Remembering the UT Tower shooting 59 years later
AUSTIN (KXAN) —Friday marks 59 years since the tragic University of Texas Tower shooting.
On Aug. 1, 1966, a man by the name of Charles Whitman disguised himself as a janitor and carried bags of guns to the top of the UT Tower.
Whitman set up on the observation deck of the tower where he then opened fire on the people below.
"At approximately 11:53 a.m. on Aug. 1, 1966 I came within 4 feet of being shot by the tower sniper," said Austinite Forrest Preece, who was a student during the shooting. "A gentleman standing that far to my right was actually killed. He took a fatal round."
Preece said he was eating on the drag and when they heard there was something going on outside they stepped outside. After they heard the shots fired in their direction they ran back inside for cover.
"There has not been a day in the ensuing 59 years I have not thought about it," Preece said. "And on Aug. 1st it brings everything crashing back."
Video taken during that fateful day shows students running in every direction for cover, and many were killed.
In all, 17 people were killed -- and more than 30 injured by Whitman -- who used multiple guns and fired off about 150 rounds.
On Friday, Preece and his wife Linda spent the day paying their respects to those who were killed by stopping by a few grave sites and the memorial on UT's campus.
"It has made an impact on my life, and it's one reason that I have been civically active and contributed everything I can to good causes around town. It's because I felt like I was given a second chance at life that day," Preece said.
The shooting ended at 1:24 p.m. when Whitman was ambushed and shot by police officers Ramiro Martinez and Houston McCoy.