Spending Time with Scott in Austin, Texas

 

Eric & I drove to Austin to spend

time with my cousin, Scott.

     Stephen F. Austin, the founder of Anglo-American Texas, is depicted as the Patron Saint of Austin in this mural near the University of Texas, Austin.

Scott & me at the

University of Texas

in Austin.

We wander the Campus.

The Torchbearers Statue at

Flawn Academic Center

Golf Carts are used by 

UT Staff on this 

sprawling Campus.

I love the combination of

Architectural Styles

at this College.

Former Governor 

James S.Hogg 

Statue

The Main Building & the

 UT Tower rise above

 Governor Hogg's Statue.

 

Eric & Scott near the UT Tower.

It's being renovated & not open to 

visitors at this time.

The ethereal circles and the streak of light are easily explained.  Lens Flare occurs when taking a picture while facing the Sun.

This Tower opened in 1937,

is the site of America's first

College Mass Shooting.

On August 1, 1966, Charles J. Whitman killed his mother and his wife before driving to the University of Texas Austin around 11:00 am and started transporting six guns,  a Shotgun, ammunition, knives, food, and water to the Observation Deck of the UT Tower on the 28th Floor.  He killed three people and wounded two others as he made his way to his planned shooting area.  

Whitman went to the spot

above the Clock & started

firing at 11:48 am.

Here's the link to Nation: The Madman in the Tower, which appeared in Time Magazine on August 12, 1966.  It's a very detailed report of this fateful day.  Some locals arrived on Campus with rifles and started shooting at Whitman to stop him from killing and wounding more people.

After more than an hour of carnage, Austin Patrolmen Houston McCoy, Jerry Day, Off Duty Officer Ramero Martinez, and Allen Crum, a manager of a local Bookstore started climbing the stairs to the Observation Deck in the Tower to stop Charles Whitman's shooting rampage.  Martinez deputized Crum as they ascended the Tower. 

Martinez and Crum were the first two men on the Observation Deck, followed by McCoy and Day.  Armed Police and Civilians shot at Whitman's perch near the Clock to keep him busy.  Martinez shot Whitman in his side, arms, and legs.  McCoy hit Whitman with a Shotgun.  The Shooter's rifle was still moving and Martinez shot Whitman again with the Shotgun.

As we have seen repeatedly across our Country, communities find ways to survive the terror, live with horrific tragedy, and move on.  Since 1966, the enrollment at the University of Texas Austin has increased.  More buildings have been added to the Campus.

This statue of Barbara Jordan

celebrates her life as a Teacher,

 Lawyer, State Legislator, &

US Representative.

Eric at the William Randolph

Hearst Building

It is part of the Moody College

of Communication.

The stately Littlefield Home is

 adjacent to the Campus.

George W. Littlefield was a Texas

Ranger, Cattleman, & Rancher.

One of Austin's eclectic

Murals

Mass Murderer Charles Whitman

shot people along nearby

Guadalupe Street.

Scott tells us that the pockmarks 

in the Einstein Bagels' facade

are from August 1, 1966.

Scott, Eric, and are done with Local History.  It's time to find some Pizza and catch up on family news.