It was a hot 98 degrees when the sun set as I left the Robson Ranch Clubhouse in Denton last night. Beyond the field with the setting sun were roadways before getting on I-35W that were lined with sunflowers. As a student at Olli University of North Texas, I attended "Witnesses to History: A Panel" discussion. The planned event was scheduled to feature three individuals who experienced JFK's assassination and its aftermath, firsthand. As it turned out, only one showed up; the other two were sick and very old. I was able to listen to Norman Grant, Jr., MD, who was a senior medical student at Methodist Hospital in Dallas at the time of the assassination. He participated in the retrieval of a bullet from the body of Officer J.D. Tippit while other doctors he knew treated both President Kennedy and Governor Connally at Parkland Hospital.
Dorie A. Wiley, MBA, (man to the left in the photograph) lectures various subjects in Dallas-Fort Worth on finance, the JFK assassination, and other historical events. He stepped in to interview Dr. Norman Grant, Jr. about the role he played on November 22, 1963.
Right from the start of the interview, I could tell Dr. Norman Grant, Jr, is a humble physician. For many, many years, he did not talk about the Kennedy assassination. For him, being in the operating room, knowing what was going on with his colleagues, at Parkland Hospital working on President Kennedy and Governor John Connally, governor of Dallas was something no young medical student doctor could imagine would or could happen. Actually, he told us, this was the third time in his lifetime, that he could speak in public about what happened.
Out of respect and honor for Dr. Grant, I chose not to tell what I learned from listening to the interview. For me, hearsay, is not an option. His was a very painful, personal experience, and one he wasn't expecting or trained to do in preparation for a Presidential assassination.
I am a student of lifelong learning. What a privilege it is to take a step back and review historical events and how they shape the lives of people and the society in which we live. Enrollment in classes, workshops, and taking bus trips to the scenes of something ghastly that occurred when I was just a child, encourages critical thinking, reflection, and listening skills to hear without talking about the evolution of history.
Something I continue to learn is no matter how old a person is, or what roles they play at various stages in life, we all have to be prepared to be involved in situations that arise. As professionals, we have a duty to do the absolute best we can when the unexpected happens. Then, we have a responsibility to contribute to a greater sense of belonging in our community and pass along knowledge, truth, and compassion about life stories that shape our culture and the society in which we live today. For these lifelong experiences, I remain grateful.
Patricia Feager
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