Headshot of Roy Kellerman

Kellerman staring intently at President Kennedy

Early Life

Roy Herman Kellerman was born on March 14, 1915, in Macomb County, Michigan. He graduated from high school in 1933 and immediately began work for Dodge, the car company.

He then moved on to work for the Michigan State Police in 1937. Soon after, in 1941, he joined the Secret Service in Detroit. He was transferred to White House detail in 1942. Two years after the Kennedy assassination, he was promoted to deputy special agent in charge. 

Testimony from Roy Kellerman detailing the level of security of the JFK assassination

Colorized photo of President Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, Governor Connally, Nellie Connally, Agent Kellerman, and Agent Greer

The Assassination

Kellerman details in his testimony about the high level of security that the Secret Service had employed to protect the President. Despite the security that Kellerman highlights, obviously, the President was shot and killed. Kellerman was in the Presidential car, sitting in the passenger seat. He was next to William Greer, the driver, and agent in the Secret Service. Behind them was Governor Connally and his wife, Nellie. Behind that row, was JFK and Jackie Kennedy.

Kellerman tells the Warren Commisson that he was relieved that they got through a "throng" a people during the motorcade. Just before they reached the underpass, the President was shot. Kellerman said he thought he had heard a firecracker. Kellerman said that he heard the President say, "Get me to a hospital," and "My God I've been hit." He also heard Mrs. Kennedy cry out, "oh no!" Kellerman also states that he heard more than three shots, but didn't see the second two that he heard: the ones that hit Kennedy and Gov. Connally. 

The presidential car that JFK was shot in parked at the emergency room entrance at Parkland Memorial Hospital

A graphic showing the most common used words in Kellerman's testimony

Parkland Memorial Hospital

Agent Kellerman immediately brought the President into Emergency Room 1. Agent Kellerman used a telephone to call Agent Behn, who was in charge of the White House detail in Washington. He informed Agent Behn what had happened, and kept the phone lines open during their time at Parkland Memorial Hospital. It was during this call that it was learned that Mrs. Kennedy wished to return to Washington D.C. with the body of President Kennedy.

The group of Secret Service Agents were asked if anyone knew the President's bloodtype. At this time, Agent Kellerman reached for his wallet and pulled out a card with President Kennedy's information on it.

After the President was declared dead, Kellerman took charge of handling matters around the autopsy. Kellerman was given the x-rays and and photographs and then they were put in a big cardboard box. He stated that he he took them with him in the ambulance after the casket was taken. 

Kellerman insisted the President's body be taken immediately onto Air Force 1 to get back to Washington D.C.. Mrs. Kennedy was insistant that they President's body be on the airplane, and she would not leave without him. As such, Agent Kellerman, against the wishes of the doctors and hospital, took the President's body to Love Field to get on the plane.

Kellerman in the back of the room during Lyndon B. Johnson's swearing in

Aftermath

Kellerman shuffled into Air Force One after he got JFK's casket onto the plane, per Jackie's wishes. After getting on the plane, Vice-President Johnson invited all on the plane to witness his swearing in. Kellerman can be seen in the back of the room during the time of the swearing in, right in the entrance of the doorway. Half of his head is peeking out, in the top of the photo. 

St. Petersburg newsclipping detailing Roy H. Kellerman's death

Post Secret Service

Roy Kellerman retired from the Secret Service in 1968 as an assistant administrator. He died at age 69 in St. Petersburg, Florida where he was buried. There is little information on the internet about how Kellerman died. It is rumoured that it was due to heart failure, but I am unsure if that is credible information.