Daphne Cagle Oral History

Daphne Cagle's memory of some of her classmates cheering news of the Kennedy assassination was not an isolated experience, nor was it limited to young children. A number of oral histories offer similar reflections, including Dan Spigel, who remembers some of his Mississippi co-workers clapping upon learning of the president's death. Among the 1960s schoolchildren who remember some of their classmates cheering or clapping at word of the Kennedy assassination are Alice McCurdy, John Savage, Debra Fagin, and Dallas high school teacher Joanna Shields. After hearing about this reaction among a few students at a Dallas elementary school, local Methodist minister William A. Holmes preached a controversial sermon at Northaven Church in Dallas on Sunday, November 24, which helped stimulate ongoing international criticism of Dallas. The story of Rev. Holmes's landmark sermon may be found here: An Evening with Rev. William A. Holmes (youtube.com). - Stephen Fagin, Curator

Although she was unsettled by her fellow classmates' reactions to the news of President Kennedy's death, Daphne Cagle was impacted by the late president's legacy, which led her into an incredibly successful career as an educator and volunteer. In 2008, she was honored with the Sacramento County Teacher of the Year Award. Her ten-minute interview for the awards program can be found on YouTube here: Daphne Cagle: Sacramento County Teachers of the Year 2008 Interview.

Her association with DKG & Education, a professional society for women's education, has lasted for more than twenty years. She held key leadership roles including the 1st Vice President of California State Organization. As of May 2025 she has retired but still continues to embody the mission of DKG thorugh her volunteer work. Kennedy's humanitarian efforts inspired Ms. Cagle's involvement in giving back to the world. - Riley Harris, Collections Cataloger