Vince Palamara

David's little-watched October 2022 14-part video series all in ONE video [I grabbed them because, with David gone, there is a real possibility the account will fade away- I saw it happen with a few other departed researchers/authors. As usual, posted for free- I make not a penny on any video (note: David started a You Tube channel JUST in late October 2022!]:

Wallace died 6/13/21:

Obituary | Wallace Milam of Dyersburg, Tennessee | Curry Funeral Home

Wallace Milam, 82, of Dyersburg, died Sunday, June 13, 2021, at his residence.  He was born February 21, 1939, in Clarksburg, Tennessee, to the late Eldon and Annie S. Wiles Milam. Mr. Milam was a beloved history teacher at Dyersburg High School until his retirement in 1997; however, he continued adjunct work through 2003. He was hired in 1964 as the head football coach at Dyersburg Junior High School, then moved to  DHS in 1965 as assistant football coach under Coach Jere Stribling. In his later years, he did the football statistics under Coach James Counce. During his high school tenure, he, Lloyd Ramer, and Nawasa Jonas worked together to transform the DHS history department into “History Land” to engage students. Mr. Milam was a John F. Kennedy assassination expert and lecturer.  He spent much of his life traveling to Dallas, Texas, conducting interviews of people who were involved and researching exactly what happened that fateful day. He also spent time in Washington, D.C., researching in the National Archives.  He served on the Senate Select Committee of the assassinations of both JFK and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and testified at the senate hearings.  He was also an avid tennis player and former instructor.  

Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 30, 2021 in the Chapel of Curry Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

He is survived by his wife, Becky Milam and three step-children, David Collins, Jamie Collins Hildibrand, Lucas Younger and two step-granddaughters, Keira Taylor and Pandora Hildibrand.

8 minutes ago, James DiEugenio said:

Wallace has passed on?

And we get that from a guy who has himself since passed on.

Wallace Milam was a good researcher and writer from the eighties and nineties.

He then got married and retired from the field.

Wallace was actually the first guy who punched a whole in the whole  VIncent Guinn charade about the NAA.  

Wallace Milam sadly did pass away as verified by the comments on his Facebook- sounds like it was a little over a year ago based on the comments.

1 hour ago, James DiEugenio said:

Look, one can argue the merits of Lifton's work from now until eternity.

Both him and his work were controversial.  He was not the easiest guy to get along with.

But what I am interested in is this:  How will Final Charade be handled? 

Is there a manuscript?  If so, who will edit it?

Finally, where will the funeral be?  In LA or Vegas?

There is 100 percent definitely a manuscript that is, to most people's standards, done but perhaps not "David Lifton" done (he was forever adding and amending). How I know this: researcher Matt Douthit, who became good friends with David. According to the gentleman who started the thread (his recent comment), they are going to get it published [perhaps even if it is "just" Author House or similar self publishing venues a la what Tyler Newcomb did with his late father's book MURDER FROM WITHIN co-written with the late Perry Adams].

1 hour ago, Marjan Rynkiewicz said:

Clearly Greer driving the jfklimo.  

Probably Hickey driving Queen Mary. Kellerman in passenger seat.

Kinney drove the QM when Hickey killed JFK, but i dont think Kinney is anywhere in this pix.

But who are the other agents in QM -- at least 4 ovem.

The SSA sitting high up in the rear seat is interesting. This is where Hickey sat high up when he killed JFK. But Hickey was sitting high up on 2 leather AR15 cases -- i think that our SSA here is just sort of perched/thrust back against the back of the seat (unless he has borrowed something to sit on).

Next to Kellerman- Agent Ron Pontius (still alive); agent on other side- Agent Toby Chandler (still alive). Agent directly seated behind Kellerman- it looks like either Don Lawton (deceased) or Frank Yeager (still alive); I am torn on which it is. The other gentleman does not appear to be an agent but a member of the media.

1 minute ago, Pat Speer said:

I talked to Matt earlier. He doesn't have access to the manuscript. And he is in the dark beyond that Lifton's phone has been disconnected. 

Wow. I told Matt a few years ago "David isn't a spring chicken any longer- I hope he made arrangements for his book and remaining materials to be available just in case" but never really received an answer.

Often times, when people pass, their stuff gets tossed. I know of a massive Soap Opera archivist who had every collectible known to mankind about every soap opera ever from 1940-1995 or so who was murdered. His family literally threw it all out days later! It happens. JFK researcher Kathlee Fitzgerald passed away in 2019 and all her many books and materials were tossed, as well. I wonder how many times this happens, especially when there is no close family OR the family doesn't hold the possessions as anything worth keeping.

Just now, Douglas Caddy said:

I just checked David's homepage on Facebook. The last entry he made was on October 23, 2021, in which he wrote:

"I'd like readers of Best Evidence to know that back in the early 90's, I worked closely Steve Bello (Hill Street Blue, St. Elsewhere, and many other credits) to write and produce a definitive movie about Marina Oswald ("Fatal Deception: Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald", 1993). I had come to know Marina quite well, in the aftermath of the original (Jan. 1981) publication of B.E. For years we spoke several times per week. In effect, I found myself deprogramming Marina from all the nonsense she had been..."

There were some "happy birthday" postings for him in September of this year (including one from me) that drew no response from him.

Yes- I read all of that. I have been searching online for anything corroborative and so far there is nothing. It could be too soon; who knows. 

6 minutes ago, Charles Blackmon said:

Sure do hope his book gets published in my lifetime.

Harry Livingstone died a lonely bachelor in 2015, yet his archives were obtained via Bart Kamp (and Malcolm Blunt, too?). I know young researcher Matt Douthit was in frequent contact with David and considered him a friend. If anyone could have had access to his manuscript, he would. I reached out to him so stay tuned.

6 minutes ago, Charles Blackmon said:

What could go wrong, right?

For every person on Facebook who is saying "so sad", there is another person saying things like "sure he has really passed away? There is nothing online." Makes one wonder. Most people take things like this in good faith (what is to be gained by lying about his death?), but the skeptical researcher in me wants corroboration in the form of an obituary, etc.

Just now, Pat Speer said:

Steven Kossor started this thread. He would be the one to know. 

True.

1 minute ago, Pat Speer said:

That's not surprising. They wouldn't publish anything if the family hasn't told them. I talked to another researcher who'd been in recent contact with Lifton, and he confirmed that Lifton had been living in Vegas and that his phone number has been disconnected. 

Any chance that David may still be alive and perhaps in the hospital (or a hospice) instead?

4 minutes ago, James DiEugenio said:

I just did another search, and there is still no print or broadcast entity that has anything about this.

And this is one day old.

 

I am starting to get a weird feeling about this. 

1 hour ago, Adam Johnson said:

Looks like Greer and Kellermen, as Presidential drive team number 1 was current as of March 63'.

(Kellerman can be seen in the follow-up car front passenger seat to the right)

1 hour ago, Adam Johnson said:

Looks like Greer and Kellermen, as Presidential drive team number 1 was current as of March 63'.

No--that is SAIC Gerald Behn in the front seat AND Thomas Shipman also drove the limo. Note the military aide between the two, as well.

18 minutes ago, Pat Speer said:

The two times I met up with David, it was in Beverly Hills. I believe he lived in the area. As we know he went to UCLA, and I don't think he ever moved very far from there. Until recently. The last time we talked I think he did mention something about Las Vegas. 

As far as family, he never married, and I believe he spent most of his life living alone. Long before I met David, or even got obsessed with the Kennedy case, however, I worked with a guy in the record biz, who told me Lifton was his wife's uncle. So he had extended family here in Southern California.

As far as his records...David told me that the vast majority of his stuff was either given to the National Archives or in storage and not readily accessible. On at least three occasions, he called me in hopes I could help him find a primary source for something mentioned on my website, or posted on the Ed Forum. 

As far as his book... It started out as a bio of Oswald, built upon interviews with Marina. I believe he could have finished this decades ago. But he was stuck on his body alteration theory, and wanted to double-down on that. So his final book was to be a two-parter--a history of Oswald merged with an update and expansion of his thoughts on the medical evidence. Will it ever come out? That's anyone's guess. 

I will say that if his departure is confirmed, I will share what he thought was an important breakthrough in his thinking. I didn't write it down, but I can only assume others will have more details and help fill in the blanks. 

 

P.S. I called his phone number and the phone number was no mas. As it was a local number, however, it might only mean he got a new number after moving to Vegas. 

Pat, thanks for the info! Matt Douthit was working with David and was in frequent contact with him. I let him know of David's passing + everyone's concern about his new book.

David Lifton Facebook post from a couple years ago:

16 minutes ago, Joseph Backes said:

The guy who started this thread told me he's a family friend.  He said Lifton was living in the Las Vegas area. So, that should limit a search for local news about this.

Thanks for the info.

3 minutes ago, Denis Morissette said:

:)))) Read Joseph's post. It adds to the credibility of the story. If Lifton denies the story, then we will know for sure the story is false. Remember Phil Collins?

David was born in 1939- that makes him 83. It is definitely possible.

8 minutes ago, Denis Morissette said:

Excellent. Thank you.

I am seeing zero online confirmation that David passed away. I hope we don't all have egg on our faces over this.

24 minutes ago, Denis Morissette said:

So you knew him well enough to know if he has family. Does he have family? Did he live with someone? Can you call his phone number in the hopes that someone picks up and then you can inquire about his collection? What is his address? Maybe a member can drive to his place? Can you help at all?

Researcher Matt Douthit was in regular contact with him. I just let him know of his passing. If anyone should know, he would (how to obtain his manuscript, etc.).

I also should have known something was wrong recently, as David reached out to me about a research question but (uncharacteristically) did not respond back (this was in the last 6 weeks or so). Great tribute to David: