Travis County Commissioners Court
December 12, 2006
Item 4
4. Receive comments and recommendations on the naming of the county building at 4011 mckinney falls parkway or another county building, and take appropriate action. Another county building wording came from the county judge. Who is here on this item? If I could see you -- four people. Five?
>> six, seven, eight.
>> okay.
>> then let me -- give you a little backup before we start taking testimony. This is something that I put together late yesterday after -- after review of the e-mails that we received and mr. Malone if you would help me distribute these. And what this shows is the county building naming policy on the back of the first page. On the front of the first page I have a chronology of how the naming got started on this particular building. The various steps that we went through before we took action on November 14th. By the way, the action on November 14th was to name the building after the ramiro martinez. If you will note, too, on the front side of the second page,, we advertised the building naming opportunity and the -- in the statesman on June 1 of 2006 and in the chronicle, Austin chronicle on June 2nd, 2006. At the bottom, exhibit one, summary of names suggested. Those are all of the names to the left that were recommended by various folks for this building. Some of you were left with the impression that Commissioners court initiated the naming and we went out and did independent research. In fact we do not. We rely on those who come fort with the recommendation to provide various information. We look at it, then we -- we refer the matter to the Travis County historical commission, that conducts another public hearing and in this case I think we had two or three. As I indicated in an e-mail, this time the process was longer than usual because we got a recommendation on this building and we started the process, then we got a recommendation on another building on airport boulevard, and so we decided to put both on the same schedule. So we started the naming of the mckinney falls building process over again and went through it a second time. This is just background information for you. Now, if you would please come forward at least three. Give yourselves a little elbow room there. And on both ends and in the middle and we would be happy to get your comments.
>> okay. Name, please and then comments.
>> my name is
>> [indiscernible]
>> [inaudible - no mic]
>> I would like to thank the Commissioners court for allowing us to bring an issue of concern to your attention, this issue is being the naming of the county building 4011 --
>> speak directly into that microphone.
>> yes, sir.
>> media give us a little bit more volume on that one.
>> this issue being the naming of county building 4011 mckinney falls parkway for ramiro martinez. I want to make very clear that we are not here to dispute the courage of mr. Martinez for his actions the tragic day of August 1st, 1966, nor are we here to dispute his continued career in law enforcement and other public service positions. However, mr. Martinez has continually been singled out for recognition in the past based on his part in the u.t. Tower tragedy. Our purpose is to inform the commission, the Commissioners of the court, that he did not act alone and no provisions have ever been made to share equally the accolades with all of the officers and the civilian involved in the tragedy that August day. They are all as equally worthy of the honor, recognition and remembrance. Yet history has not shared their stories equally. This is our mission here today. It is the opinion of all who come before you today that the most deserving hero of August 1st, 1966 is a.p.d. Officer billy paul speed who unfortunately did not have the opportunity to continue a career as a distinguished wlaw enforcement officer. Officer speed contributed the supreme court sacrifice of his life in his courageous attempt to make it to the tower to stop the sniper. He left behind a young widow and infant daughter who were forced to go on with their lives without their beloved husband and father. Officer speed's widow has since retired from a state position with the university of Texas. And his daughter, ms. Becky speed Davis graduated from the university of Texas with a degree in teaching and for many years taught young students within the Travis County area. Of the many things that I admire about officer speed's daughter is the fact that she found the courage to every day for four years walk past the still bullet scarred wall where her father was killed. Who among us can say a living participant is more worthy than a fallen comrade who gave his life, protecting the community that he loved and the family that he would leave behind. In addition having the family continually stand by and watch as another officer receives all of the benefits of the erroneous media reporting that circled the globe honoring one man. This is the history that can partially be corrected by this Commissioner today. I'm sure in addition to billy speed there are many other a.p.d. In Travis County lawmen and women who, too, have met a tragic and violent death attempting to fulfill their sworn duties, are just as deserving of such an honor. As to the motion to name 55555 airport dfld after airpord after death keith george ruiz, we offer his family our heartfelt condolences and hope that the building named in his honor is a comfort and sacred memorial to his memory. It is only the 4011 mckinney falls parkway that we are here to address. The Commissioners court on November 14th, 2006, unanimously passed the dedication of the mckinney falls address to be named after ramiro martinez, partly for his participation in the u.t. Tragedy in 1966, partly for his continued dedication to serve the community and represent the state of Texas for other public positions after the tragedy. During the discussion remarks were made to honoring the living while here on earth, as well as honoring the fallen in their public duties. We submit to the commission that is why we are here today. Especially to honor the fallen, also to honor the living in an equal manner. The other a.p.d. Officers atop the tower August 1st, 1966 include a.p.d. Officers jerry day, phillip connor, milton showquist, harold
>> [indiscernible], george shepherd, mccoy, civilian allen crumb. These six a.p.d. Officers alone had a combined total service in law enforcement of 137 years. Spanning from the Austin police department to the drug enforcement administration. Alaskan state troopers, Texas alcohol and beverage commission, hardin county constable, attorney general welfare fraud and investigations division and Travis County district attorney's office. They are responsible for bringing for justice some of the most deviant offenders. Their service with Travis County and enforcement and other public service positions is equally as impressive and I am peculiarable as mr. Martinez's. Naming it after mr. Martinez only omits the honor, duty, bravery of all of the officers mentioned. During the recommendation of the naming for the mckinney falls address it was also stated that mr. Martinez was the first officer to confront charles whitman. Although we do not believe it was maliciously omitted. A.p.d. Officer houston mccoy was with martinez at the time armed with an a.p.d. Shotgun at the time of the confrontation. That shotgun later being identified by the coroner, Travis County judge jerry delane in a who held the inquest and then a.p.d. Chief miles as the weapon that ended the life of charles whitman by the shots fired from mr. Mccoy. Again we are not trying to disprove the bravery of mr. Martinez. He did fire first, but within a second those shots were followed by the shotgun blast. What we are attempting to point out that mr. Martinez did not act alone and mr. Mccoy as well as the other fellow officers on and in the tower along with the civilian were not considered by the commission who did not have the information at this time. As the commission noted on this matter prior it is nice to recognize a living person with their accomplishments during this lifetime. With that in mind we humbly suggest that another building be chosen that is worthy of all of the officers involved and suitable to accommodate all names associated with the tragedy on August 1st, 1966. That dark day left deep emotional scars. And forced many of those involved to battle the demons. To honor only one living officer will be to revisit the tragedy on the others. In conclusion, our following plea to the commission will be to seek an alternative name. Wherefor we are asking for a reversal of the Commissioners court decision to name the property known as 4011 mckinney falls parkway after ramiro martinez. Thank you for allowing me to speak here.
>> thank you. Your points is to name a building after all of the officers involved?
>> to find a name suitable, yes, sir, to accommodate.
>> on your list you ever five o?
>> seven a.p.d. Officers to include mr. Martinez, plus the d.p.s. Agent and the civilian, all on top of the tower, yes, sir.
>> okay. Now, if ms. Mccoy
>> [indiscernible] said it today, I'm sure that the court will remember. Who is speaking second.
>> > judge, let me ask the question. Are we being asked, monica to take another building and attach these other names to that building leaving the mckinney falls building with ramirez name or you are saying take ramiro and all of these officers, another building and put all of those names on that building?
>> yes, sir. What you just said. I feel that -- that this -- that this -- it was a group effort. Everybody's continued career is just as impressive, they all continued in law enforcement. We shouldn't individualize or separate any of them.
>> so would it be admissible then to take all of these names and add it to that building?
>> yes, sir.
>> okay. Yes, sir.
>> anybody else here who we have -- who is not sitting at the table?
>> okay. We will need your seat. And, ma'am, would you be next, please.
>> yes.
>> good morning judge Biscoe and economics. I would also like to thank the Commissioners court along with others who have spoken before me --
>> vicki shepherd. To give today our thoughts and convictions. I am the widow of george b. Shepherd. My late husband was an Austin police officer and served among the first afro american, also went on to become an intelligence detective with the a.p.d. After that he became a special agent with the u.s. Department of drug enforcement administration known as d.e.a.
>> [one moment please for change in captioners]
>> you fully support ms. Monica mccoy in the fact that we by no means are trying to belittle the bravery of officer martinez demonstrate that had tragic day. We are simply conveying that every officer in incident played a vital role in bringing down whitman. One man can -- no one man can ever be singled out in act of unified courage. If there is one man to be elevated, it would be the hero who laid down his life; however, any of the brave officers would have been willing to do the same. They symbolically say that ef every time they put on a uniform. One of the brave men gave his life and all of the officers that day were prepared to do the same. The choice today is to name the building after one or all of the -- not as one, but as all of the officers or billy paul speed who lost his life.
>> any questions for ms. Shepherd? Thank you. If you are here on this item and you wish to address the court today, please come forward. We have two seats available. Yes, on the end?
>> good morning, judge Biscoe, Commissioners. I'm really glad to be here. My name is enid showquist and my husband is milton showquist and he was one of the seven officers of the Austin pd that went up to the tower that day in August. My husband retired in January '02 and he served 37 years with law enforcement. 12 with the Austin police department and 25 as a special agent for the drug enforcement administration. Although we don't live here, we have family and friends that do live here and are here today. Now, we fully support what monica has been presenting to you this morning and I will know trooi not to repeat what she already said. Upon receiving the honor from the city of Austin as having August 1st, 2006 proclaimed as officer romero's day, he said it's great any time someone remembers you and honors you. This statement reflects the sentiments that I am sure that the officers who were on that tower on August the 1st would feel if they had been receiving the same honorable reward from the city; however, until recently -- which one? I think I'm loud enough. Okay. However, until recently six of the a.p.d. Officers, one d.p.s. Agent and one civilian who made their way to the tower that very same day received little or no recognition at all except from the Austin police department. Thank god, the pd sticks together. It is important to note that my husband as well as officer harold mull, officer shepherd and officer connor were all off duty too when they responded to the sniper that day. Although arriving at the top of the tower independently, once they all were there, they acted as a team. And once the job was done, all except one came down the tower as a team. Okay. Fate placed it. Officer houston mccoy and officer ray martinez at the northwest corner of the tower that day, resulting in an end to one of the most tragic days in Texas history, and this is Texas history. It's about you and me and everyone else in here, okay? But the fact remains that everyone did not do -- had not done their individual part, they were all working as a team in order for the tragedy to end the way it did. Upon the departing of the tower, if the phrase had been we got them or we got him instead of I got him, we would not be here today in front of you all making this request. Like in football, we all won. Now is as good a time as any to correct this historical account. To name the building for one man to the exclusion of many others equally as deserving of such an honor does not seem appropriate. So I'm going to cut through what's been repeated. I don't want to repeat that. But please be remembered as a Commissioners court that first -- that was the first Texas Commissioners court to set Texas history straightment I mean, really straight because we're setting it straight first to tell the story straight for the future generations of Texas kids and police officers. And be the first ones to honor and knowledge this courage, courageous action of the Texas team that set the stage also for the swat teams of today. Thank you for your time. Appreciate it.
>> thank you.
>> when this process started back in may, y'all were unaware of it. It was on the Commissioners court self times rksd but -- self times, but y'all were not aware.
>> sorry about that.
>> no problem.
>> any questions for ms. Showquist?
>> no.
>> okay, yes. Our last two speakers today apparently.
>> good morning. County judge and Commissioners, as you know by now I am the widow of billy paul speed. My name is jenny speed shown. I want to say a few things to you about billy's life. I first met billy in his home when he was a junior at holland high school in san antonio, Texas on a Saturday night when his parents and my paicialsd got parents got together and played bridge. We saw each other and every chance I went with my parents to see billy. At this time we became great friends and dated one summer. And then as time progressed, he and I decided to date others and I started seeing another young man named Sam hencey. That didn't last long. We broke up. And I started seeing billy again and he became a senior and I was a junior in high school. And we went to his high school prom. My first dance. Hi a wonderful time and I -- I had a wonderful time and I felt like a princess and he was a prince. And I had a curfew at that time of 12 midnight. Then in September he joined the united states army, went to fort carson, colorado for basic training. And I continued my education and graduation the following may of 1962. He wrote me letters and came home on leave before going to fort benning to join the paratroopers. Then he wrote me and asked me to marry him and I agreed, but let me tell you, he was only 20 years old. And at that time I guess you all know you had to be 21, so as you can see, his parents had to sign for me and him to marry. He came home on leave fort bragg, north carolina and we married at the church of the resurrection on judson lane in Austin, Texas. We had a lovely wedding and we married in his military uniform and he honeymooned in corpus christi on padre island for three days. Then the following week he had to return to his military obligations in fort bragg, north carolina and find housing for us to live. I left Austin. My very first time I left home. Got on the airplane and went to fort bragg to join him. Let me tell you, I didn't know anything about housekeeping, I didn't know how to cook, I didn't know anything. I would call my mother ever single day, how do you do this, how do you do that? We lived off base in southern pines. North carolina and I was learning how to become a military wife. Then he was due up for reenlistment. He chose not to stay in the military, which was a great disappointment for the family as his father and my father were in the service together. We came back to Austin when I was five months pregnant when billy joined the Austin police department. We weren't rich, but we were very happy. We lived in a little duplex on paine avenue in north Austin. Paid $75 a month. But western very exielted about -- but we were very excited about becoming parents. And in January 1965 we became the parents of a baby girl and we named her rebecca lynn speed. He was so proud to be a father. But tragically enough he came down with the muchz when she was -- with the mumps when she was only three months old and it broke his heart when he could not hold her. He loved her so much. Then one hot summer morning on August the 1st, 1966, my sweetheart, my lover, my best friend slipped away from me and got killed in the line of duty. By a monster at the tower at the university of Texas named charles whitman. Then three days later on August the fourth I buried him where his body is at rest at fort Sam houston, Texas in san antonio. Later in my life I remarried and had two more children and he passed away from a heart attack on valentine's day. We have a lot of close friends and I'm very grateful they are still here with me. My appreciation and love go to you the Austin police department and especially to jerry day, phil connor and houston mccoy, milton showquist and harold mo and sell others I don't recall their name. But first of all I would like to say thank you to mown mccoy for making the final shot that killed charles whitman. Now, today as I'm getting older, I live in garfield, Texas. I'm 62 years old. And I'm married to don shown. We've been married for 12 years. We live on six acres outside of Austin. I can see the colorado river to the east from my back porch and I now know how to tend a garden, I can cook, but I don't feed the chickens and I don't pick up the eggs. I know that I will see billy again some day and he will be waiting for me with open arms at the bridge and say, welcome home. If he were here with me today, he would be very proud of all the guys that were involved in the final shooting at the tower. And all of my daughter's becky's accomplishments with a degree from the university of Texas in elementary education. She's been married to scott Davis for 18 years and they have given me two beautiful grandchildren, mary catherine and spencer. Thanks again to jerry day, houston mccoy, phil connor and many of the other officers as it was one of the darkest days of my life and that with god's help I can go on. So I would wish you all the very best of life and many blessings to you and your friends. Thank you.
>> thank you.
>> any questions? By the way, y'all are welcome to sit on the front row there. This is the Travis County Commissioners court. We want you to be comfortable here. Yes, sir?
>> my name is phillip connor, and I just wanted to thank you for your putting this matter on the agenda and for your consideration. And I think everything that needed to be said has been said. Again, I thank you.
>> thank you.
>> you favor some recognition for the whole group? Like the others?
>> you know, I could make several suggestions, and I think one of the things is none of us were aware that this was in the process or we would have been here early on, I think. I think there's a lot of considerations that y'all have to make. I don't think that you would have a building necessarily with 15 names on it. There's all kinds of things that I think you could do. I think the old tradition of bergstrom might be a consideration. He was the first serviceman killed in world war ii that was from Austin, Travis County. You might even consider researching and finding out who the first person from Travis County, Austin that was killed in iraq. Thank you.
>> my name is jim cooper. I first thought about this process some months ago when I realized the 40th anniversary was approaching and nothing had ever been done to honor any of these folks about that dark day in 1966. I came to the court seven months ago with a request -- excuse my horseness. With a request to name the building after ra afro marrow, martinez. I felt it was be unwieldily to name it after two or three people or even tree or four, and that romero martinez was the one that led the way. It wasn't about who actually killed the man, he fired the first shots. He had a stellar career in law enforcement afterwards and I felt that was important to recognize him for that. I never intended to stop at that. I wish I had met these folks back then because -- and I'm glad they're here now. I hope to get their names and addresses and phone numbers, e-mails, because I want to continue this with the city. It's not the county that has fallen, it's the city that has never truly recognized all of these people. And I've always said there should be statues, bronze plaques and something permanent, not just a name a day that goes by, but something permanent to honor all of these people; however, I feel that the county should retain its vote on the precinct 4 building as we did go through the proper procedures. It was advertised in the paper. It was truly carried out in numerous steps that was followed to the letter, and again I hope to continue this quest and have all these folks honored sometime with the city after the first of the year when christmas is over I would like to work on that. Thank you very much.
>> thank you. Yes, sir?
>> good morning, judge and Commissioners. My name is gilbert m. Martinez. I am romero's brother. I am delighted to be here. I'm with mrs. Speed is here and I certainly would commend -- recommend that a building be named in his memory. On the matter of the building that has been named afro marrow, I think -- after romero, I think everything was done properly and I would ask you to allow that to remain, the building to remain named after him. And I say this because the reason that romero's name appears so many times, so many accolades were bestowed on him was not done by some of us here, but entire national press and even some of the international press recognized his great bravery of an off-duty police officer who got up there -- and someone recently called on the anniversary, called and said that there were so many other police officers there that they should be recognized. Yes, there were so many other police officers there, everyone had the chance to have been the first to have gotten up there on that tower and turned those corners not knowing how many people were there waiting for the first person to get there. All of this has been recognized in the national press. And then I think that following the stellar career that romero has had with the law enforcement and with the Texas rangers that it is very appropriate that the building be named after him alone to give recognition to all of the others is also appropriate, binge it would diminish the recognition that you have bestowed on romero by naming that building after him if it's going to be named for numerous other people. Thank you so much for all your time and attention.
>> thank you. Anybody else here on this item? We do appreciate your input. The county judge put the item book the agenda after receiving numerous e-mails, and my recommendation for the court would be to take this matter under advisement and figure out what, if anything, we can do hopefully in the immediate future. And I think I have e-mail addresses for virtually all of you, right?
>> do you have mine? I sent you an e-mail, but I don't know if I put the e-mail address in the letter? Did you get my e-mail?
>> I believe be I did. You may want to -- send it again for me. The reason I say that is that I received quite a few yesterday about a landfill and I'm kind of going through a load right now.
>> this has been several week ago.
>> if you would send it again, I would appreciate that. And hopefully ach the first of the year -- hopefully after the first of the year we'll have opportunity to give this matter more thought and either get with the city or state and do something a little more.
>> I appreciate it, thank you.
>> in mr. Martinez's favor, he had friend whose knew to take the initiative and they kind of gave to us and we basically initiated the process that resulted in the naming of the building. You do see that I abstained that first vote. My preference is to kind of leave buildings unnamed, but if you're going to name them, then I normally vote to do the name later on. I have made it a practice to abstain. Our first question is whether we will name a building, period, not who to name it after. And typically I abstain odd that because I do not favor naming buildings. I think they should have addresses and Travis County and describe the service, but once we decide to name it, then typically I join the rest of the court to try to figure out the best name to give it and and the information that's provided to us by individuals. Most people sort of welcome the opportunity to participate in the building naming opportunity, so when we make it clear that we have opened the process, we normally get multiple recommendations and I guess that's good. Anyway, that's my view. After the first of the year we ought to look at this and try to figure out what we can do.
>> judge, I would certainly add that no one meant that by singling out one individual that that is meant as any disrespect to any other individuals. And the same thing with keith ruiz, naming the building after keith was never meant to be any disrespect to any other Travis County deputy who has lost his life in the line of service. And I think the wonderful opportunity is really over the city of Austin. They have name many of their buildings after some very fine officers and there have been some law enforcement buildings approved in the most recent bond election that I think are unbelievably appropriate. They have also named many streets after living and deceased officers. I'm thinking of robert martinez, junior. I'm thinking alvin devein who is with us. Us. I think there's some wonderful opportunities to work with the city. I agree with you, I don't think a one-day proclamation for the bravery of that day and especially so with billy speed. I think that is something that has been overlooked and I would hope that our friends at the city because of the tremendous service to the city of Austin, could do something to rectify that. But I see the bravery of so many people that day, and whether it's individually or as a group, but to not take away from mr. Martinez, but to simply add on some other stellar name that answered the call of service that day and many others.
>> thanks again for your participation.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, December 13, 2006 10:35 AM