Many remember where they were on that fateful day

Chuck Fischer

Friday marked the 50th anniversary of the day John F. Kennedy was shot as his motorcade passed through Dealy Plaza in Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was riding in a convertible with its top down with his wife, Jacqueline, and Texas Governor John Connally and his wife, Nellie. Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Hospital where he died.

Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and charged as the lone shooter. Two days later as police led Oswald from the Dallas Police Headquarter to transfer him to the Dallas County Jail, Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby.

While many theories as to whether Oswald acted alone in the assassination continue to raise debate, Kennedy's death also has become a date in history which people of a certain age remember in detail.

Phil Hammons

Several in Fort Scott shared their memory of where they were when they learned JFK had been assassinated.

Troy White, Fort Scott

I was in Air Force tech school in Aurora, Colo. We went out in the drill field. And they announced it was then he had been killed.

Carla Sheets

Allen Warren,

Fort Scott

I was going to school at Allen County Community College in Iola. I was shocked. And then I remember seeing (Lee Harvey) Oswalt shot, I was watching live TV.

Allen Warren

Chuck Fischer,

Fort Scott

I was in the service (Air Force) in Germany, I was sitting in the NCO (non-commissioned officer) Club drinking beer. I was in a little disbelief, I really didn't believe it would happen. I was surprised.

Troy White

Carla Sheets, Pittsburg

I was a senior at College High in Pittsburg. I was in Algebra class, and it was right after lunch time. We had an instructor who was young, and I remember he came out of the office and all of us were sitting there, and you could tell obviously he had been crying. We were just stunned a teacher had been crying. People just couldn't believe that it happened then. Being that age and young, you thought, "Oh my gosh, what's happening to our country? I don't believe it happened here."

Phil Hammons, Fort Scott

I was a sophomore at the University of Kansas, and I was walking between classes. I went through the student union and the big room with a whole bunch of TVs on the west wall. There were hundreds of people in that room, and there wasn't a sound. And everybody was staring at the TVs. I remember I asked some guy, "What's happened?" and he said the President's been shot. And I've never forgotten it. There were people crying and embracing. There were people kneeling on the floor. It's one of those things you just don't forget.