TC Presents Exclusive Screening of “Tower” Documentary With 1966 UT Shooting Survivor Claire Wilson James

Join Claire Wilson James, survivor of the 1966 University of Texas tower shooting, for an exclusive viewing of Tower, a documentary that chronicles the tragic campus shooting that left 16 dead and three dozen wounded.

On November 16 and 17 you’ll have the opportunity to be one of the first to view the documentary at one of three screenings at Texarkana College’s Stilwell Theatre. Professors Dawna Montanelli and Stephen Gass will open up the event with an overview of the incident, historical facts, and the issue of school shootings and the upcoming campus carry laws in Texas. Following the documentary, the professors will conduct an interview with Claire Wilson James in a talk show format using questions gathered from the audience beforehand, followed by a meet and greet.

On August 1st, 1966, a sniper rode the elevator to the top floor of the University of Texas Tower and opened fire, holding the campus hostage for 96 minutes. When the gunshots were finally silenced, the toll included 16 dead, three dozen wounded, and a shaken nation left trying to understand. Combining archival footage with rotoscopic animation in a dynamic, never-before-seen way, TOWER reveals the action-packed untold stories of the witnesses, heroes and survivors of America’s first mass school shooting, when the worst in one man brought out the best in so many others.

Claire Wilson James currently resides in Texarkana. She was eight months pregnant at the time of the shooting. The shot she took killed her unborn son and her boyfriend, Thomas Eckman. An exhibit of Mrs. James’ memorabilia will be on display at the Palmer Memorial Library.

Available Screenings

• Wednesday, November 16, 6:30 p.m.

• Thursday, November 17, 2 p.m.

• Thursday, November 17, 6:30 p.m.

The screenings are free, but space is limited. Please reserve your seats in advance!