Houston McCoy

Houston Roy McCoy is the Austin, Texas Police officer who killed sniper Charles Whitman at the University of Texas at Austin on August 1, 1966. [Flippin, Perry [http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2007/aug/06/ut-tower-shooting-heroes-be-honored/ UT Tower Heroes to be Honored] SA Standard Times 8/6/2007. Retrieved on 11/5/2007.] [ name="Sol_Mayer">cite web | url=http://www.westtexasscoutinghistory.net/camp_solmayer_McCoy.html | title=Camp Sol Mayer | work=West Texas Scouting History | date=10 July 2004 | accessdate=2007-09-15]

A native of Menard, he attended Menard High School where he was active in sports and named "Class Favorite" and "Best All Around Boy". After graduating in 1958, he attended Lamar Tech University in Beaumont before enlisting in the United States Army. [ [http://www.76859.com/html/mhs_1958.cfm Menard Roots - Class of 1958] Menard Roots - Menard HS annual - Class of 1958. Retrieved on 01/06/2008] [ [http://www.76859.com/html/mhs_1956.cfm Menard Roots - Class of 1956] Menard Roots - Menard HS annual - Class of 1956. Retrieved on 01/06/2008] [Lavergne, Gary: "A Sniper in the Tower", page 155. University of North Texas Press, 1997. ISBN 1-57441-029-6 ]

McCoy joined the Austin Police Department in May 1963. While on the force, he obtained his commercial flight instructor license and volunteered his time to the Boy Scouts of America. [cite web | url=http://www.westtexasscoutinghistory.net/camp_solmayer_McCoy.html | title=Camp Sol Mayer | work=West Texas Scouting History | date=10 July 2004 | accessdate=2007-09-15]

He married his German born fiancé, Ruth, in July 1963, the same month he graduated from cadet school. [http://www.westtexasscoutinghistory.net/camp_solmayer_McCoy.html]

The Confrontation with Charles Whitman

Officer McCoy, Officer Jerry Day and civilian Allen Crum followed Officer Ramiro Martinez outside onto the observation deck of the tower building. Martinez, closely followed by McCoy, proceeded north on the east deck while Day, followed by Crum, proceeded west on the south deck. Crum accidentally discharged a shot from his borrowed rifle as Martinez moved onto the north deck and in a split position rapidly fired all six shots from his .38 police revolver. As Martinez was firing, McCoy jumped onto the north deck just to the right of Martinez, and with his 12 gauge shotgun, fired the two fatal shots into the head and left side of Whitman, who was sitting approximately fifty feet away near the northwest corner, partially shielded by the tower lights. Martinez threw his revolver onto the deck, grabbed McCoy’s shotgun, ran to the body of Whitman who had slid onto his back and fired a point blank shot into Whitman's upper left arm. Martinez then threw the shotgun on the deck and left the scene shouting "I got him". McCoy remained on the observation deck where he was joined by other officers who were in the tower, until the completion of the on scene investigation. [ Oliveria, Ron, [http://www.keyetv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=9679B9A6-F4B9-48CD-80A3-38BE0E7F3C97&gsa=true] "Officers Involved Describe UT Tower Sniper Attack" KEYETV. 11/27/2006 Retrieved on 07/20/2008] [ Oliveria, Ron, [http://www.keyetv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=6BC3E6AB-8166-4E47-B9F8-30EBD6FE0121&gsa=true] "Officers Share Journey of Stopping Sniper" KEYETV.11/28/2006 Retrieved on 07/20/2008]

After the Event

On August 5, 1966, McCoy appeared before the Travis County Grand Jury to receive a justifiable homicide verdict for the death of the Whitman.

Two years after the event, McCoy left the police force and was employed as a civilian flight instructor under the T-41 program with the United States Air Force in Del Rio, TX. In January 1975, he became the Camp Ranger for the Boy Scouts at Camp Sol Mayer near Fort McKavett State Historic Site, serving as Camp Ranger until 1987. [name="Sol_Mayer">cite web | url=http://www.westtexasscoutinghistory.net/camp_solmayer_McCoy.html | title=Camp Sol Mayer | work=West Texas Scouting History | date=10 July 2004 | accessdate=2007-09-15]

In September 1974, he used his flying skills to help save the life of an elderly rancher who had plunged into a flooded ravine that blocked ambulance service. He first flew the local doctor to the scene, landing on the country road near the victim's ranch house. As his airplane only had two seats, he flew the victim to a waiting ambulance at the local air field, returning for the doctor.

In the early 1990’s, lawyers representing McCoy filed an unsuccessful Defamation of Character lawsuit against TBS and MGM for falsely advertising the fictional film "“The Deadly Tower”" as a true story. The lawyers cited the mental anguish McCoy endured because of the film as well as severe substance abuse and addiction (alcohol). Although McCoy refused to allow his name to be used in the film because it did not accurately portray his character, the film showed a tall, lanky and cowardly officer with a shotgun who did not fire on Whitman. The Feb 2002 issue of "“The Police Line”" talks about the 1975 film and how it affected McCoy’s life. [name="3B_Theater">cite web | date=February 14, 2005|url=http://www.badmovieplanet.com/3btheater/d/thedeadlytower.html|title=The Deadly Tower!|publisher=3B Theater|accessdate=2006-04-27]

Diagnosis - Awards and the City of Austin

McCoy was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by a Veterans Affairs psychologist, Dr. Ellen Mink.cite news | url=http://www.amarillo.com/stories/062800/tex_LD0691.shtml | title=Cop who killed UT sniper files worker's comp lawsuit | publisher=Amarillo Globe News | date=28 June 2000] The State of Texas granted a Worker's Compensation Award of $2160, plus treatment for his PTSD, due to McCoy being on duty at the time. The City of Austin sued McCoy in order to deny him the Award, in part because of the 30 year length of time between the original incident and the filing. A spokesperson for the Commission stated that there was no Statute of Limitations as the City suggested. The Award has never been paid.cite news|first=Carlisle|last=Kristin|url=http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2001/04/11/StateLocal/City-Appeals.Against.Compensation.For.Tower.Hero-699779.shtml|title=City appeals against compensation for Tower hero|publisher=The Daily Texan|date=April 11, 2001|accessdate=2006-04-03]

On August 9, 2007 Houston McCoy, along with 13 other recipients, received the Distinguished Service Award from the City of Austin. [ Oliveria, Ron [http://www.keyetv.com/content/blogs/ronoliveira/story.aspx?content_id=2d3bcb13-8f12-497f-b1e9-1497ef9c8302 UT Tower Shooting: 41 Years] CBS News Channel 42 KEYETV. Retrieved on 11/2/2007] [ Flippin, Perry [http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2007/aug/06/ut-tower-shooting-heroes-be-honored/ UT Tower Heroes to be Honored] SA Standard Times 8/6/2007.Retrieved on 11/5/2007]

On August 1, 2008, Travis County renamed their law enforcement Precinct 3 building B "Tower Heroes Building" honoring Houston McCoy and other law enforcement officers and civilians involved in ending the UT Tower tragedy. [ KTBC-FOX 7 [http://www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=C985CF9A7D55AFF3C266FDA6BC13E0AC?contentId=7106274&version=8&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1 The Tower Anniversary: 42 Years Later] FOX NEWS AUSTIN KTBC-FOX 7. Retrieved on 8/4/2008] [ NBC NEWS AUSTIN KXAN.COM [http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?s=8775262 Friday Marks UT Shooting Rampage Anniversary] NBC News Austin KXAN.COM. Retrieved on 8/4/2008] [ Gamino, Dennis

[http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/08/02/0802dedication.html Heroes of UT Tower Tragedy Honored] American-Statesman. Retrieved on 8/4/2008] [Ciolko, Natalia. [http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2008/08/04/TopStories/Tower.Heroes.Memorialized.County.Dedicates.Building-3396685.shtml Tower Heroes Memorialized: County Dedicates Building Ceremony Marks 42nd Anniversary of Tower Shooting] Daily Texan Online. Retrieved on 8/4/2008] Dead link|date=October 2008

Those Honored On August 1, 2008

* Officer Billy Paul Speed, the only peace officer slain Aug. 1, 1966.

* Officer Phillip Conner of Austin, ex-Army medic administered first aid and covered the west window while officers went onto the observation deck.

* Officer Jerry Day of Universal City, moved a wounded victim out of the line of fire and went to the top of the tower alone.

* Lt. Marion Lee, the gunner in the airplane piloted by Jim Boutwell.

* Officer Ramiro Martinez of New Braunfels, made his way onto the tower deck and was the first to spot and fire upon the Whitman.

* Officer Houston McCoy of Menard, fired the fatal shots into Whitman, thereby ending the UT Tower tragedy.

* Officer Harold Moe of Marble Falls, was instrumental in saving the lives of two gunshot victims and used the only portable two-way radio to notify police that the siege was over.

* Officer George Shepard, was instrumental in saving the lives of two gunshot victims.

* Officer Milton Shoquist of Fair Oaks Ranch, was instrumental in saving the lives of two gunshot victims.

* Department of Public Safety Agent W.A. “Dub” Cowan, made his way to the top of the tower and was instrumental in setting up communications and removing people from harm’s way on the 27th floor.
* Civilian Jim Boutwell, volunteered his airplane and piloted it slowly above the tower to gather information and to help subdue Whitman.

* Civilian Allen Crum, first-floor supervisor of UT Co-op, made his way atop the UT Tower and, with Agent Cowan’s weapon, assisted Officer Martinez and backed up Officer Day on the south side of the observation deck.

* Civilian Frank Holder, elevator mechanic for Otis Elevator Co., led officers up the tower and assisted them in negotiating the stairs leading to the observation deck.

* Civilian William Wilcox, engineer for UT Physical Plant, led officers through the underground tunnels to safely enter the tower building, assist the wounded and subdue Whitman.

References