UNT's Mayborn School of Journalism to present documentary on JFK assassination

Wednesday, November 13, 2013 - 16:23

What: Screening at the University of North Texas of "JFK50: Eyewitness to History" -- A documentary featuring the personal stories of 28 individuals who witnessed the events surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963. Followed by a question-and-answer session and book signing with Hugh Aynesworth, the documentary's interviewer. Sponsored by UNT's Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism and The Dallas Morning News.

When: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 (Wednesday)

Where: Room 43/47 of UNT's Gateway Center, 801 North Texas Blvd., Denton, TX

Cost: Free

Contact: Jo Ann Ballantine at the Mayborn School of Journalism, 940-565-4778


DENTON (UNT), Texas -- As President John F. Kennedy's visit to Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, ended in tragedy, Hugh Aynesworth, then a reporter for The Dallas Morning News, witnessed two key events of that day -- the shots being fired in Dealey Plaza and Lee Harvey Oswald's capture and arrest in the Texas Theater less than two hours later. Two days later, on Nov. 24, Aynesworth also saw Oswald's shooting by Jack Ruby.

For the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. Aynesworth interviewed 27 others who witnessed the events. The resulting documentary, "JFK50: Eyewitness to History," will be shown at the University of North Texas Nov. 20 (Wednesday).

Aynesworth will be a special guest the screening, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in Room 43/47 of UNT's Gateway Center. The Gateway Center is located at 801 N. Texas Blvd. in Denton. The screening is sponsored by the Dallas Morning News, which produced the documentary, and UNT's Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism.

The eyewitnesses featured in "JFK50: Eyewitness to History" include Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who jumped onto the presidential limousine in Dealey Plaza; Jim Leavelle, the Dallas Police Department detective who was handcuffed to Oswald when Ruby shot him; two doctors at Parkland Hospital who were summoned to treat Kennedy; and numerous reporters.

Aynesworth is the author of "November 22, 1963: Witness to History," published this year, and co-author of seven other books. He worked for The Dallas Morning News from 1960 to 1967 and was also the bureau chief of Newsweek's Houston bureau; a chief investigative reporter for the Dallas Times Herald, an investigator for ABC News' 20/20 and the Dallas/Southwest Bureau chief of The Washington Times. He has been named a Pulitzer Prize finalist four times.

Aynesworth will answer questions from the audience following the screening and also sign copies of "November 22, 1963: Witness to History."

For more information, contact Jo Ann Ballantine, marketing specialist for the Mayborn School of Journalism at 940-565-4778.

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