Congressman Sam Rayburn

Saturday, April 21, 2011, I headed up to Bonham, Texas to find Congressman Sam Rayburn. Congressman Rayburn is buried in Wild Willow Cemetery in the center of Bonham. The best way to get there is by taking the Sam Rayburn Tollway (formerly State Highway 121).

Shortly after entering Bonham, I noticed signs for the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum and the Sam Rayburn house. I’m starting to think Congressman Rayburn was somebody important.

Actual, Congressmen Rayburn is important. President Kennedy had visited Rayburn in Dallas when he was sick in the hospital. I think he also attend Rayburn’s funeral. It was these visits to Dallas that made Kennedy’s fatal visit seem less significant at the time. Photographer Robert Jackson mentioned seeing Kennedy a couple of times already in Dallas and he wasn’t willing to waste the film on a campaign piece for the newspaper.

The Wild Willow Cemetery is huge. There are thousands of graves.

I did a slow drive back to the admin building only to find nobody home. Having seen an image on Find A Grave, I slowly circled the cemetery looking for the Rayburn family tombstone.

Wouldn’t you know it, Rayburn was located at the very front near the main entrance. The Rayburn family tombstone is surrounded by markers for Rayburn, his wife Lucinda and other ken. Right between the Rayburn’s markers is a Texas Historical Marker.

Now that’s importance.

I took several shots with my Holga, Nikon and iPhone.

Kenneth E. Lyon

Of all the people I have found so far, Kenneth E. Lyon was the easiest. Lyon is buried at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. Seems more like Irving, Texas to me.

The DFW National Cemetery is a beautifully sculpted resting place for our fallen heroes. There are rolling green hills with a surround of trees that block out the mega-watt power lines encircling the grounds. There is also a small lake down the back slope.

I started my search at the admin office and got some really good help from the assistant. She (did not get her name) showed me the automated system for looking-up names and printing maps. It was just that easy.

I spoke with the attendant for a minute or two. I explained my project. She did not know anyone in the cemetery was involved with the Kennedy assassination. She did ask me an interesting question, Who do I think killed Kennedy? I’ll have to answer that one later. I didn’t really give her an answer. I am not looking for the killer. I am just looking for history.

Lyon was located in the section nearest the entry on the outbound road. The sod was being replaced in the next section over. Lyon had a military white granite stone, which is perfectly aligned with all the other stones.

Officer J.D. Tippit

Since I was already in Dallas, I decided to stop by Laurel Land Memorial Park and take a few more snaps of Officer J.D. Tippit. Having already found Officer Tippit before, I knew right where to find him.

Stevie Ray Vaughan is also buried at Laurel Land Memorial Park, not far from Officer Tippit.

Chief Curry and George Dealey

And continuing my day, I ventured over to Grove Hill Memorial Park to photograph Chief Jesse Curry and businessman George Dealey again. The more photographs the better.