Va Tech and the Tower shooting
What happened at Virginia Tech yesterday got me to musing on August 1, 1966. I actually got to meet and talk to the retired Texas Ranger Ramiro Martinez who helped end the sniper fire on the UT Austin campus. Sweet, sweet man. He wrote his autobiography in 2005, "They Call me Ranger Ray Martinez", and he had a full chapter dedicated to the tragety that happened there in 1966.
"I feel that after thirty-seven years Charles Whitman is still holding The University of Texas Tower hostage. The University Tower should be open to the public seven days a week. Admission should be charged to pay for security and proper safeguards. It is a shame that the Tower was closed for so many years and now is open only under very restricted conditions.
I remember reading in the Austin American newspaper that Governor John Connally would be recognizing all who played a part in bringing the Tower episode to an end. I was not looking for any glory or rewards as I felt my reward was one dead sniper.
I was and am still upset that more recognition has not been given to the citizens who pulled out their hunting rifles and returned the sniper's fire. The City of Austin and the State of Texas should be forever thankful and grateful to them because of the many lives they saved that day. The sniper did a lot of damage when he could fire freely, but when the armed citizens began to return fire the sniper had to take cover. He had to shoot out of the rainspouts and that limited his targets. I am grateful to the citizens because they made my job easier.
I also have great admiration for the students who risked their lives to remove some of the wounded. Those volunteers were never properly recognized."
"I feel that after thirty-seven years Charles Whitman is still holding The University of Texas Tower hostage. The University Tower should be open to the public seven days a week. Admission should be charged to pay for security and proper safeguards. It is a shame that the Tower was closed for so many years and now is open only under very restricted conditions.
I remember reading in the Austin American newspaper that Governor John Connally would be recognizing all who played a part in bringing the Tower episode to an end. I was not looking for any glory or rewards as I felt my reward was one dead sniper.
I was and am still upset that more recognition has not been given to the citizens who pulled out their hunting rifles and returned the sniper's fire. The City of Austin and the State of Texas should be forever thankful and grateful to them because of the many lives they saved that day. The sniper did a lot of damage when he could fire freely, but when the armed citizens began to return fire the sniper had to take cover. He had to shoot out of the rainspouts and that limited his targets. I am grateful to the citizens because they made my job easier.
I also have great admiration for the students who risked their lives to remove some of the wounded. Those volunteers were never properly recognized."