Johnny Calvin Brewer Oral History

On November 22, 2011, forty-eight years after the Kennedy assassination, Mr. Brewer was awarded a Citizen's Certificate of Merit by Dallas Police Chief David Brown. The widow of slain Officer J.D. Tippit attended the ceremony at Dallas police headquarters.

In addition to this oral history with Mr. Brewer, the Museum also recorded an interview with local actor Don McCoy, who portrayed Brewer in Oliver Stone's 1991 film JFK. - Stephen Fagin, Curator

Johnny Brewer played a key role in the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald just 80 minutes after the Kennedy assassination.  As he explained to the Warren Commission and everyone else over the years, a man stood in the doorway of his shoe store as police squad cars raced up and down Jefferson Boulevard with lights flashing and sirens blaring as news spread about both the assassination and the shooting of a police officer a few blocks away.   The man acted nervous and was clearly not interested in buying shoes.  When he departed, Brewer followed him toward the Texas Theatre.  The theater ticket taker, Julia Postal, stepped out of her booth to the curb and, as she did, Brewer noticed Oswald slipped inside behind her without paying.  When asked if she had seen him, she said no, so Brewer said to call police and report a suspicious person who might be connected to the shooting.  Brewer's willingness to get involved was responsible for the quick apprehension of Lee Harvey Oswald. - Gary Mack, Curator