What Fort Worth, Texas looked like in the 1960s

Fort Worth entered the 1960s carrying the legacy of its past – a city built on cattle trails, railroads, and the industrial might forged during World War II. The official count from the 1960 census showed 356,268 people called the city home, a significant jump from previous decades. Known widely as “Cowtown,” Fort Worth was on the cusp of major changes. The memory of the devastating 1949 Trinity River flood lingered, driving ongoing efforts to tame the river and protect the growing population. While post-war economic energy continued, the decade ahead would witness profound shifts in industry, the city’s physical layout, and the social landscape, particularly concerning civil rights.  

A construction crew builds the exterior brick walls of unit “D” 37 at the Ripley Arnold Housing Project, 1962.
Australian Roy Emerson in finals match with Chuck McKinley at Colonial Country Club, 1962.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram building, exterior, 7th and Taylor Street, Fort Worth, Texas, 1963.
Flatbed truck for President John F. Kennedy to speak from outside Hotel Texas, Fort Worth, 1963.
Women washing cars at the Ro-Po Car wash, 1969.
Senators John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson brought their campaign to Fort Worth, 1960.
Children dancing at the grand opening of the Fort Worth Public Library North Branch at 601 Park Street, 1967.
A house in the 3300 block of West Rosedale neighborhood after a heavy snowfall, 1960.
Butler Housing photograph, exterior view with children playing in sand box, 1960s.
The YWCA building at 512 W. 4th Street and the parking lot with Fort Worth skylines high rises, 1960s.
An aerial view of the Swift and Company Meatpacking Plant, located at 600 East Exchange Street, next to the Fort Worth Stockyards, 1965.
An exterior view of the old YWCA building along Camp Bowie, 1960s.
Exterior of Fort Worth’s East Branch library at 2800 Stark Street, 1964.
Exterior of Fort Worth’s East Branch library at 2800 Stark Street, 1964.
Southwestern Bell exchange building located at 2406 Chestnut Avenue in North Fort Worth, 1967.
The “Texas Sculpture” designed by Isamu Noguchi at the First National Bank of Fort Worth Plaza on 7th Street, 1960s.
Fort Worth’s Southeast Branch library at 4300 East Berry Street, 1967.
Exterior of the Fort Worth Public Library South Branch at 501 East Bolt Street, 1967.
Dignitaries at safari-themed groundbreaking ceremony for the Fort Worth Public Library East Branch, 1962.
Fort Worth Public Library North Branch at 601 Park Street, 1967.
The “Texas Sculpture” designed by Isamu Noguchi at the First National Bank of Fort Worth Plaza on 7th Street, 1960s.
Groundbreaking Safari” bus and women in costume at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Fort Worth Public Library East Branch, 1962.
Exterior of the Fort Worth Public Library North Branch at 601 Park Street, 1967.
Exterior of the Fort Worth Public Library West Branch at 3628 Bernie Anderson Avenue, 1967.
A view of West Seventh and Lamar Streets, Fort Worth, 1960s.
Two semi trailer trucks are parked in front of the construction site for the First National Bank Building, 1960s.
The motor bank and parking garage of the First National Bank, taken from West Sixth Street, 1960s.
Looking east along West Seventh Street at the intersection of West Sixth and Cherry Streets at the Fort Worth Motor Bank, 1960s.
The ground floor of the bank houses the savings, new accounts, checking accounts, and installment loan departments, 1960s.
A truck carrying the old First National Bank clock and the Lions Club band drives to the motor bank, 1960s.
The Fort Worth Public Library South Branch at 501 East Bolt Street, 1967.
A crate holding a piece of Isamu Noguchi’s “Texas Sculpture” being loaded onto a truck in Houston, Texas, 1960.
The Fort Worth Art Center, which later became the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 1960.
A crate holding a piece of Isamu Noguchi’s “Texas Sculpture” being loaded onto a truck in Houston, Texas, 1960.
Two boys look into a fountain in Burnett Park with the First National Bank building on the left, 1960s.
Exterior of the Fort Worth Public Library North Branch at 601 Park Street, 1967.
Aerial shot of the installation site of Noguchi’s “Texas Sculpture”, 1961.
Fort Worth skyline looking north with the Texas and Pacific Passenger Station, 1960s.
Exterior of the Fort Worth Public Library Northeast Branch at 2913 Yucca Avenue, 1967.
The Fort Worth Public Library South Branch at 501 East Bolt Street, 1967.
Library patron next to bookshelves, 1966.
Workers with a crane install Isamu Noguchi’s “Texas Sculpture” in front of the First National Bank, 1961.
Exchange and Main Streets, Fort Worth stockyards, 1960s.
Construction near the Ripley Arnold Housing Project with The Criminal Courts Building and Courthouse in the background, 1962.
Texas & Pacific railway terminal lobby, 1969.
Traffic flows beside an airfield, 1963.
Scott Fikes, Mrs. W. P. Cranz, Mrs. J. O. Jordan, and Charles Campbell look over terrain that will be made into Japanese Garden, 1966.
John F. Kennedy surrounded by crowd outside Hotel Texas, 1963.
Jerry LeVias (#23), first African American football player for Southern Methodist University (SMU), leaves stadium, 1966.
Aerial of crowd waiting to hear John F. Kennedy speak, Fort Worth, 1963.
Female members of the Goal Tenders, Fort Worth Wings booster club, work on sign, 1968.
Civil Rights demonstrations in Fort Worth, 1965.
R. L. Paschal High School, Fort Worth, 1964.
Rodeway Inn Motel, Lancaster and Henderson St., Fort Worth, 1960s.
Hightower family residence, Fort Worth, Texas, 1961.
Colonial Country Club, Women’s Golf Association ready for National Invitational Tournament, 1968.
Loyd L. Turner family residence, 3717 Echo Trail, Overton Park, Fort Worth, Texas, 1961.
Front view of the main gate at Convair in Fort Worth, 1961.
Leonard’s Department Store exterior, 1967.
Winfield Scott home, 1509 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas, 1969.
Opening of the 1960 Fort Worth Auction Market at the stockyards, 1960.
Hogue family residence, Fort Worth, Texas, 1961.
Man adjusting dials on wall, Carling Brewery, 1964.
Credit Plan building, 1963.
Exterior of McCart residence, 5028 Bryce, Arlington Heights, Fort Worth, 1969.
Looking north at Hulen Street bridge over the railroad yard, 1967.
Aerial view of Seminary South shopping center in Fort Worth, 1962.
Crowd waiting for a glimpse of President Kennedy in front of the Hotel Texas in Fort Worth, 1963.
Exterior of the Radke family residence on Route 3, Fort Worth, Texas, 1967.
A house on 1001 Elizabeth Blvd in Fort Worth, Texas, with Italianate style architecture, 1951.
A crowd of people looking on at President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade along River Oaks Blvd, 1963.
Crowd waiting in rain outside Hotel Texas to hear John F. Kennedy speak, 1963.
Main St. between 7th and 8th Streets showing Fort Worth National Bank sign, 1960s.
Civil Rights demonstration, marchers in downtown Fort Worth, protesting brutality in Selma, Alabama, 1965.

Engines of Change: Economy Takes Flight

The 1960s marked a crucial economic transformation for Fort Worth. While the echoes of its cattle-driven past remained, the roar of jet engines increasingly defined the city’s financial pulse. The aerospace and defense sectors, already significant after World War II, solidified their dominance.

At the heart of this shift was Carswell Air Force Base. Established during the war years , Carswell was a cornerstone of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) throughout the Cold War, including the 1960s. The base was home to powerful long-range bomber wings. Having transitioned fully to the B-52 Stratofortress in the late 1950s, Carswell’s 7th Bombardment Wing was a constant presence in the skies. These B-52s weren’t just parked; starting in April 1965, many deployed to Guam to support combat operations in Southeast Asia, flying missions over Vietnam before returning later that year, with deployments continuing rotationally.  

Sharing the spotlight was the futuristic B-58 Hustler, the world’s first operational supersonic bomber, built right next door at Air Force Plant 4. The 43rd Bombardment Wing, the first unit equipped with the B-58, called Carswell home from March 1960 until mid-1964. These sleek, delta-winged jets captured headlines, setting speed records. However, the B-58 proved challenging and expensive to operate and required frequent refueling, leading to its retirement by the end of the decade.  

Air Force Plant 4, the sprawling industrial complex adjacent to the base, was the engine driving much of this activity. Operated first by Consolidated Vultee (Convair) and later by General Dynamics after their merger , this plant had a storied history, having churned out thousands of B-24 Liberators during World War II and the massive B-36 Peacemakers in the 1950s. The 1960s brought a new, groundbreaking project: the F-111 Aardvark. General Dynamics secured the massive federal contract for this Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) program, a move that guaranteed the Fort Worth plant’s continued vitality. The F-111, featuring revolutionary variable-sweep wings that could change shape in flight, afterburning turbofan engines, and automated terrain-following radar for high-speed, low-level flight, represented the cutting edge of aviation technology. Its first flight took place in December 1964, with production models delivered to the Air Force starting in July 1967. The F-111 program cemented Fort Worth’s position as a critical hub for national defense manufacturing. This reliance on massive federal defense contracts created a powerful economic engine for the city, but it also meant Fort Worth’s prosperity was closely linked to government spending decisions and the ongoing tensions of the Cold War and the escalating conflict in Vietnam.  

Residents who were skillful enough to maneuver their automobiles onto Carswell Air Force Base for the Independence Day air show were treated to a suberp bit of supersonic flying by the crack Air Force Thunderbirds.
Larry Bulaich, Texas Christian University (T. C. U.) #26, drives for touchdown, 1962.
Members of the Texas Christian University Horned Frog band launch Fort Worth’s All America City parade, 1965.
First day of class at Lily B. Clayton Elementary School, 1963.
Helmuth Naumer, director of Fort Worth Children’s Museum, rides an old fashioned bicycle, 1967.
Arlington Mayor Tom J. Vandergriff, Ross I. Newmann, Walter Prokosch, and C. A. Tatum studying the site of the proposed Fort Worth-Dallas regional airport, 1966.
Fort Worth downtown skyline looking northwest, 1969.
Castleberry school children waiting for President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade along River Oaks Blvd, 1963.
Marquee sign at the opening of Fort Worth Public Library’s Seminary South Branch, 1967.
Ticket counter at Greater Southwest International Airport for various airlines, 1968.
Cockpit view of Meacham Field airport, 1962.
John F. Kennedy’s visit to Fort Worth – marquee at Hotel Texas, 1963.
Senator Lyndon B. Johnson speaks to Fort Worth voters at Burnett Park, 1960.
Fort Worth downtown Rescue Mission in old Liberty Theater building, 1100 Main St, 1960s.
1100 block Main St., Fort Worth; buildings to be demolished for Tarrant County Convention Center construction, 1968.
Town Hall meeting with Fort Worth Mayor Willard Barr at Will Rogers Auditorium, 1965.

The End of an Era: Stockyards and Meatpacking Decline

While the aerospace industry soared, Fort Worth’s traditional economic pillar, the livestock and meatpacking industry, faced a steady decline. The Fort Worth Stockyards, once a dominant force nationally, ranking among the top markets for decades , saw a dramatic drop in activity. The peak year of 1944, when over 5.25 million cattle, sheep, and hogs passed through the pens, became a fading memory. Annual receipts fell significantly through the 1950s and continued to decrease in the 1960s.  

Several factors contributed to this downturn. The rise of the trucking industry offered greater flexibility and lower costs than the railroads, which had been essential to the Stockyards’ success. Smaller, local livestock auctions closer to ranches became more common, drawing business away from the large, centralized Fort Worth market. Furthermore, the development of large-scale feedlots, especially in the Texas Panhandle, changed how cattle were raised and marketed.  

A major blow came in 1962 with the closure of the massive Armour & Co. meatpacking plant. Although parts of the facility were used by other companies for a time, the closure signaled the end of an era for Fort Worth’s identity as a primary meatpacking center. The adjacent Swift & Co. plant held on longer but would eventually close in 1971. The decline was visible not just in numbers but in the physical state of the Stockyards district itself, which began to show signs of neglect as activity dwindled.  

In sharp contrast to the fading fortunes of the Stockyards, another Fort Worth company was rapidly ascending. Tandy Corporation, headquartered downtown, embarked on a path of significant growth and transformation. Originally the Hinckley-Tandy Leather Company, it officially became Tandy Corporation in 1961 under the leadership of the ambitious Charles Tandy.  

Aerial view of Fort Worth Stockyards, 1960.
Fort Worth National Bank proposed motor bank demonstration with location of teller windows marked on parking lot, 1960.
Aerial featuring Texas Wesleyan College and Rosedale Street area in Fort Worth, Texas, 1966.

Spreading Out: A Growing City

The economic shifts of the 1960s occurred alongside significant physical growth and changes to Fort Worth’s landscape. The city’s population continued its upward trend, increasing from 278,778 in 1950 to 356,268 by the 1960 census. The wider Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area also experienced steady growth throughout the decade. This expanding population created pressing needs for more housing, roads, and public services.  

Mirroring national trends, Fort Worth experienced a wave of suburbanization. New housing developments sprang up on what had recently been farmland on the city’s edges. Areas like Ridglea Hills, where development began in the late 1940s around a new country club , continued to grow. The development of Overton Park, on former ranch land in southwest Fort Worth, began during the 1960s, featuring deed restrictions that mandated brick or stone homes and attached garages, reflecting the styles of the era. Established pre-war suburbs like Oakhurst, known for its winding streets designed by landscape architects Hare and Hare, provided a template for the character of some newer developments, though many post-war suburbs featured the popular ranch-style homes. This outward migration was made possible by rising car ownership and, crucially, a massive investment in new highways.  

7th and Main streets in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, 1969.
Aerial of Southwest Exposition and Fat Stock Show at Will Rogers Memorial complex, Fort Worth, Texas, 1967.
Various used cars for sale in a lot, 1969.
Exterior view of a cattle barn at the Fort Worth Stock Show grounds, 1963.
WBAP employees making a pit stop at a gas station to use the restroom, 1969.
Street view of Obid’s Furniture and Appliance store, 1966.
A man and woman standing in front of Trinity Lincoln Mercury Inc, 1966.
Bob Walsh looking at cattle at the Fort Worth Stockyards, 1966.
WBAP building in Fort Worth, Texas, 1965.
Garrett Rambler car dealership, 1963.
WBAP booth at the Fort Worth Stock Show, 1962.
Front side of the WBAP building in Fort Worth, Texas, 1969.
Outside view of the Volunteers of America maternity home in Fort Worth, Texas, 1966.

The 1960s were the golden age of freeway construction in Fort Worth, dramatically reshaping how people moved around the city and accelerating the pace of suburban development. Building upon projects initiated in the 1950s, the Interstate Highway System carved new paths across the landscape. 

Interstate 35W: This vital north-south artery saw major progress. The segment from downtown (near the I-30 interchange) northward to Belknap Street was completed in 1960. The next stretch, from Belknap north to the Loop 820 interchange, opened in 1966. Finally, in 1967, I-35W was finished from Loop 820 all the way to the Denton County line, creating a modern highway link to the north. The complex interchange connecting I-35W and I-30 downtown, quickly nicknamed the “Mixmaster” for its tangle of ramps, had been largely completed in 1958 and fully finished by 1960.  

Interstate 30: The Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike, a toll road opened in 1957 connecting the two cities’ downtowns, was incorporated into the I-30 route. West of downtown, the I-30 freeway (West Freeway) was extended and completed out to the Parker County line by 1966. 

Interstate 20 & Loop 820: The routes for the southern and western loops around Fort Worth evolved during the decade. Sections initially built as Loop 217 were incorporated into what became I-20 and Loop 820. Construction on various segments of Loop 820 progressed steadily, with openings recorded in July 1961, September 1963, 1965, and July 1966. The northwest portion of Loop 820 received its official Interstate designation in 1968. 

This expanding network of high-speed roads made previously distant areas accessible, directly fueling the construction of new homes and shopping centers farther from the traditional city core and fundamentally altering Fort Worth’s geography.

Less visible but equally critical to the city’s growth was the ongoing work on the Trinity River Flood Control Project. The devastating flood of May 1949, which killed ten people and left thousands homeless, spurred a major federal and local effort. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed and constructed an extensive system of levees along the Clear and West Forks of the Trinity River. Much of this 27-mile Fort Worth Floodway system was built during the 1950s and completed in the 1960s. Maintained by the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD), these levees were designed to protect the city’s population as it stood in the 1960s. This crucial infrastructure provided a sense of security against future floods, making development safer in areas near the river and underpinning the confidence needed for the city’s continued expansion.  

Aerial of downtown Fort Worth, Texas showing Jones Street, Spur 280, 35W, Hwy. 121, 1967.
Parade in downtown Fort Worth with Miss Flame of Arlington in front car, 1965.
Ongoing construction of the Amon Carter Museum of Western Art, Fort Worth, 1960.
Western Hills Hotel, Fort Worth, Texas, 1960.
Outdoor view of the Garett Rambler warehouse sale at the Fort Worth Stock Show grounds, 1963.
U.S. Air Force’s XB-70 Valkyrie plane at Carswell Air Force Base, 1966.
Exterior of West Side State Bank with fountain in front, 1967.
Arlington Heights Halfback Gary Angle (#34) collides with Paschal’s Bill Pruett (#40) at Farrington Field in Fort Worth, Texas, 1963.
John F. Kennedy standing in convertible car in front of Hotel Texas, Fort Worth, 1963.

Older Neighborhood Conditions

The rapid growth of new suburbs often came at the expense of older, established neighborhoods closer to downtown. Ryan Place, known for its stately mansions built in the early 20th century, had already suffered during the Great Depression. By the early 1960s, the neighborhood experienced significant neglect as residents moved to newer areas. Many of its grand homes fell into disrepair. This decline prompted residents to organize; the Ryan Place Improvement Association was formed in 1969 specifically to fight a city plan to widen streets, marking the beginning of a long revitalization effort. Similarly, the Fairmount neighborhood, largely built between 1905 and 1920 with many bungalows and Four Square homes, faced the pressures of aging housing stock and the lure of the suburbs, though its historic character would later fuel its own revival. The contrast between the brand-new subdivisions rising on the outskirts and the struggles of these historic inner-city neighborhoods highlighted the uneven pattern of development and investment during the 1960s.  

Fort Worth aerial of Will Rogers Coliseum, Casa Manana, Farrington Field, and surrounding area, 1961.
Unidentified man outside of the John Peter Smith Hospital building in Fort Worth, Texas, 1961.
Aerial of Meacham airfield and terminal, Fort Worth, 1965.
Downtown Fort Worth at night with buildings outlined in lights for Christmas, 1967.
Motheral Printing Company, 510 South Main Street, Fort Worth, near southside, 1967.
Gaylord Boxes building, 1961.
W. T. Waggoner house, 1200 Summit, Fort Worth, built in 1913, 1965.
Tarrant County Convention Center construction, 1968.
Top view of Carling Brewery, Fort Worth, 1964.
Three John Peter Smith Hospital nursing students walking along a sidewalk outside of the hospital building, 1962.
Carling Brewery, Fort Worth, Texas; man working at assembly line belt with cases of Black Label beer, 1965.
Fort Worth downtown aerial, 1962.
Front of building, Congregation Ahavath Sholom, 1300 W. Myrtle, Fort Worth, 1968.
The YWCA building at 512 W. 4th Street and the parking lot with Fort Worth skylines high rises, 1960s.
Carling Brewery, Fort Worth, southside of powerhouse, brewhouse with scaffolding in place, 1963.
Aerial of Carling Brewery during construction, Fort Worth, 10/21/1963

Culture & Entertainment

Life in 1960s Fort Worth wasn’t just about work and new highways; residents sought entertainment and cultural enrichment, creating a scene that blended local traditions with national trends.

Fort Worth’s musical heritage, particularly Western Swing, still resonated. This unique blend of country fiddle, jazz, blues, and swing rhythms had found its footing in local venues like the Crystal Springs Dance Pavilion back in the 1930s, with pioneers like Bob Wills and Milton Brown. Crystal Springs, located on White Settlement Road, continued to operate as a popular country music dance hall into the early 1960s, hosting acts like Jimmy Capps and the Country Boys. However, the national peak of Western Swing’s popularity had passed. A definitive end to an era came in December 1966, when a fire completely destroyed the historic Crystal Springs Dance Pavilion, silencing a venue that had been central to Fort Worth’s music identity for half a century. Alongside country and western traditions, the sounds of rock and roll were increasingly part of the national and local soundtrack.  

The way Fort Worth watched movies was also changing. The era of grand, single-screen “movie cathedrals” downtown was fading. Theaters like the Hollywood (opened 1930 inside the Electric Building), the Worth, and the Palace, which had been prime entertainment destinations in earlier decades, faced growing competition. The Hollywood Theater, for instance, remained closed for many years during this period.  

Aerial view of Fort Worth, looking east, 1967.
Congregation Ahavath Sholom, 1300 W. Myrtle, Fort Worth, 1968.
Lightning above the Fort Worth community Christmas tree, 1966.

Instead, drive-in theaters thrived, catering to the city’s car culture. Fort Worth and its surrounding areas boasted numerous drive-ins, offering a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Some operating in or around the 1960s included the Fort Worth Twin (opened 1953 on East Lancaster) , the Meadowbrook , the Cherry Lane Twin , the Bowie Blvd Drive-in (possibly the city’s first) , the Jacksboro Drive-in (later the Corral) , the South Side Drive-in , the Southside Twin , the Belknap , the Pike , the Parkaire (near University) , the Downtown Drive-in (on Henderson) , the Cowtown , and the Westerner (in River Oaks). While many of these landmarks were eventually demolished to make way for other developments , they were a significant part of the 1960s entertainment landscape.  

Fire truck adjusts Worth Theater sign, 1964.
A crane installing parts of Isamu Noguchi’s “Texas Sculpture” in front of the First National Bank, 1961.
Workers installing the base of Isamu Noguchi’s “Texas Sculpture”, 1961.
Stan McMurray with wife Cyrena McMurray backstage at the Fort Worth Opera, 1962.
Downtowner Motor Inn Hotel at Throckmorton Street and 9th Street, Fort Worth, Texas, 1964.

Eating out in the 1960s often meant visiting cafeterias, a format particularly popular with the generation that grew up during and after World War II. Wyatt’s Cafeteria had a location in the new Seminary South mall , and Finley’s Cafeteria operated for decades on Camp Bowie Boulevard in a building that originally housed Steve’s Cafe. Colonial Cafeteria was another well-known local chain. Diners and cafes serving classic American fare remained staples. Kincaid’s Hamburgers, founded in 1946 on Camp Bowie, was already establishing its reputation. Barbecue remained a Fort Worth favorite, with places like The Big Apple in the Stockyards area drawing crowds. The growth of suburban shopping centers also brought new dining options, like the El Chico Mexican restaurant located within Seminary South.  

Blue Star Restaurant, 5716 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas, re-opening, 1963.
Airview of Montgomery Ward on 7th Street, Fort Worth, 1963.
Fort Worth Club remodeling, rugs being lifted to 12th floor, 1960.
[Factually Corrected] Fort Worth’s first brick house, 904 Penn Street, razed in 1964, 1963.
Exterior of the Amon Carter home, 1962.
The Bernie L. Anderson family home on 1025 Penn Street, Fort Worth, Texas, 1963.
Exterior of a model home in the Diamond Oaks Country Club Addition, Fort Worth, Texas, 1964.

Fort Worth’s long relationship with minor league baseball saw a major interruption in the 1960s. The Fort Worth Cats, a fixture in the Texas League for decades, played their home games at LaGrave Field. After the 1958 season, the team left the Texas League, played one year in the American Association (1959), and then merged with the Dallas team to form the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers. The Cats briefly re-emerged as a separate Texas League team for just one season in 1964, finishing in last place before merging again with Dallas the following year. This marked the end of the original Cats franchise. LaGrave Field itself had been rebuilt and rededicated for the 1950 season after suffering damage from both fire and flood in May 1949.  

Exterior of the Amon Carter home, 1962.
A model home in Carriage Hill Addition of Forest Hill, Texas, 1964.
Emergency crews and firemen spray foam on the wreckage of a B-58 Hustler after the jet bomber crashed on takeoff at Carswell Air Force Base. The plane failed to become airborne on its northbound takeoff attempt, veered, crashed into a fence, and stopped on an ammunition bunker. All three crewmen were killed. [FWST photographer Norman Bradford]
Tex Beneke with Charlie Applewhite and Kelly Hart at LaGrave Field, 1962.
Exterior of a “Show house” in North Meadowbrook Estates, Fort Worth, Texas, 1963.
Home of Kenneth Allen McDuff in Rosebud, Texas, 1966

Civil Rights and National Events

The 1960s were a time of national upheaval, and Fort Worth was deeply affected by the struggle for civil rights and the profound impact of national political events.

he landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision mandated school desegregation, but Fort Worth schools remained segregated. Local Black parents filed a lawsuit in 1959. In a key ruling on December 14, 1961, U.S. District Judge Leo Brewster declared the Fort Worth Independent School District’s dual system unconstitutional and ordered the district to submit a desegregation plan. The first court-approved plan was adopted in May 1963. Despite these legal victories, actual integration proceeded slowly, and Fort Worth lagged behind other major Texas cities in fully desegregating its schools. More comprehensive measures like busing and school clustering would come later, often under further court orders in the 1970s.

Desegregation of public facilities was uneven. City-owned swimming pools remained largely segregated until the mid-1960s or even into the 1970s, years after the NAACP and Black residents first petitioned for integration in the mid-1950s. Activists like Dr. Marion J. Brooks fought for Black doctors to have admitting privileges at all city hospitals, a right finally secured around the mid-1960s. Public libraries also faced integration efforts.  

The national sit-in movement, which began dramatically in Greensboro, North Carolina, in February 1960, spread across the South, including Texas. While specific details of large-scale, coordinated sit-ins at Fort Worth lunch counters like Leonard’s, Cox’s, or Stripling’s are not prominent in the available records, local activism targeted discriminatory business practices. Dr. Brooks organized successful protests against biased employment at Safeway grocery stores and segregated shopping policies at Leonard’s Department Store. By 1963, a Mayor’s Commission on Human Relations reported that many downtown restaurants, hotels, and stores had voluntarily integrated. Progress culminated late in the decade with a city ordinance formally prohibiting racial discrimination in various public accommodations, including hotels, restaurants, and theaters.  

Image Credits: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, W.D. Smith Commercial Photography, Inc. Collection, Basil Clemons Photograph Collection, Jan Jones Papers, UTA Libraries, Texas History Portal, Jack White Photograph Collection

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