When a Man Jumped Off the 622′ Tower of the Americas

All aboard the Monorail train. If you’re just entering the grounds of Hemisfair Plaza, wondering around trying to decide where to go and how to get there, consider walking up the yellow staircase.

From 1973 through 1978, I drove the Monorail of San Antonio above the grounds of the 1968 World’s Fair site in Texas.

The Monorail is a mile and a half sightseeing tour of the entire Hemisfair Plaza grounds. Hemisfair ’68 covered 92 acres. So what not come up the yellow staircase to see the entire bird’s eye, picture taking view of the entire Plaza grounds.

We had two platformed stations but usually only the first depot, about a block up the walkway from the site’s main entrance on North Alamo Street, was open during regular days, 6 days a week.

A ride in the Monorail is only .75 cents. Children under six are only .25 cents. So just come up the yellow staircase for this mile and a half easy journey above the Plaza grounds.

During major events, like the Texas Folklife Festivals (usually August) or Fiesta San Antonio (two weeks of parades, parties and celebration events in April), we would have the second station open in front of the entrance to what was then known at the Institute of Texas Cultures, a terrific museum honoring the various people and history of the Lone Star State.

While aboard the Monorail you will see all the sights and sounds on a complete mile and a half trip. The Monorail travels an average 2 to 3 miles per hour with an average of 30 feet ABOVE the Plaza Grounds at a smooth and relaxing pace–so you won’t miss a thing.

Among those who worked at the Monorail full-time was Curt Slangal and myself. Often, depending on the seasons, weather and events (concerts, Spurs basketball games, the Barnum & Bailey Circus, for instance) we required more drivers, maintenance, and ticket booth operators.

While riding the Monorail, from above, enjoy such sites as the Hemisfair Arena, home of our great San Antonio Spurs NBA basketball team. Some of the more recent concerts here were Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Merle Haggard, the Beach Boys, Mac Davis, America, KISS, Roger Miller, Grand Funk Railroad and even Tom Jones.

Practically all the drivers and staff were students or recent graduates of Dillard McCollum High School on the Southside of the Alamo City. Not only were the McCollum Cowboys the 1972 winner of the prestigious Bellamy Award (honoring American values, patriotism, and Ralph Bellamy, the man who wrote the nation’s Pledge of Allegiance), but our Tri-C’s Dance Team sold official NBA programs at each Spurs home game in the Arena.

Near the Arena, we’ll pass over various pavilions, including the Mexican and Women’s Pavilions. You will also see the Carnival Rides and some Food Courts as we approach Hemisfair Lake.

Among our classmates who regularly piloted or manned the Monorail Train and stations were Steve Johnson, Randy Potts, Charles Harris, cheerleader Gwen Wilkins, Dan Poss, Michael Sheffield and Dennis Manka. David Price, from the Castroville area, also worked a season or two.

On occasion, Hemisfair Lake still hosts some spectacular ski shows, but pay paricular attention to the Lone Star Pavilion, one of the most popular sites of our ’68 World’s Fair. Today, you can still enjoy the famous Wax Museum of Texas History and Events and it’s well worth your time.

During lunch or meal breaks, usually in pairs, we would walk to the nearby Philippine Restaurant, a delicious serving holdover from the 1968 Fair. The food was consistently awesome. The owner, a retired US military Colonel, incentivized us with discounts and, when we were very busy, his Philippine native waitresses would deliver. Of course, we all became friends and would give them courtesy rides on occasion.

From the Lake we will go by the base of the 622-foot Tower of the Americas, built especially for the World’s Fair that opened on April 6th and remained active until October 6, 1968.

A side note: While driving the Monorail into our station one day in the summer of 1974, a park ranger came frantically running up the entrance staircase.

“Quick! Can you get me a ride to the Tower?” he asked. “I think we have an emergency.”

I rapidly loaded the few people with tickets, but didn’t wait the customary ten minutes for others who were strolling the grounds. Away we went and I drove a bit faster than usual so he could get there in time.

“We suspect we may have a jumper,” he told me as I had him sit on the passenger seat of the ‘conductor’ front cart. “Someone called the police and they are on their way.”

We both kept our eyes on the tower, but by the time we were close to the base, no one had jumped off. I told him, “just keep an eye out for him and I’ll get you to the closest station platform in front of the Institute of Texas Cultures.”

After I dropped the officer off I had not noticed if anyone jumped.

While visting the Tower, note there is a restaurant level and a separate observation level. The restaurant rotates a full 360 degrees as you dine. This allows you to see a complete view in all directions. The observation level has telescopes and a fenced outside deck you can walk completely around. Caution that it can quite windy up there on this level.

News Anchor Gene Lively Confirms Tower Jump

Just today, as while writing this article, I received confirmation from the one and only Gene Lively, a very popular local television news anchorman at the time.

He confirmed:

“Yes, I did receive a call from a jumper. He asked if I wanted a news story and said he was about to jump from the tower,” Lively responded to my inquiry. “I thought it was a prank call but did call the police and told them a man said he was going to jump but indicated it could have been a prank call.”

“As a precaution, I dispatched photographer Paul Schaefer to the scene with instructions to stay out of sight because if the threat was real, I didn’t want him to jump when he spotted the photographer,” Lively recalled.

“I received a second call from the man and he said I had called the police. I lied and said I didn’t. He hung up. A few minutes later I heard the police say a man jumped off the Tower.”

“Meanwhile, Paul had just gotten out of the car and saw the jump. He raised his 16mm Bell and Howell DR70 camera and we were able to capture a still frame of the fall.”

“We shared the picture with the San Antonio Light who had it on the front page the next morning. Sad story. I have oftened wish I could have said something to have prevented it.”

“The police did respond because I could hear them talking on the police radio.”

We will soon be passing the old Golden Garter, a pavilion for adults only complete with Can-Can girls, old time Western music and serving adult beverages.

Next up will be the Institute of Texas Cultures which originally served as the Texas Pavilion at HemisFair ’68. Later it was turned over to the University of Texas System in 1969. 

The Institute is especially known as the annual site of the Texas Folklife Festival at the end of summer and early autumn. They serve as a popular place for field trips, outreach or teacher-training workshops and other programs. Inside you will find displays representing many cultures and their impact on the history and development of Texas.

After leaving the Institute of Texas Cultures pavilion, the Monorail would round the corner for the longest straight stretch of the ride. This included the “bird’s eye picture taking view” of Food Court under a shaded area with many vendors.

Also, along this stretch was the John Woods Federal Courthouse named after a San Antonio based federal judge assassinated by Charles Harrelson, the father of Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson.

This building was originally served as the United States Pavilion during Hemisfair ’68 and featured three separate theaters where the interior walls all raised into the ceiling to create one massive theater sharing an even larger screen.

At the point we passed above the Museum of Texas Transportation and near the main skyride station just as we returned to our own Monorail platform.

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