#nelson leissner

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Nelson and Kathy Leissner at the Leissner family home, Easter 1964

© Nelson Leissner

[charleswhitmans]

‘Only Daughter’ featured in The Spokesman Review, August 2, 1966.

“Well, she was our only daughter,” said Raymond W. Leissner, whose daughter Kathy was slain by her husband before he killed 12 other persons from a snipers nest high atop a University of Texas building in Austin. Kathy, 23, was a telephone company employee in Austin this summer. She had been a public school science teacher this spring. Charles Joseph Whitman apparently stabbed his wife to death before dawn Monday in their apartment. Near Tears Leissner, a real estate man and rice farmer in this town of 968 people 35 miles south-west of Houston, was near tears as he spoke briefly with newsmen after learning of the murder of his daughter. Asked about his son-in-law, killed by police after his murderous spree, Leissner said: “He was just as normal as anybody I ever knew, and he worked awfully hard at his grades.”  Kathy was graduated from the University of Texas in 1964. She was queen of the annual youth fair at Needville several years ago. Mrs Leissner remained secluded in the house as Leissner spoke to reporters. ‘Nothing Wrong’ Speaking further of Whitman, he said: “There was nothing wrong with him that I knew of. It’s just a very sad tragedy that happened to a very nice family (the Whitmans)” The Leissner’s have three sons: Nelson, 17; Ray, 14, and Adam, 2. A billboard at the outskirts of Needville reads: “The home of friendly people.” Donald Ferguson, a farmer and neighbour to the Leissner’s, said he had known Whitman very well and Kathy for 11 years. He said Whitman was “a real nice boy, I understand he was what you call 'a brain.” He said this of Kathy: “She was as sweet a person as I have ever known - I meant it - 100 per cent.”

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"Kathy and Charlie on the back patio of her parents' home in Needville on October 12, 1963."

Private archive of Nelson Leissner.

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"Kathy relaxes at the counter of City Drugs in Needville, Texas."

Private archive of Nelson Leissner.

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"Kathy (center) clowns in the locker room with two high school friends and volleyball teammates after losing the district championship in 1961. As art editor for the school annual, Kathy made sure this photo made the cut of snapshots.

Private archive of Nelson Leissner.

[elisabethloxx]

"Kathy (Whitman) poses happily in the bright kitchen of her new apartment near UT in September 1963 - a far cry from the cinder block rooms of Jacksonville."

Private archive of Nelson Leissner.

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Kathy Leissner dancing with her high school sweetheart, Lawrence. She would later meet and be murdered by her husband, Charles Whitman.

“I often wonder what would have happened if she had married Lawrence. Had she, had she, had she … But that’s not the way life is. It’s kind of hard to release.” - Nelson Leissner, Kathy’s brother

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Kathy Leissner attended by her mother, Frances, and bridesmaids on her wedding day to Charles Whitman, 17 August, 1962. (x)

Photograph courtesy of Nelson Leissner