Local residents recall the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated 60 years ago

COSHOCTON − The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, has long been viewed as a turning point in U.S. history.

It is said by many to be the event that signaled the end of the hope, prosperity and good feelings of the post World War II era and the start of a dark time for the country that would include the quagmire of the Vietnam War and the scandal of Watergate.

Kennedy hadn't been president for even two years yet when he was shot while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963. Conspiracy theories continue to be bandied about today, but it's considered that Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald, who was later assassinated himself by Jack Ruby during a jail transfer.

It's said to be one of those pivotal moments that you remember exactly where you were when you heard the news, no matter how young you might have been at the time. It's an event that still resonates with people today and their memories of what happened and the days that followed are still as clear as when it occurred.

Some local residents share their recollections of the Kennedy assassination and aftermath.

● "I was a sophomore in class at CHS when an announcement came across the PA system that President Kennedy had been assassinated. We were immediately dismissed to go home. For the next several days I was glued to the TV." - Marty Darling of Coshocton

● "I was 9-years-old in fourth grade. For some reason, that I can't recall, I was standing at the opening to the school office when a number of female students came running and crying past me. Someone in the office said JFK had been assassinated. For the next few weeks it was in all the news and I can remember hearing my mother let out a cry of shock when Lee Harvey was killed. She was watching it live on TV." - David Ducote of Coshocton

● I was in eighth grade math class on Nov. 22, 1963, when our principal came on the school's public address system to announce that President Kennedy had been shot and killed in Dallas, Texas. My teacher, who I had in sixth and seventh grades as well, always had some type of political comment to make on current events, said “It was the Russians that killed Kennedy.” In April 1961, my math teacher had commented the Cubans and Russians would retaliate against Kennedy and the U.S. for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. In October 1962, my teacher commented the Russians were embarrassed about the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Russians would get revenge. Many conspiracy theories about the assassination were floated around in newspapers and in our church. - Tom Edwards of Coshocton

● "On Nov. 22, 1963, I was on a field trip with my classmates from Three Rivers High School (now known as River View High School). Our speech class was touring the WTNS Radio Station and the Coshocton Tribune buildings, both located on Sixth Street in Coshocton. We had just completed our visit to WTNS and walked across the street to the Tribune and into the newsroom. As we approached the tickertape machine, the message of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy came across, just seconds after this death. We learned about the shooting well before the tragic murder was put over the radio, television and newspaper. We were all in shock and our eyes and ears were glued to the national news that followed with the appointment of President Lyndon B. Johnson. We watched TV as Jack Ruby shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald, the assassin of President Kennedy, and the funeral services of the deceased President. For the balance of my senior year, our speech class entered into several discussions about politics and held debates on the upcoming presidential election." - Larry Endsley of Coshocton

● I was in my sophomore English class when the principal’s voice came over the PA system saying “the President has been shot.” About 10 minutes later, he came on again, audibly choked up and said, “President Kennedy has been assassinated. He is dead.” After a pause, he said, “We will now observe five minutes of silence.” It was one of the longest five minutes of my life. Everyone sat there with heads down, some crying. After that interminable length of time, he said, “Seniors are dismissed.” Then a couple minutes later it was juniors, then sophomores and freshmen. We left school in utter silence and went home to turn on TV and watch the news. It was a very sad day in our nation’s history and one which I will never forget. - Kathy Thompson of Coshocton

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton residents share memories of John F. Kennedy's assassination