Testimony of Phillip L. Willis

The testimony of Phillip L. Willis was taken at 2:30 p.m., on July 22, 1964, in the office of the U.S. attorney, 301 Post Office Building, Bryan and Ervay Streets, Dallas, Tex. by Mr. Wesley J. Liebeler, assistant counsel of the President's Commission.

Mr. Liebeler.

Would you raise your right hand [standing]? Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Mr. Willis.

I do.

Mr. Liebeler.

Please sit down. My name is Wesley J. Liebeler. I am an attorney on the staff of the President's Commission investigating the assassination of President Kennedy. I have been authorized to take your testimony by the Commission pursuant to authority granted to it by Executive Order No. 11130, dated November 29, 1963, and joint resolution of Congress No. 137. Under the rules of the Commission's procedure, you are entitled to have an attorney present if you wish to have him here. You are entitled to 3 days notice for the hearing, and you are entitled to exercise whatever privileges there are available to you as far as not answering questions are concerned. I assume that you are prepared to go ahead with your testimony without attorney present, because you are here without one?

Mr. Willis.

Absolutely.

Mr. Liebeler.

Would you state your full name for the record, please?

Mr. Willis.

Phillip L. Willis.

Mr. Liebeler.

What is your address, sir?

Mr. Willis.

2824 Ava Lane, Dallas 27, Tex.

Mr. Liebeler.

When were you born?

Mr. Willis.

August 2, 1918.

Mr. Liebeler.

Where?

Mr. Willis.

Kaufman County, Tex.

Mr. Liebeler.

Have you lived in Texas throughout most of your life?

Mr. Willis.

All my life, with the exception of my military service.

Mr. Liebeler.

How long have you lived here in Dallas?

Mr. Willis.

Since April 1, 1960.

Mr. Liebeler.

What business are you engaged in, or by whom are you employed?

Mr. Willis.

I am a retired major, Air Force, disabled World War II, and I am on disability retirement from the Air Force. I am an independent real estate broker.

Mr. Liebeler.

It is my understanding that you were in the vicinity of the Texas School Book Depository Building on November 22, 1963, at the time of the assassination; is that correct?

Mr. Willis.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Liebeler.

Can you tell me where you were and what you saw happen, and what you did at that time?

Mr. Willis.

I had a driver drop my family and I in the parkway so that we could have a chance to get a good view of the President's party, having taken my children out of school for the occasion. We were told by the policeman that they were coming down from Main Street approaching the area on Main and I stood at the corner of Main and Houston and watched them approach. I am an amateur photographer, a poor one, but we wanted to get some good colored pictures of the President. So I photographed the President coming in front of the courthouse and making the turn onto Houston Street.

Mr. Liebeler.

Where did you station yourself at first? Were you at the corner, you say?

Mr. Willis.

At the corner of Houston and Main.

Mr. Liebeler.

So that you saw him----

Mr. Willis.

Across from the county jail on the parkway there near the esplanade.