L. C. Graves
L. C. Graves | |
|---|---|
 Graves (right with dark hat) with Jim Leavelle and Lee Harvey Oswald | |
| Born | October 8, 1918 Camp County, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 11, 1995 (aged 76) Kaufman, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Police detective |
| Spouse | Myrt Graves[1] |
| Children | 2[1] |
L. C. Graves (October 8, 1918 – February 11, 1995) was an American police detective who worked for the Dallas Police Department. He wrestled the gun from nightclub owner Jack Ruby after Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald, the suspected assassin of John F. Kennedy.[1][2][3]
Life and career
Graves was born in Camp County, Texas.[4][5] He was the brother-in-law of police detective Paul Bentley.[6] He served in the United States Army during World War II.[5] After his discharge, he joined the Dallas Police Department in 1949.[1][5] During his time in the police department, he worked as a detective in the Homicide and Robbery department.[4][5]
On November 22, 1963, Graves and fellow detective Jim Leavelle were assigned as bodyguards for Lee Harvey Oswald, the suspected assassin of John F. Kennedy.[1][7] After Oswald was shot by nightclub owner Jack Ruby, Graves wrestled the Colt Cobra revolver from Ruby's hand.[1] He testified before the Warren Commission in March and April 1964.[4][3] He retired from the police department in 1970.[1][5]
Death
Graves died on February 11, 1995, of heart failure at the Presbyterian Hospital in Kaufman, Texas, at the age of 76.[1] He was buried at Grove Hill Cemetery.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "L. C. Graves, 76, Dallas Officer Who Wrestled Gun From Ruby". The New York Times. February 14, 1995. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ↑ "Witness Ascribes Malice To Ruby; Quotes Him as Saying He Hopes Oswald Would Die". The New York Times. March 5, 1964. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- 1 2 "L. C. Graves, 76, Dallas Officer Who Wrestled Gun From Ruby". The New York Times. Associated Press. 1995-02-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
- 1 2 3 United States. Warren Commission (1964), Investigation of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: Hearings Before the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy · Volume 7, U.S. Government Printing Office
- 1 2 3 4 5 Sneed, Larry (2002). No More Silence: An Oral History of the Assassination of President Kennedy. University of North Texas Press. p. 375. ISBN 9781574411485 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Hevesi, Dennis (July 25, 2008). "Paul Bentley, 87, Dies; Detective Arrested Oswald". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ↑ Blumental, Ralph (August 29, 2019). "James R. Leavelle, Detective at Lee Harvey Oswald's Side, Dies at 99". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ↑ Benoit, Tod (September 29, 2015). Where Are They Buried?: How Did They Die? Fitting Ends and Final Resting Places of the Famous, Infamous, and Noteworthy. Hachette Books. p. 539. ISBN 9780316391962 – via Google Books.