On November 22, 1963, I was a reporter for the Times-News, a daily newspaper in Twin Falls, Ida. It was my first real job after graduating from High School just a few months earlier.
Managing Editor, Lowell Dick had decided it was time I learn editing and had put me under our City Editor, O.J. Smith.
I was in the teletype room reading AP and UPI reports when the AP teletype came alive:
A 12KK
Bulletin
Dallas, Nov. 22, (AP)- PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS SHOT.
pause
Moments Later: TODAY JUST AS HIS MOTORCADE LEFT DOWNTOWN, MRS. KENNEDY JUMPED UP AND GRABBED HIM. SHE CRIED ‘OH,, NO” THE MOTORCADE SPED ON.
Pause
Moments later:
BULLETIN MATTER
DALLAS-FIRST ADD KENNEDY SHOT XXX SPED ON.
PHOTOGRAPHER JAMES W. ALTGENS SAID HE SAW BLOOD ON THE PRESIDENT’S HEAD
ALTGENS SAID HE HEARD TWO S HOTS BUT THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS SHOOTING FIREWORKS UNTIL HE SAW THE BLOOD ON THE PRESIDENT.
I ripped the script from the teletype and walked into the news-room.
“Kennedy shot,” I said to no one in particular.
Within seconds, Lowell Dick came scrambling down the stairs from his loft office and took over.
That ended my editorial training as I was shoved out the door to get public reaction.
I have kept that days copy of the Times-News for the past 56-years.
Thanks to the AP for keeping copy send out for all these years to refresh my memory.
