Project Description: The JFK Tribute 

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy gave two speeches in Fort Worth. 

The first was delivered to a crowd that had been gathering for hours in the dark, braving a cold, early morning rain.    Hear President Kennedy's outdoor speech here.  Later, inside the hotel, a formal address was delivered to the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. Both speeches were received enthusiastically and within them the President called attention to Fort Worth’s roles in national defense and aviation history. He spoke optimistically of the future but warned of challenges. He spoke of leadership, space exploration and America’s role on the international stage.

He left Fort Worth, enjoying a ticker tape parade from the back of his convertible as it traveled on Main Street. Bands played, cheerleaders waved and thousands greeted the President as the bright sun shone down on the motorcade. The President’s visit to Fort Worth was a remarkable success.

 A few hours later, the excitement and themes of his Fort Worth visit were all but forgotten.

Today, Fort Worth leaders, are prepared to tell the story of the first half of November 22, 1963, and in the telling, resurrect the President’s themes that captured the spirit of his time. 

(JFK Tribute Final Design featured above)

Leadership. Ambition in the sciences. Volunteerism. Public service. Fort Worth’s role in history. These themes should resonate as loudly today as they did then. The JFK Tribute will tell the Fort Worth story of that fateful day and communicate those grand themes to new generations through a beautiful work of art, an on-site display and via the internet .

Located at the southeast corner of Main and 8th Streets, in downtown’s General Worth Square, the JFK Tribute will be sited approximately where President Kennedy delivered his impromptu outdoor address.

The 8 foot bronze, created by National Sculpture Society Fellow Lawrence Ludtke, is now complete and is located at the Shidoni Foundry in Santa Fe, awaiting installation in Fort Worth. It will be placed at the center of a circular plaza and behind the sculpture will stand a wall with larger than life photos depicting the President’s visit in Fort Worth. This will be a major enhancement in public art for downtown. The photos, plaza and sculpture will be illuminated at night. Wall inscriptions in both English and Spanish will tell the story of the day. Staff members of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and TCU are working with our team to develop the content.

A water wall directly behind the sculpture will add sound and motion to the experience. Seating will be provided facing the sculpture, creating a space for educational presentations, contemplation and reflection. Plantings will frame the seating and set it apart from the sidewalk.

The JFK Tribute will frame the sculpture respectfully and mark the occasion in a dignified fashion, commemorating the event and the location. The experience will be supplemented with an on-line educational resource that will tell the story in more detail and feature photos, video, speeches and historical context. It is here, on the web site and the associated mobile applications where visitors, students and others will read and learn more about the themes of the time.

The JFK Tribute will be located in a public park and we expect will benefit countless residents and visitors.  We will continue our collaboration with the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and TCU and establish new partnerships with not only the Sixth Floor Museum, but also with the Fort Worth Independent School District to help educate students about this important moment in Fort Worth and US history and the themes of the President’s visit.

Design Team:

Landscape Architect: Jacobs
Lighting Designer: The Lighting Practice
Exhibit Designer: Museumscapes

JFK Tribute Committee:

Taylor and Shirlee Gandy, Co-Chairs
Bob Bolen, Honorary Co-Chair
Jim Wright, Honorary Co-Chair

Karen and Larry Anfin
Henry and Becky Borbolla
Buzz and Ruth Brightbill
Roy and Jennifer Brooks
John Allen and Sue Chalk
Jeff Davis
Kay Granger
Doug and Judy Harman
Bob and Linda Herchert
Leland and Kaye Hodges
Erma Johnson Hadley
Stan Kennedy
Louella Martin
Honorable Mayor Mike Moncrief
Bob and Nancy Mitchell
Len and Laurie Roberts
Pollard and Deborah Rogers
Terry and Jude Ryan
Jerry and Judy Sawyer
Bob and Ann Semple
Bob Simpson
Jim Spaniolo
Sonny Sra
John Stevenson
Bill and Lyle Thornton
Vaughn Vennerberg
Joy Webster
Gary and Julie Wilson

General Worth Square Advisory Committee:

Shirlee and Taylor Gandy, Co-Chairs
Louise Appleman, Tarrant County College Board of Trustees
Henry Borbolla, Community Bank
Jenny Conn, Fort Worth Arts Council
Randy Hutcheson, City of Fort Worth
Bob Kelly, Architect
Leo Kinney, Cash America
Martha Peters, Fort Worth Arts Council
Van Romans, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Gene Smith, Professor Texas Christian University/Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Sandra Youngblood, City of Fort Worth, Parks and Community Services
Richard Zavala, City of Fort Worth, Parks and Community Services

For more information, contact Melissa Konur, Planning Director, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. at 817-870-1692