One of the Tarleton former J-TAC staff members being honored at Homecoming this year is Jerry Flemmons. He attended Tarleton from 1954-56, and went on to have a long career in journalism. He worked for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for thirty years in several different capacities. Jerry was a police reporter, features, writer, columnist, and retired in 1997 as the travel editor. He also authored several books including Amon: The Life of Amon Carter, Sr. of Texas; Plowboys, Cowboys, and Slanted Pigs; and Texas Siftings.
While on the Fort Worth Star Telegram staff, Jerry Flemmons covered the Kennedy assassination, served as one of Lee Harvey Oswald’s pall bearers, and was the first reporter to climb to the top of the University of Texas tower following Charles Whitman’s 1966 shooting rampage.
Born and raised in Erath County, Flemmons was quarterback for Tarleton’s 1954 winning football team. At the time of his death, in September 1999, he was a writer in residence for Tarleton State University.
Come to the Dick Smith Library and take a look at some of his books and articles in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. There was also a nice article in this past Monday's Stephenville Empire Tribune about the former Grassburr and JTAC staff who are being honored at Homecoming, including a photo of Jerry Flemmons when he attended Tarleton.
No comments:
Post a Comment