Image of the exit from the basement parking garage of the Dallas City Jail

J. Waymon Rose (1922-2020) was selected as Juror No. 10 in the 1964 Jack Ruby trial. In 2002, Waymon and his wife, Ann, donated a remarkable collection of trial-related materials, including their personal diaries, three oversized scrapbooks, more than 150 letters and newspaper clippings and several amateur photographs such as this one.

When Waymon Rose passed away in 2020 at the age of 98, the Museum lost a treasured friend. In addition to two oral history interviews, Waymon joined us to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Jack Ruby trial in 2004 as part of a special panel discussion. He holds the distinction of being the very first guest speaker in the Museum's popular "Living History" public and educational program series, and he went on to participate in five more programs between 2009 and 2014. Two of these programs, recorded in 2013 and 2014, may be viewed in full on the Museum's YouTube channel. - Stephen Fagin, Curator

This photograph showing the ramp allegedly used by Jack Ruby to enter the basement of Dallas police headquarters was likely taken the day of or the day following the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald, November 24-25, 1963. If so, it was snapped by a man who would be selected to serve on the Jack Ruby trial jury a little over two months later. Ruby's easy access to the basement, particularly by way of this supposedly guarded ramp, was a key component of that trial, making this photograph from the assassination weekend quite unique. - Stephen Fagin, Curator