Roger D. Craig
| Roger D. Craig | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Roger Dean Craig May 12, 1936 Cornell, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died |
May 15, 1975 (aged 39) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Suicide |
| Resting place | Mesquite, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | US Army |
| Occupation | Dallas County Deputy sheriff |
| Years active | 8 |
| Spouse(s) | June Molly |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Kristel Craig |
Roger Dean Craig (May 12, 1936 – May 15, 1975) held the post of Dallas County Deputy sheriff from 1959-1967 and who rose to fame during the John F. Kennedy assassination. He was the winner of the “Man of the Year” reward in 1960 for law enforcement in recognition of outstanding performance in the line of duty.
Early life and education
Craig was born in Wisconsin in 1936 and raised in Minnesota. In 1948, at the age of 12, he ran away from home, which brought him to travel all throughout the United States. He worked as a farm labourer in South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma.[1] Although he did not finish his high school, he took a high school equivalent test while serving in the U.S. Military in Japan, passed it and received a high school diploma. Craig eventually married and settled in Dallas.
Military service and career
In 1953, Craig joined the United States Army, at the age of 15 by lying about his age, and served in Japan. He remained in active military duty for two years, before leaving the military for health reasons.[2] By 1959, he was enrolled with the Dallas Police Department where he received four promotions while acting as Deputy Sheriff. Sheriff Decker took him out of the field and assigned him to the Bond Desk. Craig was laid-off from the Dallas Police Department by Sheriff Decker on 4 July 1967.
Roger Craig was contacted by the New Orleans District Attorney, Jim Garrison, for the first time on 15 October 1967,[3] who had taken an interest in a conspiracy theory. Knowledge of Craig’s connections with New Orleans District Attorney aroused even greater suspicions in Sheriff Decker, although Craig was no longer under his auspices. Upon losing his job with the Dallas Police force, Craig would later offer testimony in the Jim Garrison trial. Subsequent attempts by Craig to find employment were often met with disappointment.
Personal life
Craig was married to June Molly by whom he had three children; two sons and one daughter. They split up in 1973. Craig died on May 15, 1975.
References
- ↑ Based on Craig’s testimony before the Warren Commission on 1 April 1964; See: Transcript of Testimony.
- ↑ Email from Craig’s Daughter, p. # 41.
- ↑ The Harassment of Roger Craig, p. 2 (Based on wife’s testimony).
Further reading
- Garrison, Jim (1988). On the Trail of the Assassins. New York: Sheridan Square Press. ISBN 0-446-36277-8., pp. 94–96, 98, 194, 202, 204–205, 239, 273–274, 281, 326–327.
- Jones, Penn (1967). Forgive My Grief ISBN 0-686-21250-9, pp. 25, 29–31, 33–35, 67, 74 (vol. 1); pp. 15, 29–31, 33–37, 64, 79–80, 86–88, 90, 93 (vol. 3)
- Lane, Mark (1991). Plausible Denial. ISBN 978-1-56025-000-5
- Lane, Mark (2011). Last Word. ISBN 978-1-61608-428-8
External links
- Dedication to President Kennedy, by Roger Craig
- Craig, Found Shot to Death
- Roger Craig, Find A Grave
- Penn Jones, Jr. on Roger Craig
- General Information
- The Rambler Man
- Miscellany & Autopsy Report
- "Two Men in Dallas", Part I, Documentary by Mark Lane
- The Harassment of Roger Craig
- Filmed Interview with Roger Craig