A little history has passed away

[Guest guest]

This story from Dallas is a small glimpse into the early days of our

business...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/04281

0dnmetjfkrike.3f259b1.html

Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike: Ambulance driver helped Jackie after JFK

assassination

11:02 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News

jsimnacher@... jsimnacher@...>

On Nov. 22, 1963, Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike had hoped to get a glimpse of

President F. Kennedy's motorcade.

Instead, the 25-year-old Dallas ambulance driver became an eyewitness to

the turmoil at Parkland Memorial Hospital

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Parkland_Hospital> , where he would

befriend Kennedy, help her transfer her wedding band to her

husband's finger, and place the president's body into a bronze casket.

Mr. Rike, 72, died Thursday of a heart attack at LifeCare Hospitals of

Plano http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Plano%2C_Texas> .

The emotion of that day would forever overcome Mr. Rike when he would

tell his story for interviews, speeches or seminars, said his wife,

Glenda Rike of Plano.

Few knew of Mr. Rike's amazing story until a researcher located him in

1980, said Mack, curator of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.

In September 2001, Mr. Rike told his story for the museum's oral history

collection, choking up when he recalled helping Mrs. Kennedy place her

wedding band on her husband's finger.

When the ring stopped at the first joint of the president's ring finger,

Mr. Rike reached for some lubricant, which helped somewhat but not much.

" And she said, 'Thank you,' and then she reached out and kissed that

ring, " Mr. Rike said.

Born in Dallas, Mr. Rike was a graduate of Crozier Tech High School.

He served in the Marines before becoming an ambulance driver.

The day of the assassination, Mr. Rike and his partner were called to

transport a man to Parkland. He had fainted across from the Texas School

Book Depository about 10 minutes before the motorcade was to pass.

While filling out forms at Parkland, Mr. Rike noticed something big was

happening. He saw Lyndon B.

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Lyndon_B._> and thought the

vice president might have had another heart attack.

Next, Texas Gov. Connally

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/_Connally> was brought into the

emergency area, followed moments later by the president, his head

covered with a coat.

Mr. Rike said he spotted Mrs. Kennedy seated on a straight-back metal

chair outside the trauma room.

The first lady asked Mr. Rike if he was from Dallas.

" And I said, 'Yes, ma'am,' " he recalled in his oral history. " And you

know, it's kind of hard to make a conversation with, you know, the first

lady. "

Mr. Rike said he wetted a towel in a nearby scrub room and gave it to

Mrs. Kennedy. She cleaned blood from her hands and placed the towel

under her chair.

Mr. Rike said the area was chaotic, loud and crowded with officials. Out

of cigarettes, Mr. Rike got permission to go to a vending machine.

When Mr. Rike returned, Mrs. Kennedy asked if she could have a

cigarette, he said.

As Mr. Rike reached into his breast pocket, a Secret Service

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Secret_Service> agent knocked the

cigarettes down, scattering them across the floor.

The agent retrieved one of cigarettes and handed it to Mrs. Kennedy and

asked Mr. Rike if he had a light.

" So I gave him my Zippo very carefully because I didn't know what he was

going to do with that, " Mr. Rike said.

Mr. Rike said he waited with Mrs. Kennedy for the casket to arrive.

After the president was given last rites, Mr. Rike and his partner

transferred the body to the casket.

Mrs. Kennedy wanted to ride in the back of the hearse with her husband.

Mr. Rike folded down the jump seat for Mrs. Kennedy, holding her arm so

that she could climb inside the hearse.

" A Secret Service agent grabbed me and threw me against the door, " Mr.

Rike recalled.

Mrs. Kennedy then said, " Leave the young man alone. This is the only

gentleman I've met since I've been here, " Mr. Rike recalled.

" And so I said, 'Thank you, ma'am.' "

He then he helped Mrs. Kennedy into the hearse.

" And she said, 'Thank you very much.' "

Mr. Rike went on to a 26-year career with the Highland Park Police

Department.

" Aubrey never embellished his story or changed it in any way - ever, "

Mr. Mack said. " He didn't make a big deal about what he did. "

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Turrentine Morrow Funeral

Home in . Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral

home.

Mr. Rike is survived by his wife, Glenda Rike of Plano; a son, Larry

Rike of Plano; and a sister, Carolyn Hawkins

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Hawkins%2C_Inc.> of McKinney

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/McKinney%2C_Texas> .

Dudley

" EMS does not save lives. God does! Our job is to entertain the patient

until He makes up his mind. " - Dr. Red Duke

Dudley Wait

EMS Director

City of Schertz EMS

1400 Schertz Parkway

Schertz, TX 78154

(O)

(F)

©

************Confidentiality Notice************

The information in this email may be confidential and/or privileged. If

you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of

the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review,

dissemination or copying of this email and its attachments, if any, or

the information contained herein is prohibited. If you have received

this email in error, please immediately notify the sender by return

email and delete this email from your computer system. Thank you.

[Guest guest]

Ya know I bet he never bitched about being called an Ambulance Driver

either.

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant

LNMolino@...

(Cell Phone)

" A Texan with a Jersey Attitude "

" Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds

discuss people " Eleanor Roosevelt - US diplomat & reformer (1884 - 1962)

In a message dated 4/30/2010 10:12:38 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

wegandy@... writes:

What a wonderful story and insight into what went on that day. I wonder

if any of the people who have written books about the assassination ever

talked to him.

If correct, his quote from Jackie is priceless.

GG

From: THEDUDMAN@...

Subject: A little history has passed away

Date: April 30, 2010 12:03:56 PM MST

To: strac-ems-leaders@..., nemsma (AT) google,

JBierschwale@..., texasems-l ,LAllegretti@...,

LBarahona@..., tbradford@..., ucbud@...,

JBusch@...,jconell@..., MCosentino@...,

SDingel@...,

donovanbutter@..., EDugosh@...,TElbel@...,

EFeaster@...,

cfoerster@..., CFuentes@...,

RGonyer@...,AGorzell@..., MGulbis@...,

jhames@..., THand@...,

JHedrick@...,shelm@..., J@...,

BHirshberg@..., JVaughn@...,

MJernigan@...,rjohnston@...,

TKaiser@..., WKrueger@..., bestia54@...,

JMabbitt@...,JPMC@..., mmcollum@...,

SMueller@...,

bmyers@..., COtte@...,JPruitt@..., dretano@...,

E@..., nroebuck@...,

ryangonyer@...,Marsanchez@..., KScurlock@...,

kseidel@..., ASellers@...,

DSturdevant@...,STrejo@..., MTroncoso@...,

CTucker@..., julrich@...,

DWait@...,DWorcester@...,

amentc@..., cfoster@...,

DCovington@...,brackenvfd@...,

firechief@..., Ggalindo@...,

HHewlett@...,jeffvaughn42@..., C@...,

GOutlaw@..., rbraun@...,

rdn01@...,rniemietz@..., scottrobinson@...,

stevelipa@..., KTimke@...,

wileyscott@...

This story from Dallas is a small glimpse into the early days of our

business...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/04281

0dnmetjfkrike.3f259b1.html

Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike: Ambulance driver helped Jackie after JFK

assassination

11:02 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News

jsimnacher@... jsimnacher@...>

On Nov. 22, 1963, Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike had hoped to get a glimpse of

President F. Kennedy's motorcade.

Instead, the 25-year-old Dallas ambulance driver became an eyewitness to

the turmoil at Parkland Memorial Hospital

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Parkland_Hospital> , where he would

befriend Kennedy, help her transfer her wedding band to her

husband's finger, and place the president's body into a bronze casket.

Mr. Rike, 72, died Thursday of a heart attack at LifeCare Hospitals of

Plano http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Plano%2C_Texas> .

The emotion of that day would forever overcome Mr. Rike when he would

tell his story for interviews, speeches or seminars, said his wife,

Glenda Rike of Plano.

Few knew of Mr. Rike's amazing story until a researcher located him in

1980, said Mack, curator of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.

In September 2001, Mr. Rike told his story for the museum's oral history

collection, choking up when he recalled helping Mrs. Kennedy place her

wedding band on her husband's finger.

When the ring stopped at the first joint of the president's ring finger,

Mr. Rike reached for some lubricant, which helped somewhat but not much.

" And she said, 'Thank you,' and then she reached out and kissed that

ring, " Mr. Rike said.

Born in Dallas, Mr. Rike was a graduate of Crozier Tech High School.

He served in the Marines before becoming an ambulance driver.

The day of the assassination, Mr. Rike and his partner were called to

transport a man to Parkland. He had fainted across from the Texas School

Book Depository about 10 minutes before the motorcade was to pass.

While filling out forms at Parkland, Mr. Rike noticed something big was

happening. He saw Lyndon B.

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Lyndon_B._> and thought the

vice president might have had another heart attack.

Next, Texas Gov. Connally

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/_Connally> was brought into the

emergency area, followed moments later by the president, his head

covered with a coat.

Mr. Rike said he spotted Mrs. Kennedy seated on a straight-back metal

chair outside the trauma room.

The first lady asked Mr. Rike if he was from Dallas.

" And I said, 'Yes, ma'am,' " he recalled in his oral history. " And you

know, it's kind of hard to make a conversation with, you know, the first

lady. "

Mr. Rike said he wetted a towel in a nearby scrub room and gave it to

Mrs. Kennedy. She cleaned blood from her hands and placed the towel

under her chair.

Mr. Rike said the area was chaotic, loud and crowded with officials. Out

of cigarettes, Mr. Rike got permission to go to a vending machine.

When Mr. Rike returned, Mrs. Kennedy asked if she could have a

cigarette, he said.

As Mr. Rike reached into his breast pocket, a Secret Service

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Secret_Service> agent knocked the

cigarettes down, scattering them across the floor.

The agent retrieved one of cigarettes and handed it to Mrs. Kennedy and

asked Mr. Rike if he had a light.

" So I gave him my Zippo very carefully because I didn't know what he was

going to do with that, " Mr. Rike said.

Mr. Rike said he waited with Mrs. Kennedy for the casket to arrive.

After the president was given last rites, Mr. Rike and his partner

transferred the body to the casket.

Mrs. Kennedy wanted to ride in the back of the hearse with her husband.

Mr. Rike folded down the jump seat for Mrs. Kennedy, holding her arm so

that she could climb inside the hearse.

" A Secret Service agent grabbed me and threw me against the door, " Mr.

Rike recalled.

Mrs. Kennedy then said, " Leave the young man alone. This is the only

gentleman I've met since I've been here, " Mr. Rike recalled.

" And so I said, 'Thank you, ma'am.' "

He then he helped Mrs. Kennedy into the hearse.

" And she said, 'Thank you very much.' "

Mr. Rike went on to a 26-year career with the Highland Park Police

Department.

" Aubrey never embellished his story or changed it in any way - ever, "

Mr. Mack said. " He didn't make a big deal about what he did. "

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Turrentine Morrow Funeral

Home in . Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral

home.

Mr. Rike is survived by his wife, Glenda Rike of Plano; a son, Larry

Rike of Plano; and a sister, Carolyn Hawkins

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Hawkins%2C_Inc.> of McKinney

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/McKinney%2C_Texas> .

Dudley

" EMS does not save lives. God does! Our job is to entertain the patient

until He makes up his mind. " - Dr. Red Duke

Dudley Wait

EMS Director

City of Schertz EMS

1400 Schertz Parkway

Schertz, TX 78154

(O)

(F)

©

************Confidentiality Notice************

The information in this email may be confidential and/or privileged. If

you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of

the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review,

dissemination or copying of this email and its attachments, if any, or

the information contained herein is prohibited. If you have received

this email in error, please immediately notify the sender by return

email and delete this email from your computer system. Thank you.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

[Guest guest]

Ya know I bet he never bitched about being called an Ambulance Driver

either.

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant

LNMolino@...

(Cell Phone)

" A Texan with a Jersey Attitude "

" Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds

discuss people " Eleanor Roosevelt - US diplomat & reformer (1884 - 1962)

In a message dated 4/30/2010 10:12:38 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

wegandy@... writes:

What a wonderful story and insight into what went on that day. I wonder

if any of the people who have written books about the assassination ever

talked to him.

If correct, his quote from Jackie is priceless.

GG

From: THEDUDMAN@...

Subject: A little history has passed away

Date: April 30, 2010 12:03:56 PM MST

To: strac-ems-leaders@..., nemsma (AT) google,

JBierschwale@..., texasems-l ,LAllegretti@...,

LBarahona@..., tbradford@..., ucbud@...,

JBusch@...,jconell@..., MCosentino@...,

SDingel@...,

donovanbutter@..., EDugosh@...,TElbel@...,

EFeaster@...,

cfoerster@..., CFuentes@...,

RGonyer@...,AGorzell@..., MGulbis@...,

jhames@..., THand@...,

JHedrick@...,shelm@..., J@...,

BHirshberg@..., JVaughn@...,

MJernigan@...,rjohnston@...,

TKaiser@..., WKrueger@..., bestia54@...,

JMabbitt@...,JPMC@..., mmcollum@...,

SMueller@...,

bmyers@..., COtte@...,JPruitt@..., dretano@...,

E@..., nroebuck@...,

ryangonyer@...,Marsanchez@..., KScurlock@...,

kseidel@..., ASellers@...,

DSturdevant@...,STrejo@..., MTroncoso@...,

CTucker@..., julrich@...,

DWait@...,DWorcester@...,

amentc@..., cfoster@...,

DCovington@...,brackenvfd@...,

firechief@..., Ggalindo@...,

HHewlett@...,jeffvaughn42@..., C@...,

GOutlaw@..., rbraun@...,

rdn01@...,rniemietz@..., scottrobinson@...,

stevelipa@..., KTimke@...,

wileyscott@...

This story from Dallas is a small glimpse into the early days of our

business...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/04281

0dnmetjfkrike.3f259b1.html

Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike: Ambulance driver helped Jackie after JFK

assassination

11:02 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News

jsimnacher@... jsimnacher@...>

On Nov. 22, 1963, Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike had hoped to get a glimpse of

President F. Kennedy's motorcade.

Instead, the 25-year-old Dallas ambulance driver became an eyewitness to

the turmoil at Parkland Memorial Hospital

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Parkland_Hospital> , where he would

befriend Kennedy, help her transfer her wedding band to her

husband's finger, and place the president's body into a bronze casket.

Mr. Rike, 72, died Thursday of a heart attack at LifeCare Hospitals of

Plano http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Plano%2C_Texas> .

The emotion of that day would forever overcome Mr. Rike when he would

tell his story for interviews, speeches or seminars, said his wife,

Glenda Rike of Plano.

Few knew of Mr. Rike's amazing story until a researcher located him in

1980, said Mack, curator of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.

In September 2001, Mr. Rike told his story for the museum's oral history

collection, choking up when he recalled helping Mrs. Kennedy place her

wedding band on her husband's finger.

When the ring stopped at the first joint of the president's ring finger,

Mr. Rike reached for some lubricant, which helped somewhat but not much.

" And she said, 'Thank you,' and then she reached out and kissed that

ring, " Mr. Rike said.

Born in Dallas, Mr. Rike was a graduate of Crozier Tech High School.

He served in the Marines before becoming an ambulance driver.

The day of the assassination, Mr. Rike and his partner were called to

transport a man to Parkland. He had fainted across from the Texas School

Book Depository about 10 minutes before the motorcade was to pass.

While filling out forms at Parkland, Mr. Rike noticed something big was

happening. He saw Lyndon B.

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Lyndon_B._> and thought the

vice president might have had another heart attack.

Next, Texas Gov. Connally

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/_Connally> was brought into the

emergency area, followed moments later by the president, his head

covered with a coat.

Mr. Rike said he spotted Mrs. Kennedy seated on a straight-back metal

chair outside the trauma room.

The first lady asked Mr. Rike if he was from Dallas.

" And I said, 'Yes, ma'am,' " he recalled in his oral history. " And you

know, it's kind of hard to make a conversation with, you know, the first

lady. "

Mr. Rike said he wetted a towel in a nearby scrub room and gave it to

Mrs. Kennedy. She cleaned blood from her hands and placed the towel

under her chair.

Mr. Rike said the area was chaotic, loud and crowded with officials. Out

of cigarettes, Mr. Rike got permission to go to a vending machine.

When Mr. Rike returned, Mrs. Kennedy asked if she could have a

cigarette, he said.

As Mr. Rike reached into his breast pocket, a Secret Service

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Secret_Service> agent knocked the

cigarettes down, scattering them across the floor.

The agent retrieved one of cigarettes and handed it to Mrs. Kennedy and

asked Mr. Rike if he had a light.

" So I gave him my Zippo very carefully because I didn't know what he was

going to do with that, " Mr. Rike said.

Mr. Rike said he waited with Mrs. Kennedy for the casket to arrive.

After the president was given last rites, Mr. Rike and his partner

transferred the body to the casket.

Mrs. Kennedy wanted to ride in the back of the hearse with her husband.

Mr. Rike folded down the jump seat for Mrs. Kennedy, holding her arm so

that she could climb inside the hearse.

" A Secret Service agent grabbed me and threw me against the door, " Mr.

Rike recalled.

Mrs. Kennedy then said, " Leave the young man alone. This is the only

gentleman I've met since I've been here, " Mr. Rike recalled.

" And so I said, 'Thank you, ma'am.' "

He then he helped Mrs. Kennedy into the hearse.

" And she said, 'Thank you very much.' "

Mr. Rike went on to a 26-year career with the Highland Park Police

Department.

" Aubrey never embellished his story or changed it in any way - ever, "

Mr. Mack said. " He didn't make a big deal about what he did. "

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Turrentine Morrow Funeral

Home in . Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral

home.

Mr. Rike is survived by his wife, Glenda Rike of Plano; a son, Larry

Rike of Plano; and a sister, Carolyn Hawkins

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Hawkins%2C_Inc.> of McKinney

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/McKinney%2C_Texas> .

Dudley

" EMS does not save lives. God does! Our job is to entertain the patient

until He makes up his mind. " - Dr. Red Duke

Dudley Wait

EMS Director

City of Schertz EMS

1400 Schertz Parkway

Schertz, TX 78154

(O)

(F)

©

************Confidentiality Notice************

The information in this email may be confidential and/or privileged. If

you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of

the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review,

dissemination or copying of this email and its attachments, if any, or

the information contained herein is prohibited. If you have received

this email in error, please immediately notify the sender by return

email and delete this email from your computer system. Thank you.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

[Guest guest]

What a wonderful story and insight into what went on that day.  I wonder if any

of the people who have written books about the assassination ever talked to him.

If correct, his quote from Jackie is priceless.

GG

From: THEDUDMAN@...

Subject: A little history has passed away

Date: April 30, 2010 12:03:56 PM MST

To:

strac-ems-leaders@..., nemsma (AT) google, JBierschwale (AT) schertz (DOT) \

com, texasems-l ,LAllegretti@..., LBarahona@..., \

tbradford@..., ucbud@..., JBusch@...,jconell@..., MC\

osentino@..., SDingel@..., donovanbutter@..., EDugosh@sche\

rtz.com,TElbel@..., EFeaster@..., cfoerster@..., CFuente\

s@..., RGonyer@...,AGorzell@..., MGulbis@..., jh\

ames@..., THand@..., JHedrick@...,shelm@..., JHe\

rnandez@..., BHirshberg@..., JVaughn@..., MJernigan@sche\

rtz.com,rjohnston@..., TKaiser@..., WKrueger@..., bestia\

54@..., JMabbitt@...,JPMC@..., mmcollum@..., SMu\

eller@..., bmyers@..., COtte@...,JPruitt@..., dr\

etano@..., E@..., nroebuck@..., ryangonyer@hotm\

ail.com,Marsanchez@..., KScurlock@..., kseidel@..., ASel\

lers@..., DSturdevant@...,STrejo@..., MTroncoso (AT) schertz (DOT) \

com, CTucker@..., julrich@..., DWait@...,DWorcester@sche\

rtz.com, amentc@..., cfoster@..., DCovington@...,brack\

envfd@..., firechief@..., Ggalindo@...\

s, HHewlett@...,jeffvaughn42@..., C@..., GOutlaw@s\

chertz.com, rbraun@..., rdn01@...,rniemietz@..., sco\

ttrobinson@..., stevelipa@..., KTimke@..., wileyscott@...\

r.com

This story from Dallas is a small glimpse into the early days of our

business...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/04281

0dnmetjfkrike.3f259b1.html

Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike: Ambulance driver helped Jackie after JFK

assassination 

11:02 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News 

jsimnacher@... jsimnacher@...> 

On Nov. 22, 1963, Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike had hoped to get a glimpse of

President F. Kennedy's motorcade. 

Instead, the 25-year-old Dallas ambulance driver became an eyewitness to

the turmoil at Parkland Memorial Hospital

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Parkland_Hospital> , where he would

befriend Kennedy, help her transfer her wedding band to her

husband's finger, and place the president's body into a bronze casket. 

Mr. Rike, 72, died Thursday of a heart attack at LifeCare Hospitals of

Plano http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Plano%2C_Texas> . 

The emotion of that day would forever overcome Mr. Rike when he would

tell his story for interviews, speeches or seminars, said his wife,

Glenda Rike of Plano. 

Few knew of Mr. Rike's amazing story until a researcher located him in

1980, said Mack, curator of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.

In September 2001, Mr. Rike told his story for the museum's oral history

collection, choking up when he recalled helping Mrs. Kennedy place her

wedding band on her husband's finger. 

When the ring stopped at the first joint of the president's ring finger,

Mr. Rike reached for some lubricant, which helped somewhat but not much.

" And she said, 'Thank you,' and then she reached out and kissed that

ring, " Mr. Rike said. 

Born in Dallas, Mr. Rike was a graduate of Crozier Tech High School. 

He served in the Marines before becoming an ambulance driver. 

The day of the assassination, Mr. Rike and his partner were called to

transport a man to Parkland. He had fainted across from the Texas School

Book Depository about 10 minutes before the motorcade was to pass. 

While filling out forms at Parkland, Mr. Rike noticed something big was

happening. He saw Lyndon B.

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Lyndon_B._> and thought the

vice president might have had another heart attack. 

Next, Texas Gov. Connally

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/_Connally> was brought into the

emergency area, followed moments later by the president, his head

covered with a coat. 

Mr. Rike said he spotted Mrs. Kennedy seated on a straight-back metal

chair outside the trauma room. 

The first lady asked Mr. Rike if he was from Dallas. 

" And I said, 'Yes, ma'am,' " he recalled in his oral history. " And you

know, it's kind of hard to make a conversation with, you know, the first

lady. "  

Mr. Rike said he wetted a towel in a nearby scrub room and gave it to

Mrs. Kennedy. She cleaned blood from her hands and placed the towel

under her chair. 

Mr. Rike said the area was chaotic, loud and crowded with officials. Out

of cigarettes, Mr. Rike got permission to go to a vending machine. 

When Mr. Rike returned, Mrs. Kennedy asked if she could have a

cigarette, he said. 

As Mr. Rike reached into his breast pocket, a Secret Service

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Secret_Service> agent knocked the

cigarettes down, scattering them across the floor. 

The agent retrieved one of cigarettes and handed it to Mrs. Kennedy and

asked Mr. Rike if he had a light. 

" So I gave him my Zippo very carefully because I didn't know what he was

going to do with that, " Mr. Rike said. 

Mr. Rike said he waited with Mrs. Kennedy for the casket to arrive. 

After the president was given last rites, Mr. Rike and his partner

transferred the body to the casket. 

Mrs. Kennedy wanted to ride in the back of the hearse with her husband.

Mr. Rike folded down the jump seat for Mrs. Kennedy, holding her arm so

that she could climb inside the hearse. 

" A Secret Service agent grabbed me and threw me against the door, " Mr.

Rike recalled. 

Mrs. Kennedy then said, " Leave the young man alone. This is the only

gentleman I've met since I've been here, " Mr. Rike recalled. 

" And so I said, 'Thank you, ma'am.' "  

He then he helped Mrs. Kennedy into the hearse. 

" And she said, 'Thank you very much.' "  

Mr. Rike went on to a 26-year career with the Highland Park Police

Department. 

" Aubrey never embellished his story or changed it in any way - ever, "

Mr. Mack said. " He didn't make a big deal about what he did. "  

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Turrentine Morrow Funeral

Home in . Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral

home. 

Mr. Rike is survived by his wife, Glenda Rike of Plano; a son, Larry

Rike of Plano; and a sister, Carolyn Hawkins

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Hawkins%2C_Inc.> of McKinney

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/McKinney%2C_Texas> . 

Dudley

" EMS does not save lives. God does! Our job is to entertain the patient

until He makes up his mind. " - Dr. Red Duke

Dudley Wait

EMS Director

City of Schertz EMS

1400 Schertz Parkway

Schertz, TX 78154

(O)

(F)

©

************Confidentiality Notice************

The information in this email may be confidential and/or privileged. If

you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of

the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review,

dissemination or copying of this email and its attachments, if any, or

the information contained herein is prohibited. If you have received

this email in error, please immediately notify the sender by return

email and delete this email from your computer system. Thank you.

[Guest guest]

What a wonderful story and insight into what went on that day.  I wonder if any

of the people who have written books about the assassination ever talked to him.

If correct, his quote from Jackie is priceless.

GG

From: THEDUDMAN@...

Subject: A little history has passed away

Date: April 30, 2010 12:03:56 PM MST

To:

strac-ems-leaders@..., nemsma (AT) google, JBierschwale (AT) schertz (DOT) \

com, texasems-l ,LAllegretti@..., LBarahona@..., \

tbradford@..., ucbud@..., JBusch@...,jconell@..., MC\

osentino@..., SDingel@..., donovanbutter@..., EDugosh@sche\

rtz.com,TElbel@..., EFeaster@..., cfoerster@..., CFuente\

s@..., RGonyer@...,AGorzell@..., MGulbis@..., jh\

ames@..., THand@..., JHedrick@...,shelm@..., JHe\

rnandez@..., BHirshberg@..., JVaughn@..., MJernigan@sche\

rtz.com,rjohnston@..., TKaiser@..., WKrueger@..., bestia\

54@..., JMabbitt@...,JPMC@..., mmcollum@..., SMu\

eller@..., bmyers@..., COtte@...,JPruitt@..., dr\

etano@..., E@..., nroebuck@..., ryangonyer@hotm\

ail.com,Marsanchez@..., KScurlock@..., kseidel@..., ASel\

lers@..., DSturdevant@...,STrejo@..., MTroncoso (AT) schertz (DOT) \

com, CTucker@..., julrich@..., DWait@...,DWorcester@sche\

rtz.com, amentc@..., cfoster@..., DCovington@...,brack\

envfd@..., firechief@..., Ggalindo@...\

s, HHewlett@...,jeffvaughn42@..., C@..., GOutlaw@s\

chertz.com, rbraun@..., rdn01@...,rniemietz@..., sco\

ttrobinson@..., stevelipa@..., KTimke@..., wileyscott@...\

r.com

This story from Dallas is a small glimpse into the early days of our

business...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/04281

0dnmetjfkrike.3f259b1.html

Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike: Ambulance driver helped Jackie after JFK

assassination 

11:02 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News 

jsimnacher@... jsimnacher@...> 

On Nov. 22, 1963, Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike had hoped to get a glimpse of

President F. Kennedy's motorcade. 

Instead, the 25-year-old Dallas ambulance driver became an eyewitness to

the turmoil at Parkland Memorial Hospital

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Parkland_Hospital> , where he would

befriend Kennedy, help her transfer her wedding band to her

husband's finger, and place the president's body into a bronze casket. 

Mr. Rike, 72, died Thursday of a heart attack at LifeCare Hospitals of

Plano http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Plano%2C_Texas> . 

The emotion of that day would forever overcome Mr. Rike when he would

tell his story for interviews, speeches or seminars, said his wife,

Glenda Rike of Plano. 

Few knew of Mr. Rike's amazing story until a researcher located him in

1980, said Mack, curator of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.

In September 2001, Mr. Rike told his story for the museum's oral history

collection, choking up when he recalled helping Mrs. Kennedy place her

wedding band on her husband's finger. 

When the ring stopped at the first joint of the president's ring finger,

Mr. Rike reached for some lubricant, which helped somewhat but not much.

" And she said, 'Thank you,' and then she reached out and kissed that

ring, " Mr. Rike said. 

Born in Dallas, Mr. Rike was a graduate of Crozier Tech High School. 

He served in the Marines before becoming an ambulance driver. 

The day of the assassination, Mr. Rike and his partner were called to

transport a man to Parkland. He had fainted across from the Texas School

Book Depository about 10 minutes before the motorcade was to pass. 

While filling out forms at Parkland, Mr. Rike noticed something big was

happening. He saw Lyndon B.

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Lyndon_B._> and thought the

vice president might have had another heart attack. 

Next, Texas Gov. Connally

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/_Connally> was brought into the

emergency area, followed moments later by the president, his head

covered with a coat. 

Mr. Rike said he spotted Mrs. Kennedy seated on a straight-back metal

chair outside the trauma room. 

The first lady asked Mr. Rike if he was from Dallas. 

" And I said, 'Yes, ma'am,' " he recalled in his oral history. " And you

know, it's kind of hard to make a conversation with, you know, the first

lady. "  

Mr. Rike said he wetted a towel in a nearby scrub room and gave it to

Mrs. Kennedy. She cleaned blood from her hands and placed the towel

under her chair. 

Mr. Rike said the area was chaotic, loud and crowded with officials. Out

of cigarettes, Mr. Rike got permission to go to a vending machine. 

When Mr. Rike returned, Mrs. Kennedy asked if she could have a

cigarette, he said. 

As Mr. Rike reached into his breast pocket, a Secret Service

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Secret_Service> agent knocked the

cigarettes down, scattering them across the floor. 

The agent retrieved one of cigarettes and handed it to Mrs. Kennedy and

asked Mr. Rike if he had a light. 

" So I gave him my Zippo very carefully because I didn't know what he was

going to do with that, " Mr. Rike said. 

Mr. Rike said he waited with Mrs. Kennedy for the casket to arrive. 

After the president was given last rites, Mr. Rike and his partner

transferred the body to the casket. 

Mrs. Kennedy wanted to ride in the back of the hearse with her husband.

Mr. Rike folded down the jump seat for Mrs. Kennedy, holding her arm so

that she could climb inside the hearse. 

" A Secret Service agent grabbed me and threw me against the door, " Mr.

Rike recalled. 

Mrs. Kennedy then said, " Leave the young man alone. This is the only

gentleman I've met since I've been here, " Mr. Rike recalled. 

" And so I said, 'Thank you, ma'am.' "  

He then he helped Mrs. Kennedy into the hearse. 

" And she said, 'Thank you very much.' "  

Mr. Rike went on to a 26-year career with the Highland Park Police

Department. 

" Aubrey never embellished his story or changed it in any way - ever, "

Mr. Mack said. " He didn't make a big deal about what he did. "  

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Turrentine Morrow Funeral

Home in . Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral

home. 

Mr. Rike is survived by his wife, Glenda Rike of Plano; a son, Larry

Rike of Plano; and a sister, Carolyn Hawkins

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Hawkins%2C_Inc.> of McKinney

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/McKinney%2C_Texas> . 

Dudley

" EMS does not save lives. God does! Our job is to entertain the patient

until He makes up his mind. " - Dr. Red Duke

Dudley Wait

EMS Director

City of Schertz EMS

1400 Schertz Parkway

Schertz, TX 78154

(O)

(F)

©

************Confidentiality Notice************

The information in this email may be confidential and/or privileged. If

you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of

the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review,

dissemination or copying of this email and its attachments, if any, or

the information contained herein is prohibited. If you have received

this email in error, please immediately notify the sender by return

email and delete this email from your computer system. Thank you.

[Guest guest]

What a wonderful story and insight into what went on that day.  I wonder if any

of the people who have written books about the assassination ever talked to him.

If correct, his quote from Jackie is priceless.

GG

From: THEDUDMAN@...

Subject: A little history has passed away

Date: April 30, 2010 12:03:56 PM MST

To:

strac-ems-leaders@..., nemsma (AT) google, JBierschwale (AT) schertz (DOT) \

com, texasems-l ,LAllegretti@..., LBarahona@..., \

tbradford@..., ucbud@..., JBusch@...,jconell@..., MC\

osentino@..., SDingel@..., donovanbutter@..., EDugosh@sche\

rtz.com,TElbel@..., EFeaster@..., cfoerster@..., CFuente\

s@..., RGonyer@...,AGorzell@..., MGulbis@..., jh\

ames@..., THand@..., JHedrick@...,shelm@..., JHe\

rnandez@..., BHirshberg@..., JVaughn@..., MJernigan@sche\

rtz.com,rjohnston@..., TKaiser@..., WKrueger@..., bestia\

54@..., JMabbitt@...,JPMC@..., mmcollum@..., SMu\

eller@..., bmyers@..., COtte@...,JPruitt@..., dr\

etano@..., E@..., nroebuck@..., ryangonyer@hotm\

ail.com,Marsanchez@..., KScurlock@..., kseidel@..., ASel\

lers@..., DSturdevant@...,STrejo@..., MTroncoso (AT) schertz (DOT) \

com, CTucker@..., julrich@..., DWait@...,DWorcester@sche\

rtz.com, amentc@..., cfoster@..., DCovington@...,brack\

envfd@..., firechief@..., Ggalindo@...\

s, HHewlett@...,jeffvaughn42@..., C@..., GOutlaw@s\

chertz.com, rbraun@..., rdn01@...,rniemietz@..., sco\

ttrobinson@..., stevelipa@..., KTimke@..., wileyscott@...\

r.com

This story from Dallas is a small glimpse into the early days of our

business...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/04281

0dnmetjfkrike.3f259b1.html

Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike: Ambulance driver helped Jackie after JFK

assassination 

11:02 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010

By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News 

jsimnacher@... jsimnacher@...> 

On Nov. 22, 1963, Aubrey Lee " Al " Rike had hoped to get a glimpse of

President F. Kennedy's motorcade. 

Instead, the 25-year-old Dallas ambulance driver became an eyewitness to

the turmoil at Parkland Memorial Hospital

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Parkland_Hospital> , where he would

befriend Kennedy, help her transfer her wedding band to her

husband's finger, and place the president's body into a bronze casket. 

Mr. Rike, 72, died Thursday of a heart attack at LifeCare Hospitals of

Plano http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Plano%2C_Texas> . 

The emotion of that day would forever overcome Mr. Rike when he would

tell his story for interviews, speeches or seminars, said his wife,

Glenda Rike of Plano. 

Few knew of Mr. Rike's amazing story until a researcher located him in

1980, said Mack, curator of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.

In September 2001, Mr. Rike told his story for the museum's oral history

collection, choking up when he recalled helping Mrs. Kennedy place her

wedding band on her husband's finger. 

When the ring stopped at the first joint of the president's ring finger,

Mr. Rike reached for some lubricant, which helped somewhat but not much.

" And she said, 'Thank you,' and then she reached out and kissed that

ring, " Mr. Rike said. 

Born in Dallas, Mr. Rike was a graduate of Crozier Tech High School. 

He served in the Marines before becoming an ambulance driver. 

The day of the assassination, Mr. Rike and his partner were called to

transport a man to Parkland. He had fainted across from the Texas School

Book Depository about 10 minutes before the motorcade was to pass. 

While filling out forms at Parkland, Mr. Rike noticed something big was

happening. He saw Lyndon B.

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Lyndon_B._> and thought the

vice president might have had another heart attack. 

Next, Texas Gov. Connally

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/_Connally> was brought into the

emergency area, followed moments later by the president, his head

covered with a coat. 

Mr. Rike said he spotted Mrs. Kennedy seated on a straight-back metal

chair outside the trauma room. 

The first lady asked Mr. Rike if he was from Dallas. 

" And I said, 'Yes, ma'am,' " he recalled in his oral history. " And you

know, it's kind of hard to make a conversation with, you know, the first

lady. "  

Mr. Rike said he wetted a towel in a nearby scrub room and gave it to

Mrs. Kennedy. She cleaned blood from her hands and placed the towel

under her chair. 

Mr. Rike said the area was chaotic, loud and crowded with officials. Out

of cigarettes, Mr. Rike got permission to go to a vending machine. 

When Mr. Rike returned, Mrs. Kennedy asked if she could have a

cigarette, he said. 

As Mr. Rike reached into his breast pocket, a Secret Service

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Secret_Service> agent knocked the

cigarettes down, scattering them across the floor. 

The agent retrieved one of cigarettes and handed it to Mrs. Kennedy and

asked Mr. Rike if he had a light. 

" So I gave him my Zippo very carefully because I didn't know what he was

going to do with that, " Mr. Rike said. 

Mr. Rike said he waited with Mrs. Kennedy for the casket to arrive. 

After the president was given last rites, Mr. Rike and his partner

transferred the body to the casket. 

Mrs. Kennedy wanted to ride in the back of the hearse with her husband.

Mr. Rike folded down the jump seat for Mrs. Kennedy, holding her arm so

that she could climb inside the hearse. 

" A Secret Service agent grabbed me and threw me against the door, " Mr.

Rike recalled. 

Mrs. Kennedy then said, " Leave the young man alone. This is the only

gentleman I've met since I've been here, " Mr. Rike recalled. 

" And so I said, 'Thank you, ma'am.' "  

He then he helped Mrs. Kennedy into the hearse. 

" And she said, 'Thank you very much.' "  

Mr. Rike went on to a 26-year career with the Highland Park Police

Department. 

" Aubrey never embellished his story or changed it in any way - ever, "

Mr. Mack said. " He didn't make a big deal about what he did. "  

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Turrentine Morrow Funeral

Home in . Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral

home. 

Mr. Rike is survived by his wife, Glenda Rike of Plano; a son, Larry

Rike of Plano; and a sister, Carolyn Hawkins

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Hawkins%2C_Inc.> of McKinney

http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/McKinney%2C_Texas> . 

Dudley

" EMS does not save lives. God does! Our job is to entertain the patient

until He makes up his mind. " - Dr. Red Duke

Dudley Wait

EMS Director

City of Schertz EMS

1400 Schertz Parkway

Schertz, TX 78154

(O)

(F)

©

************Confidentiality Notice************

The information in this email may be confidential and/or privileged. If

you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of

the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review,

dissemination or copying of this email and its attachments, if any, or

the information contained herein is prohibited. If you have received

this email in error, please immediately notify the sender by return

email and delete this email from your computer system. Thank you.

[Guest guest]

If DFD didn't send an ambulance and an honour guard to his funeral, they suck.

Rob

[Guest guest]

If DFD didn't send an ambulance and an honour guard to his funeral, they suck.

Rob

[Guest guest]

If DFD didn't send an ambulance and an honour guard to his funeral, they suck.

Rob