Charles Whitman-The Texas Tower Massacre

August 1st, 1966: A Day Texas Will Never Forget

The Tower on the University of Texas campus in Austin stands twenty eight stories high. On July 31st, 1966, it represented the larger than life view that the state had of itself, tall and majestic. By the end of the next day, Charles Whitman had made sure it would be regarded as a monument to death until the day it crumbles. When Charles Whitman rode the elevator up to the top on August 1st he had only one intention, to use the tower as a sniper's perch. Unfortunately for the inhabitants below, about the only thing that Charles Whitman wasn't a failure at was as a sharpshooter.

Born on June 24th, 1941, Charles was born into a wealthy and prominent Lakeville, Florida family. His father C. A. Whitman was a highly successful plumber who had ridden his work ethic and business sense into high society. Charles and his two brothers were never lacking for material things such as motorcycles, a swimming pool, and guns. But there was a dark secret hidden behind the doors of the Whitman home. C. A. Whitman used to beat his wife, Margaret, and his sons, when they did not do as he wished or meet his high expectations. His dreadful temper flared out of control constantly. In June of 1959, a drunken Charles returned from a party and encountered his father, who gave him a severe beating and almost drowned him in the family pool. Shortly after that, Charles Whitman enlisted in the Marine Corps.

At first Whitman did quite well in the Corps, earning a Good Conduct Medal and the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal at Guantanomo Naval Base in Cuba. He also scored an eye opening 215 out of a possible 250 points on the shooting range, receiving a Sharpshooters Badge. Trying to prove his father wrong and be successful, Whitman applied for a Naval Enlisted Science Education Program scholarship, which would help him earn an engineering degree at a selected school. Whitman got the award, and was expected to enter Officer's Candidate School upon the completion of his degree. In September of 1961 he enrolled at the University of Texas.