Hugh Aynesworth, a well-known journalist at The Dallas Morning News, who made career-defining stories from witnessing the assassination of John F. Kennedy to the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald, died on Dec. 23, 2023 in Dallas.
A service was held for Aynesworth at the Texas Theatre Jan. 27 in his honor, with fellow journalists, friends, and family in attendance.
Allyson Aynesworth, the journalist’s daughter, said during the service, “What is the one thread that weaves through [his 90 years of life] and for me, I think it is his kindness, that’s the one thing in every little role, every little season and every role he played. His kindness helped him as a reporter, his kindness helped people talk, his kindness made us as kids listen.”
Hugh had over a 60-year career in journalism in which he bore witness to some of the most grueling moments in U.S. history, such as the assassination of JFK and Oswald.
Hugh was known for shutting down many conspiracy theories, especially about JFK.
Many journalism heroes spoke about Hugh. Bob Schieffer, who has had a career in journalism for more than 50 years, became a White House correspondent, and graced television screens on CBS News, was one of them.
“He checked every tip, and most were wrong, and he made sure it was known. I think it’s fair to say that he knocked down false rumors,” Schieffer said.
Schieffer said, Hugh continued investigating the rumors and conspiracies that grew as people wanted to forget and rewrite history about what happened in Dallas.
Hugh was so adamant about debunking conspiracies that he asked fellow writer and friend, Carlton Stowers, who spoke about going to Georgetown because he was “chasing another one of [his] serial killers,” Henry Lee Lucas.
“Old Henry made up these confessions of all these murders he had done when he had done none of them,” ____ SAID.
Hugh had that handheld recorder, took the tape out of it, and said, ‘Put this in your socks.’ So we managed to escape into the parking lot. ”
Throughout the event, the speakers touched on Hugh’s kindness and passion for finding the truth.
“Because of his kindness, the compassion, because those aspects of him, because of his ability to see beyond appearances, I think the best way to honor him is to think of that today. [To] be a little kinder,” Allyson said.
The ceremony closed with a slideshow of various moments throughout the late journalist’s life.
Brett Shipp, who is an anchor for Spectrum News and whose father was good friends with Hugh, said, “We say goodbye to one of the city’s greatest reporters … a man who covered and uncovered it all … a man who is unafraid to sneak into a hotel room in Bintan, Laos and risk his life for possibly the story of his life.”
