Phil Willis Slide #21

Phil Willis' entire family joined him in Dealey Plaza to see the president's motorcade: his wife, Marilyn, their daughters Linda and Rosemary, and Marilyn's parents, Mr. & Mrs. William H. Stubblefield.  Neither Rosemary nor the Stubblefields were questioned by the Warren Commission, although the other members of the family were interviewed. - Gary Mack, Curator (1995-2015)

In addition to witnessing the assassination of President Kennedy, Phil Willis was also present at another historic event: the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. A second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, Willis was assigned to the 86th Observation Squadron at Bellows Field in Oahu, Hawaii, during the Japanese attack. During World War II, he flew a total of 52 combat missions.

Mr. Willis passed away in January 1995, before he could record an oral history with the Museum.  However, his wife, Marilyn Willis, participated in a videotaped group interview with other assassination eyewitnesses on November 22, 1996. - Stephen Fagin, Curator

Above the entrance to the building can be seen the original Texas School Book Depository sign that is now in the Museum's collection (https://emuseum.jfk.org/objects/33132). Additionally, the iconic latticework screens that are visible covering the first floor windows of the Texas School Book Depository were made of decorative cast concrete bricks known as "breeze blocks." The purpose of the breeze blocks was so that the ground floor windows could be opened to allow ventilation of the space while cutting down on noise pollution from nearby streets. - Stephanie Allen-Givenspollutiontions and Exhibits Manager