NO PARADES ALLOWED
Governor Claude Roy Kirk, Jr.
Florida's 36th governorship was marked by several milestones. Most notably, Claude Kirk was elected the first Republican governor since 1872. Kirk had previously been a Democrat but became an avid GOP leader during the 1960s. In another milestone, Kirk was one of only three Florida governors to marry during a gubernatorial term. He wed Erika Mattfeld at West Palm Beach in 1967. In the next three years the Kirks had two children, Claudia and Erika Henry. Soon after, in 1970, Kirk's older daughter, Katherine Gilmer Kirk, was married.
It was the day of Governor Kirk and Erika's wedding. Bright sunny day with a beautiful breeze coming off the ocean. I was in the station filing a report when I was dispatched to the church where the Governor was to be married. There was a lone man protesting the marriage by walking back and forth in front of the church. I was advised to see that he left the area before the wedding started.
When I arrived there was a white male in his twenties walking along the sidewalk in front of the church. He was dressed in a suit and appeared to be just walking down the street. However, when he turned to walk back I could see a sign hanging on his chest. As he approached me I could see what the sign read, "Erika Is A Whore".
I immediately advised the subject to approach me with his hands in front of him. I asked him what he thought he was doing. He stated he was protesting the Governor of Florida marrying a woman of ill-repute. I advised him that if he did not have a permit to march on city streets (which I knew he did not) that he would have to leave the area or be subject to arrest. He argued for a moment and stated he had the right to protest the wedding and started to walk away from me.
I told the gentleman to stop and to come back, but he continued walking away. I shouted to him to stop and I started to walk after him. It was at this time he started to turn around to face me and was reaching into his suit coat. As instinct has it, I immediately went for my gun, dropped to one knee and aimed at his chest. I was just about to pull the trigger as I yelled for him to put his up and don't move. The hammer on my Colt revolver was about half-way back and about ready to slam forward on the cartridge. I was about to take a man's life for the first time in my life. As I aimed for his chest, he pulled a Bible from his coat and said, "The Lord will take care of the Governor in his owe good time".
I holstered my revolver and placed the man on the trunk of my police cruiser spread-eagle and handcuffed him. I placed him under arrest and returned to the station to book him on charges of parading without a permit. I am not sure to this day if Governor Kirk and his beautiful bride were ever aware that the incident even took place. I never told him.
Governor Claude Roy Kirk, Jr.
Florida's 36th governorship was marked by several milestones. Most notably, Claude Kirk was elected the first Republican governor since 1872. Kirk had previously been a Democrat but became an avid GOP leader during the 1960s. In another milestone, Kirk was one of only three Florida governors to marry during a gubernatorial term. He wed Erika Mattfeld at West Palm Beach in 1967. In the next three years the Kirks had two children, Claudia and Erika Henry. Soon after, in 1970, Kirk's older daughter, Katherine Gilmer Kirk, was married.
It was the day of Governor Kirk and Erika's wedding. Bright sunny day with a beautiful breeze coming off the ocean. I was in the station filing a report when I was dispatched to the church where the Governor was to be married. There was a lone man protesting the marriage by walking back and forth in front of the church. I was advised to see that he left the area before the wedding started.
When I arrived there was a white male in his twenties walking along the sidewalk in front of the church. He was dressed in a suit and appeared to be just walking down the street. However, when he turned to walk back I could see a sign hanging on his chest. As he approached me I could see what the sign read, "Erika Is A Whore".
I immediately advised the subject to approach me with his hands in front of him. I asked him what he thought he was doing. He stated he was protesting the Governor of Florida marrying a woman of ill-repute. I advised him that if he did not have a permit to march on city streets (which I knew he did not) that he would have to leave the area or be subject to arrest. He argued for a moment and stated he had the right to protest the wedding and started to walk away from me.
I told the gentleman to stop and to come back, but he continued walking away. I shouted to him to stop and I started to walk after him. It was at this time he started to turn around to face me and was reaching into his suit coat. As instinct has it, I immediately went for my gun, dropped to one knee and aimed at his chest. I was just about to pull the trigger as I yelled for him to put his up and don't move. The hammer on my Colt revolver was about half-way back and about ready to slam forward on the cartridge. I was about to take a man's life for the first time in my life. As I aimed for his chest, he pulled a Bible from his coat and said, "The Lord will take care of the Governor in his owe good time".
I holstered my revolver and placed the man on the trunk of my police cruiser spread-eagle and handcuffed him. I placed him under arrest and returned to the station to book him on charges of parading without a permit. I am not sure to this day if Governor Kirk and his beautiful bride were ever aware that the incident even took place. I never told him.
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