Dallas County Judge Lew Sterrett proposed a monument to John F. Kennedy at the assassination site, symbolizing the city's respect for the fallen president. Mayor Earle Cabell (term 1961-1964) and Sterrett discussed appointing a countywide committee to determine the feasibility, location, and form of a fitting memorial. Boyd Ridgeway, Board Chairman of Midway National Bank, Grand Prairie, offered the first monetary donation for a memorial and suggested that the monument take the shape of a carillon bell tower with a rotunda at its base containing a life-size statue of President Kennedy.

   At a meeting aired on national television, Mayor Pro Tem Carie Welch made a recommendation to the Dallas City Council to designate a memorial plaza near the assassination site in downtown Dallas. The City Council approved the recommendation and Council member George Underwood, Jr. asked the Council to include a suitable memorial in the plaza. Welch insisted that the plaza "not be construed as a place marking the scene . . . But as an effort to express the sympathy and dedication of the people of Dallas . . ." At the same meeting, Cabell proposed that the memorial should not be built in Dallas, but in Washington, D.C., as a national monument.

   Fort Worth city leaders considered building a memorial. They turned the process over to the City Parks Board, which had already rejected a proposal for creating a John F. Kennedy Memorial Park across from the Hotel Texas because it would be too expensive.

   In a letter to President Johnson, Cabell formally extended the services of the John F. Kennedy Citizens Memorial Committee.

   Former Mayor Robert L. Thornton (term 1953-1961) announced his opposition to a monument in Dallas.

   7:30 p.m.-John F. Kennedy Memorial Foundation held its inaugural meeting at the Hotel Adolphus. Open to the public, the meeting was intended to garner support for a memorial in Dallas.

   It was reported in the The Dallas Morning News that the John F. Kennedy Citizens Memorial Committee announced their decision to consult with the Kennedy family before taking any final action on establishing a memorial. John Stemmons, Jr., a Dallas developer and co-owner of Trade Mart, said that the committee would consider all suggestions for an appropriate memorial. The Committee was also taking into consideration a bill that had been submitted to both Houses of Congress proposing a new national cultural center in Washington, D.C. that would carry Kennedy's name. Cabell communicated to President Johnson his willingness to help.

   Citizen Art Martin appeared before City Council to suggest that Air Force I, when retired, be returned to Dallas as a permanent memorial. His suggestion was forwarded to the Memorial Committee.

   3:00 p.m.-Second meeting of Committee. Mailed postcards out in response to suggestions and in recognition of each donation. Received and reviewed 260 suggestions. Joe Dealey, editor-and later president-of The Dallas Morning News, suggested a monolith.

   3:00 pm-Third meeting of Committee. As a result of the nominating committee's work, the Committee named officers for the long-term organization. W. Dawson Sterling, president of Southwestern Life Insurance Company and president of the Dallas Assembly, was elected permanent chairman. Rev. Luther Holcomb, a Baptist minister who headed the Dallas Council of Churches, was elected permanent secretary. Memorial suggestions continued to arrive from interested citizens, and the cards were distributed among Committee members for evaluation.

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   Following the meeting, the The Dallas Morning News reported that the John F. Kennedy Citizens Memorial Committee decided to place a simple aluminum marker at the assassination site, and that the Committee continued to accept ideas for a civic memorial.

   The Dallas Morning News reported that a decision from the John F. Kennedy Citizens Memorial Committee would be reached within 10 days. Sterling said that 500 suggestions had been received, yet additional information was still being sought. The Committee had already approved a suggestion by the Texas State Historical Survey Committee to place a marker at the assassination site.

   The Memorial Committee met with Stephen Smith, husband of Jean Kennedy Smith and close associate of the late president. He communicated the Kennedy family's wishes for something very simple.

   Following the meeting with the Kennedy family representative, the Memorial Committee issued a press release announcing that it will provide assistance for the creation of a John F. Kennedy Library in Boston and a memorial monument in Dallas. Drawings for the Dallas memorial were not yet complete.

   After receiving some 700 suggestions, Sterling and Holcomb announced plans for a modest memorial near the assassination site and a memorial in the Kennedy Library. Initial plans for the Dallas memorial took the shape of a semi-circular wall of marble (10ft. high, 20-30 ft. wide), but no decisions were made.

   Judge Sarah T. Hughes, Mrs. M. Golfarb, Mrs. Barefoot Sanders, Mrs. Mike McKool, and Mrs. Herbert Schiff, representing the Democratic Women of Dallas County, initiated a project asking citizens to place books by and about President Kennedy and all other U.S. Presidents in public libraries. The John F. Kennedy Memorial Book Fund sent out letters asking citizens to help. Their purpose was to establish a living memorial and make available books that would inspire honor and respect for the office of President.

   The Dallas School Board suspended a long-standing school policy in order to permit the John F. Kennedy Citizens Memorial Committee to solicit funds in schools. Board members unanimously granted the request, which was voiced by Sterling on behalf of the Committee.

   According to an article in the Dallas Times Herald, Mayor Erik Jonsson (term 1964-1971) revealed at the City Council meeting that the committee had been in contact with Jacqueline Kennedy and family regarding possible memorials. The idea of a simple memorial in Dallas had the blessings of the family. Jonsson further rebuffed a citizen's request of the City Council to overrule the special Kennedy Memorial Committee and confine financial and commemorative efforts to Dallas. That citizen, Les Sims, claimed that the Committee erred in suggesting that the money go to forming the Kennedy Library with only a simple memorial at the assassination scene. Sims also complained that the Committee ignored the public, to which Jonsson responded that the Committee had addressed over 800 suggestions.

   The Memorial Committee met to discuss a proposal to obtain a charter to be named The John F. Kennedy Memorial Corporation in order to gain non-profit status and accept donations. Jack Wood, an architect, presented designs for a memorial. The Committee established additional subcommittees to further study the proposed location for Wood's design and to work with the Public Relations Society and the Dallas Advertising League on plans for publicity and fundraising.

   The Committee sent a letter to the City of Dallas proposing a location for a memorial at North Elm and West Houston.

   Sterling said that, although plans for the Memorial were still incomplete, details were expected later in the week. Donations thus far totaled $15,000.

   City of Dallas Department of Traffic Control denied the recently proposed location due to traffic flow issues and anticipated large numbers of visitors.

   The County Commissioners designated two blocks of future park area as JFK Plaza. This downtown location-bounded by Commerce, Main, Record, and Market Streets-replaced the Committee's initial proposal. Development of Kennedy Plaza passed into the hands of professional designers. However, work on the park could not begin until the new courthouse is completed in April 1965. Dallas school children had already donated $11,000 for the park.

   Sterrett announced that work would begin on the Kennedy Memorial late next year and be completed early in 1966. Although Sterrett envisioned an underground garage beneath the site, the bill for the garage would not be introduced until the 1965 legislative session-and the garage would be built only if the Legislature authorized it.

   Dallas Times Herald reported that a campaign to finance a Citizens Memorial was launched on John F. Kennedy's birthday. The Committee sent out over 2,000 letters asking for support.

   The Dallas Morning News noted that President Kennedy's birthday brought renewed interest and floral tributes to Dealey Plaza. The project creating John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza was launched. Brochures included a letter from Mrs. Kennedy, which read: "Dear Citizens of Dallas County, Your plans to subscribe funds for a new downtown John F. Kennedy Plaza in Dallas and for the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston are a most thoughtful and beautiful expression of your compassion. I hope that in years to come many of you and your children will be able to visit the Kennedy Library. It will be, we hope, not only a memorial to President Kennedy but a living center of study of the times in which he lived, which will help inspire the ideals of democracy and freedom in young people all over the world."

   Jonsson issued a proclamation designating the period through June 30, 1964, for community focus on the Kennedy Memorial. He urged Dallas citizens to respond to the opportunity.

   The Dallas Parks Department removed commemorative floral wreaths from along the grassy knoll to ease traffic hazards and congestion. People had been parking their cars and stepping out into the traffic lanes on Elm Street to photograph the flowers.

   With Jonsson in the lead, the City Council signed a Memorial scroll.

   Committee Secretary Holcomb announced that contributions exceeding $100,000 had been donated or pledged in the Memorial fund drive. Accompanying these monetary contributions were thousands of signatures on scrolls.

   Contributions passed $200,000 and the Committee expected to announce plans to wind up the fundraising campaign.

   Sterling announced the conclusion of the fundraising campaign.

   Dallasites received a letter of thanks from Jacqueline Kennedy, which read: "I am most deeply grateful for the contribution sent to the Kennedy Library Fund, especially because you worked so hard to earn the money. Of all the many tributes to the memory of President Kennedy I am sure that none would have pleased him more than the touching response of young people that have worked to help the fund. When the library is finished your name will always be on file there. You and your children and all the generations to come who visit the library will be proud to see it there and to know that you had a part in making the President Kennedy Library possible. I know that you will retain the wonderful spirit embodied in your gift to the library that would have meant so much to President Kennedy. With deep appreciation, Jacqueline Kennedy." All proceeds over $200,000 went to the library.

   Although the campaign was drawing to a close, individuals continued to visit Dallas fire stations to make contributions and sign scrolls.

   The Committee agreed to end the fund drive in order to avoid conflicts with other scheduled campaigns. Over $200,000 had been donated, with corporate fundraising still underway. More than 50,000 names had been preserved on scrolls destined for the Kennedy Library.

   DallasTimes Herald reported that approximately $225,000 had been collected for the Kennedy Memorial. Sterling said that a number of corporate contributions had yet to be tallied. He also said that no decision had been made regarding what percentage of funds would be sent to the library.

   At the City Council meeting, Cabell issued a proclamation to observe November 22, 1964, the anniversary of the assassination, as a day of prayerful meditation.

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   Memorial Committee member Stanley Marcus invited American architect Philip Johnson to design the Kennedy Memorial. Johnson was a social acquaintance of the Kennedy family and held national prominence, and he accepted the challenge of creating a fitting monument.

   The Committee was notified confidentially that a model of the proposed Kennedy Memorial, designed by Philip Johnson, would be exhibited at the next meeting.

   The Committee met to view the proposed model. During a press conference following the meeting, Johnson described the Memorial. It was announced that construction would begin in March, but Sterling felt that the March date was optimistic.

Courtesy of The Dallas Morning News

   A press conference announcing the design for the Kennedy Memorial was held. Committee members Marcus and Sterling, and architect Johnson offered statements. Demolition of the buildings on the block earmarked for the memorial would start in February or March, and tenants would receive a 30-day notice after December 20, 1965. The City directed landscaping based on Johnson's design.

   TIME Magazine carried a photograph of Johnson's model for the Kennedy Memorial.

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   Plans were drawn up to ensure that the landscaping at Kennedy Plaza would complement the memorial design. Johnson asked Lamberts Landscaping Co. for assistance, and they worked with the City Parks Board and Dallas County Commissioners to accomplish the landscaping.

   County Commissioners overrode the recommendation of Jack Corgan, Corgan Associates, and awarded demolition contract for clearing of Kennedy Memorial site to Texas Wrecking & Salvage Co. for $1, owned by George Dawdy.

   Texas Wrecking & Salvage Co. defaulted. The demolition contract was subsequently awarded to Miller Wrecking and Excavating Corporation.

   County Commissioners approved preliminary plans for an underground parking garage. The Association of Architects and Engineers submitted the plan.

   County officials and the Memorial Committee held an informal meeting, but failed to reach an agreement regarding the proposed garage underneath the memorial site. The Committee told officials that they were under local, national, and international pressure to construct the memorial without delay. W. W. Overton suggested the garage to Commissioners last week, but he also suggested that the memorial be built and then moved for the construction of the garage and returned to the site later. However, the Committee said that the memorial would be too large to move once completed. Therefore, the Commissioners ruled that the garage must be built first, in spite of the fact that the Memorial Committee insisted that it was inappropriate to delay any longer.

   Dallas Times Herald reported that county officials were holding off memorial plans in order to build the underground garage. Henry C. Beck was to begin work on the memorial on June 27, 1966, but the Committee said that no work order had been issued.

   Dallas Times Herald carried a story about the Texas legislature bill currently being prepared to secure bonds for the garage. The last legislature passed a bill for sale of revenue bonds to finance the garage project. The revenue bonds were to be repaid over 40 years.

   Dallas Times Herald reported that Sterrett approved Johnson's design, which was completed in December, and that the memorial would be built.

   The land, which would serve double duty as underground garage and site of Kennedy Memorial, was valued at $1 million.

   E. L. Walker of Wilber Smith and Associates, Inc., consulting engineers, recommended a $2,840,000 bond issue to finance the underground parking garage. Walker told Commissioners that a 4-level, 490-space garage was feasible and needed. County officials said that construction of the garage would delay the proposed memorial for at least 18 months.

   The Dallas Morning News reported that the garage plan was still under discussion and would require 18 months to build. Dallasites have expressed a desire to have the memorial completed by the five-year anniversary.

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   Dallas Times Herald reported that the garage construction might begin Saturday (2/11/67). Work on the memorial would start after the garage is finished. County Commissioners plan to meet early in the week to discuss the garage. An estimated construction completion time was seven to eight months after the five-month planning period.