James Gordon Shanklin
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James Gordon Shanklin | |
|---|---|
 James Gordon Shanklin in the Dallas FBI Field Office | |
| Born | December 10, 1910 [[Elkton, Kentucky]], United States |
| Died | July 11, 1988 (aged 77) [[Dallas, Texas]], United States |
| Nationality | [[American]] |
| Other names | "JG Shanklin" |
| Alma mater | Vanderbilt University |
| Occupation(s) | FBI Special Agent In-Charge, Lawyer |
| Years active | 1963-1975 |
| Spouse | Emily Agnes Shacklett Shanklin |
James Gordon Shanklin was an American FBI agent & lawyer best known for his role in the investigation of the Kennedy Assassination and facilitating the online network of Federal Bureau of Investigations communications known as the National Crime Information Center.
Life
James Gordon Shanklin was born on 10 December 1909, in Elkton, Todd County, Kentucky, United States, to Kentucky State Representative William Sinclair "Will" Shanklin, and his wife Eva Jones Shanklin. He married Emily Agnes Shacklett on January, 28 1933, in Brownsville, Edmonson County, Kentucky, United States. At a young age, James Gordon Shanklin exhibited a strong desire for academic achievement and athletics and was admitted to the Vanderbilt Training School located in Elkton. Shanklin enrolled in the Vanderbilt University in 1928 in Nashville, Tennessee to study law, graduating in 1935 earning a B.A. and LL.B. Shanklin also played football for Vanderbilt University Athletics[1]
He died on 11 July 1988, in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States, at the age of 78, and was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Elkton, Todd, Kentucky, United States.[2]
Career
Mr. Shanklin joined the FBI in 1943. Shanklin was named special agent in charge of the F.B.I.'s Dallas office in April of 1963, seven months before the shooting of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22. Before this assignment he headed the F.B.I.'s offices in Pittsburgh, Mobile, El Paso, and Honolulu. [3]
During his time at the Federal Bureau of Investigations as Agent In-Charge of the Dallas Field Office, Shanklin received national notoriety during the investigation of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Dallas Agent James P. Hosty discarded a letter written by Presidential Assassin Lee Harvey Oswald that had been sent to the Dallas FBI prior to the assassination of Kennedy. Following the President's death, Shanklin was informed of the existence of the Oswald letter and that it had been discarded. During a subsequent investigation conducted by the Warren Commission, Hosty failed to tell the commission the truth about Oswald's hostile letter because he had discarded it -- redirecting blame of the incident towards his superior's alleged orders. His superior, Gordon Shanklin, denied Hosty's claim. As a result, Hosty attracted speculation as a possible conspirator in several conspiracy theories.[4]
While serving as Agent-In-Charge at the Dallas Federal Bureau of Investigation, Shanklin assisted in the implementation of the National Crime Information Center created via network servers network that were shared among FBI offices throughout the United States enabling greater record search capabilities and communication between FBI offices. [5]
Shanklin was employed with the F.B.I. for over 32 years, retiring in 1975 to practice law in Dallas where he was made partner in the Dallas firm Johnson, Guthrie, Billings, Nash, and Shanklin.[6]
Film
The incident of the Hosty/Oswald note was fictionalized in the 2013 film Parkland starring Zac Efron, David Harbour (Playing James Gordon Shanklin), Ron Livingston Billy Bob Thornton, Colin Hanks, Paul Giamtatti, among others. The conclusion of the movie erroneously depicts Shanklin as the antagonist of the Hosty note destruction created to add interest in the conclusion according to commentary by the film's director Peter Landesman. The film was produced by Bill Paxton, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, and Matt & Nigel Sinclaire. [7]
Memorialization
The "state-of-the-art" post 9/11 Dallas Federal Bureau of Investigations Office was completed in 2002 and named in honor of James Gordon Shanklin. The dedication ceremony was delivered by Robert Mueller and Shanklin's remaining family was invited to attend.[8]
External links
Category:FBI
Category:John F. Kennedy
Category:Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Category:Warren Commission
References
- ^ The Story of Todd County, KentuckyWilliams, Marion (1971) [1971]. The Story of Todd County (first ed.). Nashville, TN: Parthenon Press. pp. 169–170.
- ^ "James Gordon Shanklin". FamilySearch. The Church of Jesus Christy of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "In The Thick Of It". The Nashville Banner. The Nashville Banner. December 26, 1963. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ Goldman, Peter; John J. Lindsay (April 28, 1975). "Dallas: New Questions and Answers" (PDF). Newsweek. New York. p. 37. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
- ^ "1966 - J. Gordon Shanklin - Special Agent in charge of Dallas Field Division of the Federal Bureau". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ Myers, Dale K. (November 12, 2013). With Malice, Lee Harvey Oswald and the Murder of Officer J. D. Tippit (1 ed.). Milford, Michigan: Oak Cliff Press. ISBN 0966270983.
- ^ "IMBD". IMBD. IMBD. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ Mueller, Robert. "Dallas Office Dedication". Federal Bureau of Investigations. Federal Bureau of Investigations. Retrieved 3 March 2022.