the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I was a long-haul truck driver.

When I first heard about it, I was on Highway 183, headed toward Dallas. My boss came over my two-way radio and said very nervously, “Come back, Fred,” and I could hear in the background on all his radios, “The president has been shot.” I then turned around at Northeast Mall on 183, and proceeded to the location where I usually parked my truck. I then went into the office sort of in a daze — actually, it was very difficult to comprehend, but I wondered what things were coming to.

So, I went home to my family and for many days, nights, weeks, months and now even years, they are still talking about this tragedy, on television, in movies, in books, etc. It is still a topic of great concern and interest.

Personally, I felt a great loss of a great man. I will never forget that day, it was so very, very sad.

Fred Cottle, Weirton I was a senior at Paterson Eastside High School, (featured in the movie “Lean on Me”) and was walking back to the school for afternoon football practice. It was 58 degrees, partly cloudy. My strides were quick and long.

On Thanksgiving Day we were to play against our cross town rival, Central, for the conference and N.J. state championship.

As I progressed along Market Street a car, swerving wildly, approached me. It came to a screeching stop resting its front wheels on the sidewalk in front of a firehouse across the street from me. I thought it was an accident in progress. Stopping to observe the scene I noticed the driver throw open his door and step out, apparently unhurt. I started walking again when the man turned the car’s radio up to full volume. I was well past his car but heard that the president had been shot. Just about out of hearing range I heard that President Kennedy was dead.

I knew it was important but the report didn’t fully register with me.

When I entered the locker room I told my friends what I heard. Collectively, we didn’t grasp the seriousness of the situation. At that point the coaches arrived and told us JFK had been assassinated.

They said practice was canceled, to go home and watch history in the making on TV. A controversy arose on Monday: Should the Thanksgiving game be played or canceled in honor of our fallen president. City and school officials decided we should play; life must go on. We won 12-0 becoming the only EHS football team to win a state championship.

Barry Bardone, Bloomingdale

I was employed at the radio station WJAS, an owned- and-operated station

by NBC in Pittsburgh. My position was that of assistant program director.

Seated at my desk, I heard the awful report over the speaker that President John F. Kennedy had been shot. I immediately ran to the newsroom to get more details. As you can imagine, it was a beehive. The station stayed with the network feed, but in the meantime, our newsman was watching the AP teletype feed and getting interviews lined up with political and community leaders.

One interesting observation: This is the only time I had seen an urgent occurrence that stated with the word “Flash.” It was really a bulletin, but it read: “FLASH” ... Dallas, Texas ... President John F. Kennedy shot. It was a very sad moment to say the least.

Bill Demjan, Steubenville

I was a sophomore at Madonna High School in Mrs. Bell’s English and literature class. We were discussing the book “Julius Caesar,” which we had been assigned to read.

We were focusing on the fact that, although his rule was cut short, Caesar accomplished much and gave Rome more hope. It was noted that perhaps he was more appreci-

FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 2013

A moment in history

By DAVE GOSSETT Staff writer STEUBENVILLE — Clint Hill’s desperate dash to the presidential limousine in Dallas nearly 50 years ago will remain forever in the memories of millions of Americans who saw the newspaper photos and television coverage that documented the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963.

The Secret Service agent who scrambled to protect Jackie Kennedy the day her husband was fatally shot later collaborated with journalist Lisa McCubbin to write, “Mrs. Kennedy and Me” about the four years he was assigned by the Secret Service to protect the first lady. The book was published in April 2012 and immediately became a No. 1 best seller on the New York Times best seller list.

Hill was the inaugural speaker for the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Lecture Series in November 2012.

According to Hill’s official biography, the retired Secret Service agent rose through the ranks of the agency to become assistant director and he served in five administrations. But the assassination of President Kennedy left Hill spiraling into a deep depression.

Hill later explained he felt guilty for not being able to save the president’s life that day and retired from his job at the age of 43. He became dependent on cigarettes and alcohol. It wasn’t until he met McCubbin that he found a reason to live and not just exist.

Hill met McCubbin in 2009 when she was writing her book, “The Kennedy Detail: JFK’s Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence.”

McCubbin was able to convince Hill the memories he had buried for nearly 50 years were of historic value and should be documented.

Hill shared his personal story with nearly 1,000 people one year ago in the Steubenville High School auditorium.

Hill said he initially was reluctant to accept a new assignment to provide protection for First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

“I had worked on President Eisenhowser’s detail and remembered Mrs. Eisenhowser going to tea parties and fashion shows.

When Mrs. Kennedy returned to her home in Georgetown following the 1960 election, I went to meet her. She didn’t want me there because she didn’t want someone looking over her shoulder and I didn’t want to be there. But eventually we became very close friends,” Hill told the audience.

He went on to discuss Mrs. Kennedy’s decision to rent a farm in Virginia where she could go

Associated Press

A DAY FOREVER REMEMBERED — Secret Service Agent Clint Hill jumped onto the presidential car after fatal shots were fired at President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963. horseback riding with her children, Caroline and John.

“Do you see that white building? Those were the stables. The horses were on the first floor and the agents were on the second floor,” he chuckled as a photo flashed on the screen behind him.

The talk was interspersed with black-andwhite photos and videos, including a short clip of Hill walking on the beach young John with Kennedy.

“But he soon wanted to go back to the boat to see his mom and dad. That was my day ... taking the kids to the boat and back to the shore and back to the beach. It was every day when the Kennedys were vacationing,” he said.

Hill also discussed Mrs. Kennedy’s frequent overseas trips, including a 10-day visit to India and Pakistan.

“The president of Pakistan wanted to present her with a horse and you can see the smile on her face. But all I was thinking about was how was I going to get the horse and two tiger cubs from India back to the United States?

We then went to visit the Khyber Pass but had to pass through an area controlled by tribal chiefs who wanted to pay tribute to the first lady. And they wanted to sacrifice a lamb in her honor. I told them to take the lamb behind the tent and do whatever they wanted to do with it but don’t do it in front of Mrs. Kennedy,” recalled Hill.

As he continued to share stories of his job and the Kennedys’ lives the mood in the room became more somber.

“She decided to help her husband’s re-election bid in 1964. And as you can see in these photos everywhere they went the crowds would be in the streets and hanging out of nearby building windows.

Everyone wanted to touch the president and be near him as he traveled

ated after his death than while he ruled.

I volunteered a comparison of President Kennedy being assassinated and the U.S. citizens appreciating him more after his death than while he was in office.

Well, English class ended and we went to our next class. We had barely settled into our seats when, over the PA system, came the announcement that President Kennedy had been shot.

Wow! I felt as if the blood was draining from my body. I sat there, open-mouthed, as the whole class turned and stared at me as if I was guilty.

I was speechless. We all went over to St. Joseph Church to pray and shortly after were informed of his death.

I loved President Kennedy and was very sad. I couldn’t believe the whole scenario. Years later, at a class reunion, Mrs. Bell was a guest and recalled that day in her class. Every Nov. 23, I think about that day as if it just occurred.

Bill White, Weirton

through a city in an open car. That was typical wherever we went,” Hill explained.

“We started planning the campaign trip to Texas that included five cities. On Nov. 21 we arrived in San Antonio and then went to Houston for a fundraiser for a congressman. We then flew to Fort Worth to spend the night. At 8 a.m. the next day the president gave a speech in a light rain outside of the hotel and in the photo you can see approximately 5,000 people gathered in the street and open windows in nearby buildings. You have to remember this was before air conditioning was common and windows were often opened for fresh air,” Hill said.

“We then flew to Dallas and put the president and first lady in the limousine with Mr. and Mrs. John Connelly. The crowds along the streets began to build and they were actually standing in the street,” he continued.

“The cars made the sharp left turn onto Elm Street to approach the underpass. We had gone about 100 feet when I heard a loud explosive noise. My vision went toward the noise behind me and that’s when I saw the president grab his throat. I ran toward his car and never heard the second shot. I then saw him fall over into Mrs. Kennedy’s lap,” stated Hill.

“When we got to Parkland Hospital Mrs. Kennedy wouldn’t let us take the president out of the car. Then I realized she didn’t want anyone to see the condition he was in. So I took off my suit coat and covered his head and back and she let us take him out of the car and put him on a gurney,” recited Hill to a silent audience.

“I was asked to call the White House to tell them what was happening. I was talking to my supervisor when the operator broke in to say

the attorney general wanted to speak to me.

That’s when the president’s brother, Robert Kennedy, came on the line and asked what had happened. I couldn’t tell him his brother was dead so I simply said it is as bad as it can be,” explained Hill.

Hill said the funeral procession to Arlington National Cemetery was completely silent. Normally the motorcade would have cheering crowds and flags waving.

But the only sound that day was the drums and the clop, clop, clop of the horses pulling the wagon carrying the casket. The entire world stopped for those four days in November.”

Hill would serve on the protective detail for another year before being assigned to other duties.

“But she remained my friend,” he said to a standing applause from the audience.

Ann Koon, director of public information at Eastern Gateway Commu-

nity College, thanked Hill for writing the book, “Mrs. Kennedy and Me”, “because he caught a piece of history.”

“I thought tonight was wonderful because we have his perspective on that part of history. His memory is still very remarkable and we were fortunate to have Agent Hill share his story with us. You could feel the pulse in the room when he started talking about Texas. You know what is coming and I think everyone dreaded hearing about that day. But it was unique hearing about the day from his perspective,” said Koon.

“I thought it was good to hear from someone who was there. We have read about President Kennedy and the assassination in class but he was there and talked about it,” noted Steubenville High School senior Ryan Ledakis.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)

Staff Photo

BOOK SIGNING — Clint Hill signed autographs at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and Herald Star Lecture Series.

had been shot. At that age I still believed everything was a little exaggerated and maybe he was shot but he’d get better. The next sign was as I was walking home there hardly seemed to be any traffic on two busy streets. The closer I got to home the more my intuition kicked in and I realized something major was going on.

When I entered my back door, I could here my mother crying in the living room. Being not sure if this was “grown folks business” or not, I ventured to ask my mother what was wrong and she said “Somebody killed the president,” and I, too, started to cry. I will never forget the news coverage and the shock that something this horrible could happen in the United States. To this day, I still get chills when I see it relived on television Barbara Ann Davenport, Steubenville

I was in the small town of Danielson, Conn., when news of President Kennedy’s assassination come over the TV. I had just left Berlin,Germany, after being staI remember the day of the assassination of Pres- tioned there for 33 months. I was there when JFK ident John F. Kennedy. At the time, I was a student come to Berlin and made his famous Ich Bin Ein at Grant School on North Fourth Street. There was Berliner speech.

I was there when they built the Berlin Wall and always something going on in the hall, and suddenpulled guard on it at Checkpoint Charlie. ly I got this eerie feeling. All of the teachers were I also guarded Rudolph Hess in Spandau Prison. whispering and some were openly crying. They said we had an early dismissal and to go home.

When I heard the news, it was devastating.

As I exited the building even the noisiest stuThomas R. Fazio Sr., Steubenville dents were whispering and saying the president

I had the TV set on in the kitchen as I was baking cookies all day in preparation of the upcoming Christmas holiday.

Just as I heard the news of the assassination that shocked and upset me, the oven timer went off and, in my frustration, I grabbed the hot cookie sheet without putting on the oven mitt and I burned my fingers.

Goldie Baly, Weirton I would like to share with you what I was doing and how I heard the news that President Kennedy passed away.

As a mail carrier I was delivering mail at 702 Logan St. Mrs. Pitrosky, who lived at this address, opened her door and said “Wiz, the president is dead.” I noticed a tear in her eye as she said “He is gone.”

As I continued my route I had a deep feeling of sadness and anger, sad this tragedy occurred and angry at whoever did this terrible act.

John “Wiz” Fabian, Mayor of Mingo Junction Yes, I do remember that day, because Nov. 23 is my birthday.

I worked at McCrorys 5 &10. That was on Fourth and Market streets. I was a waitress. I started at 8 a.m. That day started out good until they announced about President Kennedy. Everyone said a prayer but the rest of the day was sad.

Sarah Cook Swiger, Steubenville

FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 2013

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Tony Violi remembers John F. Kennedy

By MARK J. MILLER Staff writer

STEUBENVILLE — He was a hero to millions, eventually becoming an American icon, but former city high school band director Tony Violi remembers President John F. Kennedy as his personal hero.

Although the 95-year-old Violi never got to meet the president in person, he stood just several feet from his idol when Violi was band director for the Big Red Marching Band. Violi said it was a moment neither he nor members of the band would ever forget. “(The band members) were elated,” said Violi of the band marching in Kennedy’s inaugural parade on Jan. 20, 1961, in Washington, D.C. “I still have members of the band come up to me today and tell me they still remember that day.”

Violi, who was band director for Steubenville from 1950 to 1965, said the 100-member strong Big Red Band was a powerful unit in the late 1950s and early 1960s. When the opportunity came to march in Kennedy’s inaugural parade, Violi said he jumped at the chance.

“Every state in the U.S. has one band that could go,” said Violi. “I got a phone call, and they selected Big Red out of the whole state of Ohio. We had a sharp band in those days.”

The band traveled to Washing-

Contributed

MOTORCADE — The Kennedy motorcade, seen here with the former president and Jackie Kennedy, was just behind the Steubenville High School Marching Band during Kennedy’s inaugural parade, according to Tony Violi, former Big Red High School Marching Band director. ton, D.C., and prepared to march the parade route on a bitterly cold day. Violi, a World War II veteran, said Kennedy had been his personal hero ever since the future president was injured while commanding a P.T. boat.

Violi said everyone on the boat was killed except for Kennedy and another crewman after their boat was cut in half by a Japanese

cruiser. Violi said he admired Kennedy’s bravery during the incident. “He went into politics, and I went into the band business,” said Violi. “He did pretty well in politics, and I did pretty well in the band business.”

During the parade Violi said he got close to the president, but not close enough to shake his hand.

Contributed

“I didn’t meet him personally, but I was close,” he said. “I was marching in the parade, and he was in the viewing box. I’m pretty sure I was one of the only guys (in the parade) that saluted the president that day.”

There was one humorous moment involving the Big Red band and the president that Violi didn’t find out about until later.

“There was this majorette in our band, and (the president’s) eyes were on her,” said Violi, adding he learned about the incident from a newspaper account.

“He made this remark that, ‘She’s shaking everything, including her baton.’ His eyes followed her until she was completely out of sight.”

Violi said a newspaper reporter heard the president make the remark and reported it in a story on Kennedy’s inauguration.

Violi said he’s accomplished a lot since then, but he was proud of the band’s performance and focus that day.

“They were always in step,” he said. “I had a really good band, and I was strict. Even their eyeballs wouldn’t move. They had pride.”

INAUGURAL PARADE –– The Steubenville High School Marching Band was chosen to march during President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural parade on Jan. 20, 1961. Tony Violi, former Big Red High School March(Miller can be contacted at ing Band director, remembers that day was bitterly cold, but the band performed magnificently. mmiller@heraldstaronline.com.)

The drama that shook the Times newsroom

By EMILY HORVAT

(Editor’s note: This column, written by long time reporter Emily Horvat of Weirton, originally appeared in The Weirton Daily Times on Nov. 19, 1988, in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s death.)

magnitude of this history-making tragedy.

Blatnik was the first to gain her composure. She instructed me to run downstairs and tell Steve Spensky, press foreman, to push the button and stop the presses. Looking at my face, Spensky did not ask why. That was the first time in the history of The Weirton Daily Times that the presses were stopped.

“How bad is it?” was the question repeated as personnel from every department jammed into the newsroom and gathered around the teletype.

More bells and more bulletins: “President Kennedy and Gov. John B. Connally of Texas were cut down by an assassin’s bullets as they toured downtown Dallas in an open automobile today.”

Another bulletin that unbalanced the flow of orderly words on the wire: “It was difficult to determine immediately whether the First Lady and Mrs. Connally were injured. Both women were in the car.”

A new lead to the story: “The President, his limp body cradled in the arms of his wife, was rushed to Parkland Hospital.

The governor also was taken to the hospital.”

Fire more bells rang with another lead: “A Secret Service agent assigned to Mrs. Kennedy, said he’s dead, as the President was lifted from the rear of a White House touring car, the famous ‘bubbletop’ from Washington.

“Other White House officials were in doubt as pandemonium erupted in the emergency room and the corridors at the hospital.”

Still another bulletin: “A member of the President’s staff said at 1:55 p.m. the President is still alive.” Again more bells ringing out in rapid succession: “A Secret Service agent says he’s dead. A priest gave him the last rites.”

The final 10 bells rang out from the teletype machine to officially confirm the shocking news.

Across the wire came the dreaded transmitted bulletin: FLASH!!! — PRESIDENT KENNEDY IS DEAD The final headline for the edition — the last one in The Weirton Daily Times on Friday, Nov. 22, 1963 — “Kennedy Shot By Assassin” — with the drop head — “Fatally Wounded In Dallas.”

Blatnik shook her head slowly and said, “I know we should have a picture on page one.” The Times

U.S. Coast Guard base, Cape May, N.J. It was my first day in boot camp. This petty officer came into our barracks and said the president was shot and he was dead. We were all in shock.

The Coast Guard sent the top three companies to Washington for the funeral.

This is my memory of that awful day.

Earl Reed, New Cumberland

At the time, I was a senior in high school at Weirton Madonna. We were in chemistry class when the principal announced on the PA that the president had been shot. We were told to go over to the church. There was very little talking. My initial thoughts were that we were being attacked. I don’t remember walking over to the church but I remember one of the faculty members coming into the church and announcing that the president had died.

There was a lot of crying. I remember being scared.

Classes were canceled and we went home. I don’t remember how I got home because at that time Catholic schools did not get school bus service from the county. At home we stayed in and watched the news coverage on television. I remember we were afraid to go anywhere.

Bill Zanieski, Weirton

On Nov. 22, 1963, I was teaching senior English and yearbook journalism at Moundsville High School in Moundsville, W.Va. Several students came to my room in tears telling me that the president had been shot in Dallas and no one knew who did it or what was happening at that moment.

Every student in my class at the time began reacting to the news. None of us could believe that another American would try to kill our president for any reason. It was just beyond our belief.

We quickly turned on the news to follow each word concerning President Kennedy’s assassination attempt to find out if he was still living. When the report that he had died came on the air (radio, not TV at the time in our school), many of the students began crying and I remember that I, too, had begun crying. No one seemed exempt from tears that day.

Someone told us that Mrs. Kennedy was back on the plane and that Vice President Johnson was being sworn in as the new president of the United States. All of that was done very quickly so that our country would be protected. It was a time of sadness for everyone in America and is still a very sad memory today.

It was even sadder for me because it happened just one month before my wedding in December 1963.

The news of President Kennedy’s death was still fresh in our minds that Christmas and it has been every year since then.

Natalie Doty, Wintersville

I was recently back home and read the Herald-Star.

There was an article soliciting With the 25th anniversary of memories of President the assassination of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. I Kennedy drawing near, and with was born and raised in Steubenville and was a corpoit more theories of how and why ral in the United States our president was slain, I rememMarine Corps stationed at ber the drama that shook the Quantico, Va., at that time. I newsroom of The Weirton Daily was one of several military Times. food services personnel who It was Friday, Nov. 22, 1963, EMILY HORVAT augmented President Kennedy’s team when he viswhen the news of the shooting in ited military bases on the Dallas, Texas, struck Weirton and was the first to cry out, “Oh, my East Coast. I had joined that across the nation with a stunning God!” team in April 1962 and had The editor was away, and force that echoed throughout the traveled to several bases with Thais Shuler Blatnik, city editor, world. them. On that fateful day, I It was almost noon and The was the first to reach the teletype had just assumed the cook’s Weirton Daily Times had just fin- as the bulletin was coming off the watch when a Marine from our battalion office ran into ished putting the paper to bed. We wire. Fearfully, we waited in the mess hall and shouted met our deadline, felt the vibra- hushed silence. Blatnik uttered that the president had been tion of the presses rolling and softly, then shouted out, “the presshot. Initially, nobody turned our thoughts to the Christ- ident’s been shot!” believed it and we all went More silence of disbelief.

Five mas season. down to the battalion recreSuddenly the sound of five seconds, 10 seconds. Time stood ation room to watch the reporting on television. Everybells from the teletype wire serv- still as we all looked at each other. body was in shock and in ice rang out, breaking the sound There was deep shock among us tears, to include myself. I had of the presses. The newsroom who should have been accusbeen with the president severwhirled to a silence and the staff tomed to fast-breaking news. But al times, talked to Secret momentarily was paralyzed. I none of us were prepared for the See HORVAT Page 4D ➪ Service personnel about their duties and just couldn’t believe that something like literature class. The classroom was located on the TV, watching the coverage of this tragedy. It When President Kennedy was shot I was 10 this could happen. Reality seemed like we watched new developments of the Fourth Street side of the high school and directly years old and in class at Jefferson Elementary ensuing investigation for weeks and months. No one finally set in and I went back across the street from St. Peter’s Catholic Church.

School in Follansbee. to the mess hall in a trance.

I’m sure I was intently listening to Mrs. Toothman’s seemed to know how many individuals were I remember our teacher coming into the classThe next few days were just a involved and numerous conspiracy theories were room have a very difficult time controlling her emo- lesson when the bells at St. Peter’s began to toll. blur and it didn’t end until I proposed. I still wonder what exactly transpired Because these bells never rang at this time of day, tions. She was crying hysterically as she came in watched the president’s casand who else was actually responsible for this with another teacher announcing the assassination silence fell over the classroom. When the church ket pass by my position on the atrocity. But I do know that the sense of security bells continued ringing for what seemed to be an of the president of the United States. route to Arlington. Every once that I had prior to this event was forever gone. If extremely long time, everyone in the classroom Being 10 years old and hearing this news and in a while, I pause to think the president of the United States was vulnerable being away from your parents was very frightening knew something had happened. When the bells about having the honor to to assassination, what safety can the rest of us finally stopped, the room was abuzz with conjecto a child. tures about what this meant. Finally someone from expect in a land of freedom where terrorists, foreign have personally served the Later on Mr. Charles McBride, who was the president and how it impactor domestic, can thrive and do their dirty deeds principal, announced on the PA system that school the principal’s office stopped at each classroom to ed my life and career. relate the shocking news that President John F. was going to be dismissed early due to the presiuntil they are caught? Camelot was no more.

Ralph L. Wheaton, Larry Sesto, Steubenville Kennedy had been assassinated. Everyone in the dent’s death. No one knew what to think or where Paw Paw, W.Va. room was in shock. This news was something that we were headed at this time.

Rosemarie Reitter, seemed to be unbelievable. Surely the most powerI am an 80-year-old retired registered nurse. On I was in the third grade Follansbee ful leader in the world could not be that vulnerable. Nov. 22, 1963, I returned home after my shift and and was standing in line waitThese things just do not happen in America. After went to bed. all classrooms were informed of this tragedy, school Fifty years ago I was 15 years old and living in My husband was leaving for his 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. ing for my school bus number to be called. Our principal was dismissed for the day. downtown Steubenville. It seemed, at least to me, shift and said, “Jean, wake up. I’m not sure, but I came across the speaker and As soon as my feet hit the sidewalk, I started to be a time of relative safety. My parents never think they shot our president.” said she had some very sad running and did not stop until I got home. As I locked our house or our vehicle because there We had very little information at this time. news, that the president of the didn’t seem to be a need for it. The streets of down- entered my house I found my mother crying. She The next four days were spent watching TV. town Steubenville served as my secure playground. had been a staunch Republican and had even voted Two things I’ll never forget were watching Wal- United States had been shot.

After getting home I watched for Richard Nixon in the presidential election. But My neighborhood friends and I would play ball in ter Cronkite trying to hold back his tears to tell us her tears were for our beloved president, no matter our president was dead and the image of little John the TV with my mom, sisters the lighted Treasure Island parking lot, located at and brothers and we all sat what was his party affiliation. My father, a staunch saluting his father’s casket.

Seventh and Washington streets, well after dark and cried.

Democrat, was still at work at the High Shaft and with no fear of anything bad happening.

Like the rest of the nation, I was sad and Margaret (Bradley) Nickoson, didn’t find out the news until he got off work. When shocked.

On Nov. 22, 1963, I was a sophomore at Brilliant Jean VanKirk, Steubenville everyone was finally home we became glued to the Steubenville High School and sitting in an English

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We were on the playground at Bantam Ridge School, and the teachers came out and told us to go to our classrooms, but didn’t tell us why. Needless to say, we were not happy about cutting our recess time short. As I entered Mrs. Parker’s sixthgrade classroom and saw the look on her face, I knew something was terribly wrong.

The voice of our principal, Mr. Thompson, came over the intercom announcing that President Kennedy had been shot. The only thing I remember after that is that the rest of the afternoon was very quiet, except for the teacher crying.

On Sunday, after church, we were just sitting down at the dinner table for lunch, and I went out to the living room to see the man accused of shooting the president being transferred, and I remember shouting out that he has just been shot by a man in the crowd.

These moments are forever imprinted in my mind.

Lorraine K. Hukill, Steubenville In order to tell you about what I felt and where I was when I heard that Kennedy died, I have to tell you something about when Roosevelt died.

I was about 8 years old and listening to my stories on the radio after school; Jack Armstrong — All-American Boy, Tom Mix and Mystery Man were some. They interrupted my stories to say the president had died. (I have to admit I was quite put out because my stories were interrupted, and went to tell my mother. When I did, she said, “Oh they did not!” She came into the living room and listened. She sat in the rocking chair and soon I noticed she was crying. I thought to myself, “Gee, I didn’t know she knew the president!” I couldn’t understand why she was crying.

Twenty years later, I was watching “As the World Turns” on TV and they interrupted to say the president had been shot, and later, that he had died.

I had a sick feeling in my stomach and I cried. I finally understood why my mother had cried 20 years earlier. I felt as though a family member had died and wanted to call my sister. I had no phone so I asked the neighbors to use theirs. All I could think of was his two children no longer had a dad. I had no car, so I could not go and be with my family. All I could do was cry.

That’s how I felt. A member of my family had died. I watched every day as the saga unfolded on TV. I was heart sick for a long time to come.

When Life magazine came out with his picture on the cover, I tore it off and put it in my family album.

J.M. Kane, Steubenville Nov. 22, 1963, will stay with me forever.

I lived in Columbus and was attending Columbus University.

That day I decided to walk to school. I saw people crying and talking among themselves. Finally, I asked someone what was going on, and they told me President Kennedy had been assassinated. A sick feeling came over me. I wondered how anyone could have done that.

Then I looked across the street and saw that Lazarus Department Store was draping its windows in black. I knew then it truly was final.

This beautiful, intelligent man had been taken from us, and it was a great loss for our country.

Sheila Locascio, Mingo Junction

FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 2013

Local resident recalls Kennedy’s visit to Weirton

By SHAE DALRYMPLE Staff writer WEIRTON — Many local residents remember what they were doing when they heard about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, but Ed Gialluco prefers to remember what he was doing when the former president arrived in Weirton.

On May 1, 1960, then Sen. John F. Kennedy and his brother Ted arrived at the Weirton Community Center, now the Millsop Community Center, to speak at the Italian Sons and Daughters Association banquet.

At the time, Gialluco was a patrolman for the Weirton Police Department. He and another police officer were stationed behind the community center. The limousine was supposed to park in front of the building, but, for some reason, the motorcade pulled up in back.

“The car stopped right next to me. I didn’t even move. I didn’t know who was in there,” Gialluco

said. “I reached down and opened the door, and he steps out.”

Gialluco was impressed with Kennedy’s height for a moment, and they shook hands just before madness ensued.

“Everybody started screaming,” he said. Gialluco tried to hold back the crowd, but one woman made it past him.

“She had a cast on her left arm, and she hit me on the back of the head,” he recalled with a smile. The woman kissed Kennedy right on the cheek.

The community center was packed for the banquet. The campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in West Virginia was in full swing, and Hubert Humphrey was not easy competition.

Kennedy was swimming against the tide as a Roman Catholic in a mostly Protestant state, so he spent a lot of time speaking to the coal miners and steelworkers in towns up and down the Appalachian hills. By the time he arrived in Weirton, a throat infection had prac-

tically wiped out his voice.

“His voice was so hoarse that Teddy took over and started talking for him,” Gialluco said.

Kennedy’s speech that day focused on the importance of fostering small business.

“No area of economic development is more essential to the future of West Virginia than the stimulation of small business,” JFK said before his brother took the podium.

Kennedy’s exhaustive campaign for West Virginia paid off. He carried the state and went on to win the presidential election against Republican Richard Nixon by a narrow margin.

“I would not be where I now am, I would not have some of the responsibilities which I now bear, if it had not been for the people of West Virginia,” he said in June 1963.

On Nov. 22, 1963, Gialluco was in a locker room preparing to report for police duty when he heard that the president had been shot and killed. Like most Americans, shock

Shae Dalrymple

RECALLING A MEMORY — Ed Gialluco of Weirton recalls the day he shook hands with Sen. John F. Kennedy. and sadness is what he remembers feeling as he went on with work that day.

In 1965, Sen. Robert Kennedy traveled to Weir-

ton to dedicate the memorial bust of his brother at the community center, and Gialluco was on security detail again for that bittersweet moment.

“He was sitting on the back of the convertible waving to everybody. He was exposed,” Gialluco said. “He told the police chief he didn’t want to have security in uniform.

He didn’t want to show any fear.”

Gialluco and his wife, Nancy, were JFK supporters from the beginning.

They still reside in Weirton. When former President Bill Clinton came to the Millsop Community Center in 1992, he signed one of Gialluco’s photos with Kennedy from 1960 and said that Kennedy was his hero.

(Dalrymple can be reached at sdalrymWEST VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN — Former Weirton Police Patrolman Ed Gialluco opened the door of the limousine ple@heraldstaronline. for then Sen. John F. Kennedy on May 1, 1960, when he arrived during the pivotal campaign for West Virginia. com.)

Photo courtesy of Ed Gialluco

Horvat Continued from Page 3D did not have a picture transmitter. “Does anyone have a picture?” she asked. Blatnik wondered out loud, “What happened to all of our pictures when the President campaigned in Weirton in 1960 for the Democratic presidential nomination?”

My heart pounding, I rushed down to Cove Elementary School where a special second-grade student carried a picture of President Kennedy in her wallet. The picture was taken by the little girl just a month earlier when the First Family toured Miami, Fla. The president had his motorcade stopped, stepped out of the open convertible, walked over to the curb and spoke to the child.

The little girl, only 6 years old, was taking pictures with the Times camera.

The news had not reached the school yet, but the little girl

sensed something terrible had happened to the president. I didn’t have the heart to tell her just yet. She would find out soon enough. The little girl’s picture of the president was used on page one of The Weirton Daily Times.

Grief rolled across Weirton, the state of West Virginia and the nation, like a gigantic shock wave. First there was the stunned disbelief, the hatred and anger at the sniper who shot and killed President Kennedy, followed by anguish and tears.

Here in Weirton, women wept in the streets and men cursed in helpless anger. Businesses closed and schools were dismissed. The tolling of the church bells announced the sorrowful news. American flags were lowered and flying at half-staff on a gloomy day under cloudy skies

Back then, the town of Weirton was alive and buzzing with mill workers coming and going out of these establishments. As I made my way down Main Street into another business, Walter Cronkite came on TV to announce that the president had been killed in Dallas. I think it was around 1 p.m.

I was working in the press- in the afternoon.

It just seemed like everyone was in shock. No room of the Herald-Star, which was located on Fourth one was talking; they were just staring at the TV in disbelief. To me, it felt like the whole town had just Street at the time, when the publisher came into the press- stopped.

I will never forget that day and can still play it room hollering, “Stop the back in my mind every year on Nov. 22. presses, stop the presses.”

Louis Headman, Follansbee That was the first time I ever heard that phrase except in a It was the weekend of the Pitt-Penn State footmovie, before or ever since. ball game. This was a major event for the Lane famThe publisher said there ily, as both dad and his older brother, Uncle Bob (for had been a report that the whom I had been named when I unexpectedly president had been shot, but there was no confirmation. So joined the family as the second of two twin boys to we had to wait until the news- my shocked parents!) were Penn State alumni, and this was the game of the year. room and composing room Now, Thanksgiving was the one time when the could get the information entire family got together, the feast rotating together and we could get between my uncle’s house in Akron, my aunt’s started again.

I worked for eight years at house in Mount Lebanon, my grandmother’s house The Weirton Daily Times and in Ingram (another Pittsburgh suburb) and our house. We had moved to Wheeling from Ingram a 37 years at Herald-Star, and few months before. So the “clan” decided that we that’s the only time I ever would celebrate Thanksgiving a few days early, on heard those words, “Stop the Sunday, the 24th, the day after the game. presses.”

My brothers and I eagerly anticipated these famNeedless to say, it was a ily get-togethers because it was the only time we sad occasion, the assassinawere sure of being with our four cousins, and they tion of a president.

George Livingston, Steubenville and all the adults had wry, keen, and sometimes quite sarcastic senses of humor. A good time was I had just graduated from always had by all. high school in May and was Finally, Friday was here. I was a sophomore at working for Weirton WholeTriadelphia High School. The school day was dividsale. My job was delivering ed into six class periods, plus lunch. Finally, fifth supplies to the local bars and period was here. I loved fifth period on Fridays restaurants in Weirton that because it was Mrs. Poe’s world history class, and day. on Fridays, we watched the current events movie, I was on Main Street going sponsored by the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of into one of the restaurants Moundsville, W.Va. And this Friday, I was in charge when a bulletin came across of running the projector. By fifth period, Mrs. Poe the television around 12:30 had already seen this week’s movie a number of p.m. that the president had times, and usually exited the classroom. She then been shot in Dallas. At that escaped to the teachers’ lounge, an always smokemoment you could hear a pin filled room where she could enjoy at least one cigadrop in the place. rette and one package of Lance Toast-Chee crack-

and drizzles of light rain mixed with snow.

The phones in the newsroom kept ringing, and the bulletins kept coming off of the teletype wire machine.

The phone rang again as I was leaving. This time it was another little girl. “Is the Christmas parade going to be held tomorrow?” she asked. Unaware that the parade had been canceled, I answered, “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

The phones were still ringing when we, the staff, walked quietly out of the building with our newspapers, to go home. All of us wanted to be with our families, and like the rest of the nation, to our television sets. We heard and saw over and over again what we could not believe at first — that the president was dead.

The nation mourned when

ers.

She always came back through the classroom’s unique double doors shortly before the movie ended, only this time — unlike all the other times — she said something. And then she sat down. Now, the words that I thought she said simply made no sense to me. When the movie was over, someone turned the lights back on, and my final duty of the period was to rewind the film for the next class, being sure to apply slight pressure to the reel that was losing its film to the other so that there was no slack in the film.

I waited. I waited for Mrs. Poe to say something.

She didn’t. I waited for anyone else in the class to say something. Or ask something. Nothing. So finally, thinking that possibly she had said something inconsequential and not what I had thought she had said, I asked, “Mrs. Poe, what did you say when you came back into the room?”

“I said ‘The president has been shot.’ Nobody knows if it is serious. Some reports say that it is a head wound.” And then the bell rang, indicating the end of the fifth period. We all grabbed our books, amid out-loud speculation as to what was going on.

My sixth and last period was geometry class, in Mrs. Lister’s room, which was also my homeroom.

As we arrived at her door, it was still closed. Her class was running late. When she finally opened the door and stood aside to let her fifth period class out, I and others at the same time asked “Are we still having class?”

“Well sure, why wouldn’t we?” she responded.

All at the same time, the group said “President Kennedy’s been shot!”

Smiling but still confused, she asked “What’s the joke?” By now the entire sixth period geometry class was crowded around and responded, “It’s no joke!”

“Well,” as the smile evaporated “until I hear something official, we’ll be having our class.”

I don’t remember how many minutes had passed when suddenly, the speaker high up on the wall in the front of the classroom came alive. The man speaking was Illinois Sen. Everett Dirksen, whom I quickly realized had the ability to speak much and say little. After what seemed like an eternity, he said something that told us that in fact, President John F. Kennedy was dead.

Class and the school week ended shortly thereafter. Dad was waiting out in front of the school to take us, and a couple of the kids who lived near us,

President Kennedy was laid to rest on Monday, Nov. 25, 1963.

That day in history was the third birthday of his son, John (John John) Kennedy Jr. Caroline, John John’s sister, was 6 years old on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 1963, two days after their father was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

John F. Kennedy was the 35th and youngest president of the United States for only 1,000 days, but in that time he guided a restless nation in what has been termed the “Camelot Years.” He was a symbol for his age.

Kennedy captured the heart of America but neither his energy nor the love of a nation could prevent his assassination in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963.

Twenty-five years later the memory of JFK remains alive and strong.

home.

When we got home, mom already had the TV on.

I grabbed our 3M/Wollensak reel-to-reel tape recorder and set up the microphone near the television, thinking that this was something worth taping and keeping forever.

I honestly can’t remember whether the football game was played the next day or not. On Sunday, we gathered at my grandmother’s house for the dinner. I remember everyone sitting around talking while I watched live television as Jack Ruby shot Oswald. It was hard to comprehend what had just happened before my eyes, but I turned around to everybody and, having to speak loudly to get everyone’s attention, I said “Hey guys, I think Oswald just got shot,” and we watched and listened as we discovered that, incredibly, yes — now Oswald, the suspected assassin, had just been shot.

A special weekend, indeed.

Bob Lane, Steubenville

The day of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, I was a junior at Weirton Madonna in a civics class. While Joe Krivak was teaching, Sister Adelaide Williams (our principal) announced over the speaker that the president had been shot.

Mr. Krivak did his best to keep his composure and go on with the class while all of us sat there in a state of shock. Then the terrible news came that the president had been pronounced dead.

We were instructed to walk to St. Joseph church, where the entire school prayed until it was time to go home. Everyone on the bus was silent. When I arrived at my house, my married older sister, Kathy, was there comforting my parents. It was like a member of our own family had passed away, they were all weeping and from the moment of the terrible news our television was on with the entire family sitting in our living room following every detail minute by minute.

All the schools and many businesses remained closed until the day after the funeral. The entire world seemed to be in mourning for this young, greatly respected president. The crime rate in the United States that week was at its lowest point.

Everyone felt the impact of his death. People everywhere openly grieved. We were at that time a country united and equally shared the love and loss of a great man. Even after all these years, there has never been a public servant who has made an impression on my life as he did.

Charlotte Helba, Weirton

FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 2013

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Shaking hands one day, gone the next

By JANICE R. KIASKI Herald-Star community editor

STEUBENVILLE — One day, Steubenville resident Ingrid Koenig was shaking hands with President John F. Kennedy; the next, she was reacting to the news that shocked a nation — JFK had been assassinated.

Koenig was a student at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, studying education in hopes of becoming a teacher, when Kennedy had passed by the school in a motorcade touring San Antonio on Nov. 21, 1963.

“They had let the whole school out to see the motorcade,” Koenig recalled.

“He was in a black convertible limo with his wife, Jackie; Gov. John Connally and his wife, Nellie; and the security agent and driver,” Koenig said. “The black limo stopped in front of the college, and one of the students rushed toward the car with a bouquet of yellow roses. The president caught them, and the security agent checked them and gave them to Jackie,” she said.

“The motorcade stopped, and students rushed up to shake JFK’s hands.”

That included Koenig, who was attending the school after having obtained a scholarship and working grant as a new graduate of her alma mater in Beeville, Texas.

Without hesitation, Koenig made her way to the limo.

“We were all trying to see if we could get that close to him,” she said. “I was one of the lucky students who shook his hands,” she said, “actually both of his hands.”

The moment was captured by a school photographer — her backside in a picture with the limo and Kennedy’s face visible. It was a photo that would be printed along with other candids from that moment-in-school history, something Koenig wouldn’t even discover until the yearbook became available the following year.

Koenig spotted herself instantly.

“You don’t know it’s me, but I know it’s me — that’s my brown sweater,” she said, pointing to the photo in the yearbook, a special keepsake.

“I was happy I was able to get that close and shake his hand and see Jackie,” Koenig said.

In a 24-hour period, however, the mood switched from ecstatic and elated to shocked and saddened.

News of Kennedy’s assassination gripped the campus with grief.

The students were told to gather in the IWC Chapel where they would recite the rosary followed by a requiem Mass.

“I think everyone in the chapel cried,” she said.

“The faculty and students were stunned and shocked by the news. JFK was placed on a pedestal. The nuns and stu-

LOOKING BACK — Ingrid Koenig was a student at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, when she shook hands with President John F. Kennedy the day before he was assassinated, then mourned his death as did the nation. Her college yearbook was dedicated in Kennedy’s memory and includes a candid photo of the moment Koenig shook hands as one of the lucky ones from the college crowd. dents adored, loved and held him high,” Koenig said, noting news of his death brought “total sadness, tears and shock. Our 1964 Logos yearbook was dedicated to him.”

Koenig came to the United States in 1955 with her mother and older sister via ship from Bremerhaven, Germany, which sailed into the New York harbor.

“We came from Durmersheim by Karlsruhe, which was close to Baden Baden where I had grown up,” she said. “It was due to my uncle who was a Holy Family missionary in a Texas diocese.

The main reason for our departure was mainly economical. He had gotten us a sponsor in San Antonio. He had also gotten a job for my mother in his diocese. When plans changed, my mother had to find work elsewhere. We ended up in Beeville, Texas, since my uncle became a professor at a Catholic high school in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Koenig attended grade school and high school in Beeville, then graduated from IWC. “With the education degree, I did get a job teaching at Longfellow Junior High in San Antonio. I did some substitute teaching in Steubenville and worked many years in the library at Jefferson Community College,” she said.

Koenig relocated to Steubenville with her hus-

Growing up in Arta, Greece, I was 13 years of age when President Kennedy was shot.

We had heard about it on the radio that the president of the United States had been assassinated.

I remember this day like it was yesterday.

Church bells rang in a sad mode for three days straight. School was canceled for three days for respect for the president.

People were very sad and showed expressions of deep sorrow on their faces as they passed by.

Although we were many miles away from where this occurred, we still felt the pain like it happened in our own country.

Chris Manos, Weirton It snowed the evening of Nov. 23, 1963. My mother told us she was watching “As the World Turns” when the news came across the airway.

She took my little brother in her arms and went outside for a walk. I was in the first grade at St. John school in Wellsburg — the first floor room on the north was in the corner of the building. They didn’t have preschool back then, so it was my first time away from home. I had been in school less than 90 days.

First the Catholic nun entered the room and said the president has been shot and that we should all pray. Then she returned to announce the president was dead.

It snowed that evening and it was cold. Most stores closed. I know we watched the CBS news broadcast with Walter Cronkite in the front room all weekend. Football was canceled, and we went to church on Sunday.

We had stored peaches in the basement during the Cuban Missle Crisis. I remember the snow. I was 6 years old.

Michael Traubert, Wellsburg Although it’s been 50 years ago and though my mind is not as sharp as it was, I do remember this piece of history.

I had just graduated in the spring and was working for a large department store called Woodward and Lothrop in Washington, D.C. I was hired part time for Christmas. I worked as a telephone operator taking Christmas orders for merchandise that was advertised in the newspaper.

That particular morning we were very busy, and the phones were constantly ringing. At one point I went to the window to look down at the busy shoppers who were carrying their gifts —

would be heard. After all, in the eyes of a 13-year-old who believed God was Catholic, how could God not save the first Catholic president?

Shortly after the first news broke, the principal in a tearful second announcement told us that President Kennedy had died from his injuries. To describe the scene as surreal and unfathomable does not accurately describe it. Ordinarily, at the end of the school day, children are noisy and boisterous, happy to have the school day over. That day, I will never forget how incredibly quiet everyone was in the classroom, in the halls and on the bus. Even walking home from the bus stop to my home, neighbors I passed along the way were hushed and everyone looked stunned and so forlorn. As the following days unfolded and information was revealed on television, including live funeral coverage of the funeral and culminating with the live coverage of Jack Ruby killing Lee Harvey Oswald, I remember thinking the world had gone topsy-turvy. Remember that in those times, violence directed at political leaders was a rare event. However, from that day on, it seemed that our world had forever changed when RFK, MLK Jr. and others met similar violent deaths.

In later years I would choose government service as my life career. To a large extent, I credit the urging of the late president to “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” as coaxing me toward a federal career where I believe I have helped contribute to his vision of people working to help others.

Rose Ann (Ferrelli) McMurray, Fairfax Station, Va., formerly of Steubenville and Weirton

When I was 14 years old in 1960, Sen. Kennedy came to my hometown as a candidate for president. Everyone was so excited that he was stopping in our little town, London, Ohio, which is the county seat of Madison County.

I was chosen (can’t remember who chose me) to be a “Kennedy Girl”along with about a dozen other young ladies to line the sidewalk from the street to the podium at our courthouse where JFK was going to speak. We all wore our navy blue suits with our white gloves and our big straw hat with our Kennedy for President button on it. He came through the line and shook hands with all of us. I remember my mother, who was close by me, patted him on the back and I thought she was going to faint she was so thrilled to touch the good-looking senator. She and my dad were staunch Democrats back then.

The day he was killed I remember vividly. I was a senior in high school in gym class. The principal announced over the intercom for all of us to return to our homerooms. He told us that we were being disband, Frederick, who worked she’ll always remember. missed because the presi“It was a very sad day in as a union pipefitter and evendent was shot and had died. tually became a member of our lives — a day we’ll never We all were so upset, and forget.” what is now local 490. when I got home, my mother As for the 50th anniversary and dad and our neighbors were there and glued to the (Kiaski can be contacted a of JFK’s asassination, Koenig TV. There was not a dry eye said it is a time in history jkiaski@heraldstaronline.com.) in the house. For the next week or so we never left home as we gathered what a happy site. at the Holy Family Institute, which was an After lunch, we noticed the phones had orphanage and was located on Ohio River Boule- around our TVs for all the events and news. We tried to stopped ringing. I again went to the windows vard. I knew and played with some of the kids understand why someone and there wasn’t a shopper in sight. We couldn’t there. So I found out the time the president was would do this to our beloved imagine. We then got a phone call and were told going by and stopping at the institute and went president.

President Kennedy had been shot and killed. Our down and managed to get across the boulevard, I believe that our country department store closed and I bought a pair of working my way up to the institute area. slippers to replace my heels. I then started to Some of the kids who lived there were outhas never really been the walk up Pennsylvania Avenue to go to the White side. When the motorcade stopped, I can remem- same since. As the 1960s House to see the family coming back from ber seeing JFK in a convertible Lincoln limo. rolled on, the war in VietTexas.

The president got out very close to where I was nam and all the other assasIt was a like a parade. The streets were full standing. I remember that he was a tall, tanned sinations, were such trouof people headed to the same destination. The man with sandy colored hair. He accepted flow- bling times in our lives. sky was very gray and it was just how I felt, also ers and gifts from the kids who lived there and Karen Morrison, doom and gloom. I don’t remember how long we then started shaking hands with people, so I wigWintersville waited, but it didn’t seem that long, before the gled my way to the front and stuck out my hand helicopter landed on the White House grounds. I and he looked right at me and shook my hand.

I was in fourth grade and don’t remember how I got home that night — I’m That’s something, even today at the age of 61, was walking home from sure my brother-in-law came to pick me up. that I will never forget. school. A neighbor told us The next thing I remember was going to D.C. So when he was assassinated on Nov. 22, the president had been shot. for the funeral procession. I remember the coffin 1963, it was a little over a year after I seen and We didn’t believe him and draped with the flag, but what stuck in my mind shook his hand. I remember I was in the sixth ran home. I was very sad was the riderless horse. The horse was brown grade and my teacher was called out of the and black in color, with the high boots turned classroom and in a few moments, came back when I heard it was true.

Ralph Nickoson, Brilliant backward. crying and told us President Kennedy was killed.

You could hear a pin drop — it was so quiet, I remember going home from school and no except for the horse’s shoes clopping on the one talked much. I went to a friend’s house and I was in study hall at street. we watched a lot of what had happened on TV Steubenville High School What an eerie feeling came next when the that weekend. It was a very sad day for America when I first heard President limousine carrying the first lady appeared. She and now I look back and see pictures of the pres- Kennedy had been shot. was looking straight ahead, so very sad under ident and documentaries on TV and I feel so One of the secretaries her black veil. I also remember Peter Lawford in honored that I got to see him and shake the hand came up from the office and a limousine looking at the crowd. of President John F. Kennedy. handed the teacher a note.

It was a very sad time.

Vince Straight, Toronto Everyone was in shock, and Linda Marcino, Richmond some of the students started to cry.

It was a source of pride to Roman Catholics My memories of President John F. Kennedy There was a store across that John Kennedy was the first president of the began when I was 10 years old and I lived in the United States who shared our faith. We studied from the high school, and we borough of Emsworth, which is between Sewick- about his presidency in elementary school where all went over to see if it was ley and downtown Pittsburgh on state Route 65, I was in eighth grade at St. Joseph’s in Weirton. true. also known as Ohio River Boulevard. I lived Everyone was walking To this day, like many Americans, I recall there until 1968 when I moved to Richmond, and vividly where I was when I first heard the horri- around in a daze — it was I now call Toronto, where I live with my family, truly four dark days in histofying news. Ironically, we were in history class home. ry. nearing the end of the school day when the President Kennedy was on a two-day tour, President Johnson school principal came on the static-prone public declared a national day of which began on Oct. 12, 1962, when the presiannouncement system to tell us the president dent arrived at the former Greater Pittsburgh mourning. had been shot in Dallas. I think many of us were Airport, and from there was in a motorcade Mary Hunt, Steubenville hoping we had somehow misunderstood the headed for downtown Pittsburgh. The president stopped first in Aliquippa and then traveled words coming from the principal’s mouth. Our down Ohio River Boulevard (Route 65) toward class decided to interrupt our studies to say a Pittsburgh. I remember hearing all the talk at prayer for the wounded president. Not knowing the time about the president coming through our how serious the injury was, we were hopeful our area. They said the president was going to stop prayers for the safe keeping of the president

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FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 2013

Chernenko

his personality and attitude, he said.

“He was a handsome man with a lot of charisma,” recalled Chernenko, who arranged a luncheon in October 1959 at the Wellsburg Elks Country Club, which was located on state Route 67, where Kennedy could meet with area residents.

Concerned there would be a small number of reporters at the WheelingOhio County Airport when Kennedy arrived, Chernenko and others recruited friends to pose as reporters, with notebooks and cameras in hand, to make a bigger impression.

Such theatrics weren’t unheard of in campaigns of that day, he admitted.

Chernenko recalled officials with Weirton Steel wanted to send a limousine to transport Kennedy to the country club, but Chernenko believed that would create the wrong image.

Because a donkey has long been a symbol of the Democratic Party, Chernenko arranged for two donkeys to appear outside the club with signs reading, “Welcome Kennedy” and “Victory in ‘60.”

Chernernko said when they arrived, “Everyone and his uncle were there on the lawn to greet them.”

He had hoped for a couple of hundred at the luncheon. Instead there were more than 400, he recalled.

Among them were U.S. Sen. Jennings Randolph, who introduced Kennedy and noted his service during World War II, and a number of local and state officials.

But some officials were absent because they supported U.S. Sen. Hubert Humphrey for the Democratic nomination, Chernenko noted. For example, U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd campaigned for Humphrey.

Chernenko said later Humphrey asked his assistance but he declined.

“I told him, I gave my word to Kennedy. If I went back on that, what would you think of me?” he said.

Chernenko said during the luncheon Slim Walnoha, a very tall local supporter, entered the room to deliver a telegram.

“From Harry Truman — Give ‘em hell, Sen. Kennedy,” Walnoha read, using the famous phrase for which the former president was known.

Chernenko admitted it was another bit of drama, completely fabricated for the occasion.

A replica of the U.S. Capitol was presented to Kennedy by Richard Barnes, then assistant Brooke County prosecutor, who worked closely with fellow assistant Brooke County Prosecutor Ralph Pryor and Chernenko to coordinate the visit.

Chernenko said Kennedy quickly won over

Continued from Page 1D the many attending with his charm and knowledge.

The Wellsburg Daily Herald reported that Kennedy set aside a prepared speech to comment on issues of interest to local steelworkers. For example, Kennedy criticized President Eisenhower for using provisions in the Taft-Hartley Act to order striking steelworkers throughout the U.S. back to work the year before.

Perhaps equally successful were tea parties hosted by Chernenko’s wife, Kathryn, at their home and attended by the future first lady.

Chernenko said interest in meeting Jacqueline was so strong, even among Republican women, that a schedule was made, allowing 25 women to meet with her for 10 minutes, after which, another group could enter.

About 60 women turned out for the party, and it wasn’t always easy getting the women to conform to their time limit, he said.

He said despite such time constraints, Jacqueline made a favorable impression on the guests.

A correspondent for the Follansbee Review reported guests were charmed

by Jacqueline’s soft-spoken and reserved manner and her interest in the arts. Jacqueline revealed she enjoyed painting, writing stories for children, photography and going to the theater.

Chernenko confessed to being flattered by a comment made by Jacqueline. Kathryn had commented that many of the men in the Weirton Steel department where John worked were older than he, he recalled.

After being told that John was 37, “She said, ‘Oh, he’s a young man,’” Chernenko said.

Chernenko also remembered Kennedy coming to pick up his wife and being greeted by Chernenko’s sons, Gary and Marc, who sat on his knee.

The tea party was so successful that Chernenko arranged others, with other representatives of the Kennedy campaign as guests.

“We hit every precinct with teas,” he said.

Working with Ralph Pryor, district chairman for the Kennedy campaign, Assistant Brooke County Prosecutor Richard Barnes and others, Chernenko arranged campaign events throughout the Northern Panhandle.

Chernenko said a young Ted Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr. and Arkansas Gov. J. Howard Edmondson were among Kennedy supporters who visited the area to encourage voters’ support.

He said the Kennedys didn’t forget the support they received in Brooke County. When Bobby

Associated Press

MOMENTS BEFORE –– President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy ride in the backseat of an open limousine on Main Street at Ervay Street in Dallas as the presidential motorcade approaches Dealey Plaza.

Texas Gov. John Connally and his wife, Nellie, are seated in the limousine’s jump seats.

Kennedy was campaigning for president in 1966, he spoke at St. Francis Centre in Follansbee, “drawing the largest crowd we had for any candidate in Brooke County.”

Chernenko said turnout for the engagement was so great, Kennedy agreed to speak at the Follansbee High School football field afterward to accommodate the many who came to see him.

After being elected president, John F. Kennedy appointed Chernenko, a World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, as a U.S. marshal.

He was having lunch with an FBI agent in Wheeling when he heard of Kennedy’s assassination and called a member of the president’s cabinet, “who told me, ‘He can’t survive. He’ll be dead within an hour.’”

Chernenko said he knew himself that Kennedy wouldn’t live, having suffered a bullet wound to the head.

He said of Kennedy’s death, “It hurt me really bad. It was just like one of my family had died. It hurt my mother and father, too.”

Chernenko said the late president and his administration “were for poor people and people who couldn’t do for themselves.”

Chernenko, who would go on to serve nine years as a state senator and work with the West Virginia Division of Veterans Affairs to help fellow veterans, said he considers Barnes, Pryor and Kennedy among his greatest influences.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)